Countries where theft & scams is banned or restricted (2026 list)

Out of the 148 countries covered by LawsTravels, 12 ban and 106 require caution on theft & scams. Here is the full list, region by region.

Banned or serious risk· 12

North Africa · 2

🇱🇾 Libya 🇸🇩 Sudan

Sub-Saharan Africa · 6

🇧🇫 Burkina Faso 🇨🇩 DR Congo 🇲🇱 Mali 🇳🇪 Niger 🇳🇬 Nigeria 🇿🇦 South Africa

The Americas · 4

🇧🇷 Brazil 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇻🇪 Venezuela

Allowed, with limits· 106

Europe · 25

🇦🇱 Albania 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇨🇿 Czechia 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇷 France 🇬🇷 Greece 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇹 Lithuania 🇲🇪 Montenegro 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇲🇰 North Macedonia 🇷🇴 Romania 🇷🇺 Russia 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Middle East & Caucasus · 9

🇦🇲 Armenia 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan 🇧🇭 Bahrain 🇬🇪 Georgia 🇮🇱 Israel 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇰🇼 Kuwait 🇴🇲 Oman 🇹🇷 Turkey

North Africa · 5

🇩🇿 Algeria 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇲🇷 Mauritania 🇲🇦 Morocco 🇹🇳 Tunisia

Sub-Saharan Africa · 27

🇦🇴 Angola 🇧🇯 Benin 🇧🇮 Burundi 🇨🇲 Cameroon 🇹🇩 Chad 🇩🇯 Djibouti 🇪🇷 Eritrea 🇸🇿 Eswatini 🇪🇹 Ethiopia 🇬🇦 Gabon 🇬🇲 Gambia 🇬🇳 Guinea 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast 🇰🇪 Kenya 🇱🇸 Lesotho 🇱🇷 Liberia 🇲🇬 Madagascar 🇲🇼 Malawi 🇲🇿 Mozambique 🇨🇬 Republic of Congo 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone 🇸🇴 Somalia 🇸🇸 South Sudan 🇹🇿 Tanzania 🇹🇬 Togo 🇺🇬 Uganda 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

East Asia · 4

🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇲🇴 Macao 🇲🇳 Mongolia 🇹🇼 Taiwan

South-East Asia · 9

🇧🇳 Brunei 🇰🇭 Cambodia 🇮🇩 Indonesia (Bali) 🇱🇦 Laos 🇲🇾 Malaysia 🇲🇲 Myanmar 🇵🇭 Philippines 🇹🇭 Thailand 🇻🇳 Vietnam

South & Central Asia · 8

🇧🇩 Bangladesh 🇮🇳 India 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan 🇲🇻 Maldives 🇳🇵 Nepal 🇵🇰 Pakistan 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

The Americas · 17

🇦🇷 Argentina 🇧🇸 Bahamas 🇧🇴 Bolivia 🇨🇱 Chile 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic 🇬🇹 Guatemala 🇬🇾 Guyana 🇯🇲 Jamaica 🇵🇦 Panama 🇵🇾 Paraguay 🇵🇪 Peru 🇸🇷 Suriname 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago 🇺🇸 United States 🇺🇾 Uruguay

Oceania · 2

🇫🇯 Fiji 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

Relaxed· 30

Europe · 10

🇦🇹 Austria 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇮 Finland 🇩🇪 Germany 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland

Middle East & Caucasus · 3

🇶🇦 Qatar 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 🇦🇪 UAE (Dubai)

Sub-Saharan Africa · 9

🇧🇼 Botswana 🇨🇻 Cape Verde 🇬🇭 Ghana 🇲🇺 Mauritius 🇳🇦 Namibia 🇷🇼 Rwanda 🇸🇳 Senegal 🇸🇨 Seychelles 🇿🇲 Zambia

East Asia · 3

🇨🇳 China 🇯🇵 Japan 🇰🇷 South Korea

South-East Asia · 1

🇸🇬 Singapore

The Americas · 2

🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇺 Cuba

Oceania · 2

🇦🇺 Australia 🇳🇿 New Zealand

The details are in the app

This page gives you the level. The app gives you the thresholds, the penalties, what to do at customs — for the country you are actually going to, offline.

See my destination

How it works, in general

🎭 The scams that work everywhere

The friendly stranger who takes you to "a great bar" — you leave with a bill of several hundred euros.
"Your hotel is closed / burned down" from a taxi driver: he is taking you to the one paying him a commission.
The distraction pair: one spills something or asks directions, the other takes your bag.
Rental damage claims on scooters and jet-skis — always film the vehicle before leaving with it.
Fake police asking to "check your wallet for counterfeit notes". Real police never do this.

🛡️ Reduce what you can lose

Split your money: some on you, some in the room safe, a card hidden in your luggage.
A cheap second phone for nights out means a snatch costs you a phone, not your whole trip.
Photograph your passport, cards and insurance, and email them to yourself.
Note your consulate's number on paper — if your phone is stolen, it goes with it.

🚨 If it happens

Never resist an armed robbery. Objects are replaceable.
File a police report immediately — no insurance pays without one.
Block your cards before anything else, then your phone.
Contact your consulate if your passport is gone; they issue emergency travel documents.

Frequently asked questions

In which countries is theft & scams banned?

12 countries flag theft & scams as banned or a serious risk for travellers: Brazil, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Ecuador, Libya, Mali, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Venezuela.

Where is theft & scams allowed with limits?

106 countries allow it under conditions (age, place, quantity, permit): Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechia, Djibouti….

How do I check the rules for my destination before I fly?

Open LawsTravels: pick your destination, the topic theft & scams shows the level, the thresholds and the penalties, offline. Your home country is free.

By region

Europe35 Middle East & Caucasus12 North Africa7 Sub-Saharan Africa42 East Asia7 South-East Asia10 South & Central Asia8 The Americas23 Oceania4

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These pages indicate a level of risk only. They summarise publicly available legal information and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies — always confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.