Foreign Laws Tourists Should Be Aware Of
THIS PAGE INCLUDES ;
Various dos and don'ts around the world.
Cultural & Customary differences around the world.
Countries which implement Sharia Law and Hudud punishments.
BEWARE OF THESE HOLIDAY SCAMS - 10 Popular travel scams around the world,
When travelling abroad it's always wise to have a little insight into the various laws, rules, regulations and customs of your host nation.
Where ever you travel remember that you are a guest in your host country and more importantly, an ambassador of your own country. Therefore ALWAYS respect your host country’s cultural, legal and religious laws at all times
Remember also that some countries around the world have strict regulations on the importation of narcotics, recreational drugs, pornography, money and firearms and strict national laws regarding the use of drugs, alcohol or smoking and drink driving.
Most countries around the world also implement strict laws on the importation of child pornography.
The vast majority of people with a criminal record will be denied access into most countries around the world. To check your status for admission into any foreign country, please visit the relevant country's immigration website.
Ignorance of the law of a foreign country does not exonerate anyone of a crime and one’s nationality, religion, political affiliation, gender or sexual persuasion will not render them exempt from the penalties for breaking the laws of another country.
VARIOUS DOS AND DON'TS AROUND THE WORLD
AUSTRALIA.
DO NOT attempt to take any food, plants, soil, seeds or animal skins into Australia. For a full list of Australia's stringent import laws please visit - www.daff.gov.au/aqis.
BULGARIA
Nodding yes and no is in complete reverse to most other countries, with an up and down nod meaning no, and a side to side nod meaning yes.
CANADA
If you are awaiting a criminal trial or you have been charged with a conviction, however minor, in the last ten years you will not be allowed entry into Canada.
DO NOT eat in the street.
DENMARK
When driving in Denmark it is against the law to drive WITHOUT headlights ON. To drive without headlights, even in bright sunshine, will result in a heavy fine.
FLORIDA. U.S.A
There is absolutely NO topless bathing in the American state of Florida.
FRANCE
DO NOT cross cutlery on an empty plate upon finishing a meal.
ALWAYS eat sandwiches and fruit with a knife and fork.
GERMANY
DO NOT get up from your seat on a train until the train has stopped.
INDIA
No where in India is it allowed to indulge in NUDE bathing.
Alcohol is BANNED in the Indian states of Gujarat and Mizoram.
Certain ' dry ' days are observed during public holidays.
Kashmir State implements Sharia Law and Hudud punishments.
INDONESIA
DO NOT stand in the street with both hands in your pockets.
ISLAMIC COUNTRIES
ALWAYS be aware of dress codes in Islamic countries and dress appropriately. Men must NEVER be seen in the street bare chested and women must NOT wear revealing clothing.
When visiting mosques, all women, even non Muslims, MUST cover their heads.
All shoes MUST be taken off before entering a mosque.
Do NOT eat, drink or smoke cigarettes in the street during the holy month of Ramadam.
NEVER appear intoxicated by alcohol or drugs anywhere, inside or outside.
ONLY drink alcohol in specified hotels and bars which are legally allowed to sell it.
At NO point must men approach local women.
NEVER take photographs of local women.
NEVER attempt to take pork products or their derivatives into any Islamic country.
DIABETICS - DO check with the appropriate consulate or embassy before travelling, regarding the use of porcine insulin.
Men and women do NOT shake hands.
Unmarried couples who a share hotel room or apartment MUST refer to one another as husband and wife, as it is illegal to sleep with some one who is not your legal spouse.
Read our section below for information about countries which implement Sharia Law and Hudud punishments.
ITALY.
At NO point should you ever enter a fountain.
ONLY men should be seen to pour wine.
LEBANON
To lick ones forefinger and then stroke it across an eyebrow, intimates that the person you are speaking to is a homosexual.
LONDON, U.K
A congestion zone fee is in place in certain areas around the U.K's capital. This fee must be paid as failure to do so will result in heavy fines. For more information please visit - London congestion zone information for visitors and tourists.
NEW YORK CITY, U.S.A
There is a strict No Smoking rule in place in all public places, inside as well as outside. For a fully comprehensive list of all U.S anti - smoking laws please visit - Smoking_bans_in_the_United_States.
NEW ZEALAND
DO NOT attempt to take food, plants, seeds, soil or animal skins into New Zealand. For a full list of New Zealand's stringent import laws please visit - www.customs.govt.nz
SCANDINAVIA
Drink driving is not tolerated by any society, but particularly in Scandinavian countries, which incorporates the countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Drink driving is NOT tolerated in any of these countries and to do so can result in the heaviest of the world's fines or even incarceration.
SINGAPORE
NEVER at any time must you spit in the street.
NEVER at any time must you use or drop chewing gum in the street.
NEVER at any time must you smoke in the street or in any public building.
NEVER curl your index finger in a come here type gesture, as it means you are going to die.
ALWAYS remember to flush the toilet.
TONGA
A strict dress code should be adhered to at ALL times, even on the beach.
Sunday is the Sabbath day and is considered sacrosanct, with alcohol and smoking BANNED in public places.
NEVER use the Lord's name in vain or blaspheme at any time, particularly on Sundays.
There is NO gambling allowed or any casinos situated on Tonga.
TURKEY
DO NOT blow your nose at the dining table, either in private homes or in public eateries.
NEVER at any time deface the Turkish flag or Turkish banknotes, and never deface, use expletives towards or make rude gestures towards pictures of Kemal Mustafa Ataturk. Kemal Mustafa Ataturk, pictured below, is the founder of the Turkish Republic and his image and memory are sacrosanct.
NOTE - Since April 10th 2014 all visas for Turkey have to be purchased before you travel. You will now no longer be able to purchase them at border controls.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The Arab Emirates which includes the holiday hotspots of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have strict drug laws.
