A survey of 2,000 UK passport holders who have been abroad found that nearly a quarter (24%) may have broken a law while abroad without realising, while 5% admitted they knowingly broke a law overseas. Among those who broke a law or cultural rule, 26% received a warning from local authorities, but 14% were fined, with an average fine of £160. Over 36% of those fined were charged more than £200, and 6% reported being arrested.
Common offences and destinations
The most common reasons for fines abroad included littering or environmental offences (32%), wearing inappropriate clothing at religious or cultural sites (27%), and taking photographs in prohibited areas (23%). France was the most common destination for fines (32%), followed by Spain (27%) and Italy (27%).
Lack of preparation
Despite the risks, 17% of respondents said they never research the laws or customs of their destination before travelling. Of those who do research, 55% rely on travel websites and blogs, while fewer than half (40%) check official government or embassy advice. Nearly a quarter (22%) said photography restrictions would be the easiest to miss, followed by dress codes (16%) and alcohol consumption laws (13%).
Examples of unusual laws abroad include wearing high heels at ancient archaeological sites in Greece, feeding pigeons in Paris, and kissing in public in the UAE. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides consular assistance to more than 5,000 British nationals detained or arrested abroad each year.
Expert advice
Tom Vaughan, travel insurance expert at Confused.com, said: “Our findings show that’s not always the case. Every year, thousands of British nationals require consular assistance, after being arrested or detained overseas, often for breaking laws or cultural rules they may not have been aware of.” He added: “Many of the rules catching people out aren’t necessarily what you’d expect. Something as simple as taking a photograph, wearing the wrong clothing at a religious site, carrying medication without the correct paperwork or drinking alcohol in the wrong place can result in fines or even more serious consequences in some destinations.”
Vaughan also warned that fines received abroad cannot be claimed on travel insurance, and additional costs from detention are not covered. He urged travellers to check local laws and customs before travelling. Confused.com offers an unusual laws abroad checker for destinations.