Absolutely NO narcotics or recreational drugs are allowed to be taken into the U.A.E.
Prescription drugs MUST be accompanied by a doctors letter and prescription.
DO NOT take any over the counter drugs into the U.A E. Banned over the counter drugs are anything which are CODEIN based, or derivatives of VALIUM.
If you are prescribed any painkillers, anti - biotics or sleeping pills whilst on holiday in the U.A.E, you MUST keep the prescription in order to show customs officials when leaving the country.
If you regularly take any of the above drugs, please make arrangements with your GP, before you travel, in order to find alternative medication.
You can visit the U.A.E consulate website by visiting - uae embassyuk.net.
Read our section below for information about countries which implement Sharia Law and/ or Hudud punishments.
UNITED KINGDOM
DO NOT attempt to bring meat or dairy products into the country.
NEVER throw cigarette butts out of a car window.
All drivers and passengers in cars must wear seat belts from the age of 12. Under twelves must be secured in an appropriate child car seat.
DO NOT attempt to bring Quat (Khat) or any of it's derivatives into the country.
UNITED STATES
DO NOT attempt to take the Quat (Khat) plant or any of it's derivatives into the U.S.A.
VENICE, ITALY
DO NOT feed the pigeons.
YEMEN
NEVER take pork products or their derivatives into Yemen, to do so can result in the death penalty.
Diabetics must check with the Yemeni Consulate regarding the use of porcine insulin.You can visit the Yemeni consulate website by visiting - yemen embassy.org.uk.
CULTURAL / CUSTOMARY DIFFERENCES AROUND THE WORLD
There are many customs and cultural differences to observe when travelling abroad and although they are not exactly laws of the land, it is always wise to know how to behave in another country and to understand the various cultural do's and dont's.
Using your thumb and forefinger to make an O shape, which means OK in the USA and UK - is an extremely rude gesture in -
Brazil
Greece
spain
Turkey Greece
Yawning without covering the mouth in public is considered very rude in -
Argentina
Australia
Chile
South Africa
The thumbs up sign, which means OK in the USA and UK is considered vulgar in most Islamic countries and most parts of Asia.
.
To show the soles of your feet in public is considered very rude in -
China
Thailand
United Arab Emirates
Chewing gum whilst speaking is considered the height of ignorance in -
Germany
Poland
Women, do not cross your legs in Spain or any Islamic country when the call to prayer is sounding.
Do not shake hands when meeting someone for the first time, but instead make a slight bow instead in -
China
Japan
Korea
Women, do not shake hands with men in India or most South American countries.
Do not wear shoes in -
Mosques.
Indian homes.
Japanese homes, businesses and shops. Overshoes will be offered when this is the case.
Women must cover their heads when entering -
a mosque anywhere in the world.
a church in Italy and Spain.
Men must not go bare chested into churches in -
Italy or Spain
Publicly in Islamic countries
On entering a mosque anywhere in the world
To show the raised palm of your hand in a 'stop ' like gesture is considered a threat of violence in some Asian countries.
Belching after a meal is considered highly complimentary to the chef in most Islamic countries.
Single women must never be seen alone in the company of a married man in most Islamic countries.
All women must be covered and accompanied by a male relative when walking outside in most countries with Sharia Law.
Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia.
For countries which implement anti - LGBT laws, please visit our page - lgbt travel.
COUNTRIES WHICH IMPLEMENT SHARIA LAW AND HUDUD PUNISHMENT
There are several countries around the world which implement Sharia Law, either in whole or part, which can apply either to all persons or just Muslims.
In some of these countries Hudud is implemented as punishment. Hudud is a class of punishment fixed to certain crimes, such as theft, fornication, adultery, apostasy (blashphemy), alcohol use and homosexual activities, which are interpreted as sodomy.
Hudud punishments consist of decapitation in it's most extreme case, public flogging, public stoning and limb amputation.
Islamic countries which do not implement hudud punishments may implement lengthy prison sentences for any of the above and for certain cultural taboos such as non married couples who share hotel rooms or apartments, kissing or holding hands in the street, public nudity, playing loud music, the use of certain types of pain killers such as paracetamol and the possession of pork products such as porcine insulin, dried pork products and any foodstuffs containing gelatin.
Below is a list of countries which implement Sharia Law in all cases, a list of countries which implement Sharia Law in part and a list of countries which implement Sharia Law only to Muslims.
Countries which implement Sharia Law in the whole of the country and in all cases are;
Brunei
Iran - Punishment by hudud.
Kuwait
Oman
Pakistan - Punishment by hudud.
Qatar
Saudi Arabia - Punishment by hudud.
Somalia - Punishment by hudud.
Sudan - Punishment by hudud.
Yemen
Countries which implement Sharia Law in part are;
India - Kashmir State only - Punishment by hudud and only to Muslims.
Indonesia - Aceh Province only - Punishment by hudud.
Nigeria - Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states only. Some areas implement punishment by hudud.
Philippines - Mindinao Island only.
Thailand - Regions of Narathiwat, Pattani, Somgkhla and Yala only.
Countries which implement Sharia Law to Muslims only are;
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Iraq
Jordan
Lebanon
Malaysia - Punishment by hudud.
Maldives - Punishment by hudud.
Singapore
Syria
Secular Islamic Countries
There are many countries across the world which are predominantly Islamic but remain secular. When visiting these countries one should still respect the Islamic culture and religion of the country by behaving and dressing appropriately. These countries are;
Albania
Algeria
Azerbaijan
Djibouti
Egypt
Guinea
Kosovo
Kyrgystan
Libya
Mali
Mauritania
Mayotte
Morocco
Palestine
Senegal
Tajikistan Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Western Sahara
