Local Laws Rules in Every Country

⛔Japan has very limited legal support in English. If arrested, immediately request to contact your embassy. You can be held for up to 23 days without charge.

⛔Drug laws in the UAE are among the strictest in the world. Traces of drugs in your system (from use before arriving) have led to tourist arrests. Carry no controlled substances whatsoever.

⛔Multiple tourists have been arrested and imprisoned for social media posts about the Thai monarchy — including foreigners posting from abroad about Thailand. The law is enforced aggressively.

⛔Displaying Nazi symbols or making Hitler salutes, even as a joke, is a criminal offense in Germany with penalties including imprisonment. This applies to tourists.

⛔Full face coverings (niqab, balaclava, etc.) are banned in all public spaces in France by law. Violation results in a €150 fine.

⛔Australia's biosecurity laws are among the world's strictest. All food, plant, and animal products must be declared on arrival. Undeclared items found by detector dogs result in immediate fines of AUD 444 and potential prosecution.

⛔Singapore imposes the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking above certain quantities. This applies regardless of nationality, prior criminal record, or ignorance. Never carry packages for others.

⛔Many Italian historic cities now enforce tourist behavior laws actively. Fines for eating near monuments, sitting on steps, or wading in fountains range from €150 to €500+.

⛔Criticizing the President of Turkey (Erdoğan) on social media is a criminal offense under Article 299. Foreign tourists have been detained at the airport for social media posts made from abroad. Be cautious about what you post.

⛔Bringing firearms or ammunition into Mexico — even unknowingly — is a federal crime carrying mandatory prison sentences of up to five years.

⛔Public drinking bans in Barcelona and other cities are actively enforced with on-the-spot fines — do not assume outdoor drinking is tolerated.

⛔Drug laws in Brazil are enforced, and foreign nationals caught with cannabis or other illegal substances face arrest, detention, and potential deportation.

⛔Drug possession in India can result in a minimum 10-year prison sentence with no possibility of bail for the first year. This applies equally to tourists.

⛔VPN use is technically illegal in China under Chinese law, though enforcement against tourists is rare. Using a VPN remains the only practical way to access most Western internet services — download and set it up before you arrive.

⛔Cannabis consumption — even in a country where it is legal — can result in criminal prosecution in South Korea if detected upon return or during your stay.

⛔Drug trafficking carries the death penalty in Vietnam — this is strictly enforced and applies to foreign nationals.

⛔Removing archaeological artifacts — even fragments that appear to be litter — is a criminal offense that can result in immediate arrest and prosecution.

⛔Drug trafficking carries severe criminal penalties regardless of Portugal's decriminalization policy for personal use.

⛔Photographing sex workers in Amsterdam's Red Light District windows is illegal and carries an on-the-spot fine of €190 or more — police are present and will act.

⛔Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and penalties are severe, including license suspension and criminal charges — police use roadside drug-testing devices.

⛔Indonesia's drug laws are among the harshest in the world. The death penalty has been carried out on foreign nationals. Do not carry, buy, or use any illegal substances under any circumstances.

⛔Malaysia imposes mandatory death by hanging for drug trafficking above specified quantities. This applies to all nationalities without exception. Never transport anything through customs on behalf of another person.

⛔LGBTQ+ travellers face genuine legal risk in Egypt. Avoid public displays of affection and be extremely cautious with dating apps, which are monitored by police.

⛔Same-sex relations are illegal in Morocco and prosecutions of tourists have occurred — LGBTQ+ travellers should exercise significant caution and discretion throughout the country.

⛔Drug trafficking and possession carry the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Even trace amounts found in luggage can result in arrest. Do not carry any controlled substances.

⛔Drug trafficking is a capital offense in Qatar. Even traces of controlled substances in your system or luggage have led to tourist arrests — carry nothing.

⛔Purchasing or exporting ivory, rhino horn, or other listed wildlife products carries severe criminal penalties including imprisonment. This law is strictly enforced and ignorance is not a defence.

⛔Failing to declare biosecurity items at New Zealand customs can result in immediate fines of NZD 400 and potential criminal prosecution. Detector dogs are routinely deployed at all international airports.

⛔The Philippines' drug war has resulted in thousands of deaths. Even minor drug-related offences are treated with extreme severity. This is not a country where recreational drug use carries a light risk.

⛔Argentina's economic laws around currency exchange are complex and change frequently — exchanging money on the street (not at a reputable casa de cambio) exposes you to theft and counterfeit notes.

⛔Scopolamine ('burundanga' or 'devil's breath') is used in documented crimes against tourists — never accept anything to eat, drink, or smell from strangers, even in friendly social settings.

⛔Hard drug possession and trafficking carries severe penalties including lengthy prison sentences with no special leniency for tourists.

⛔Drug possession — even small amounts — can result in lengthy pre-trial detention in Peruvian jails; do not accept packages from strangers under any circumstances.

⛔Violating Sunday quiet rules or creating excessive noise during Nachtruhe (10pm–7am) can result in police complaints from neighbours and fines — this is taken seriously even in tourist accommodation.

⛔Displaying Nazi symbols or performing Nazi salutes is a criminal offense in Austria and can result in immediate arrest and prosecution.

⛔Strip club scams in Prague are well-documented — tourists have been handed bills in the thousands of euros with implied threats; avoid unsolicited invitations to clubs.

⛔Cannabis is illegal in Poland with zero tolerance — possession can result in prosecution regardless of quantity or your home country's laws.

⛔Sweden's drink-drive limit of 0.02% BAC is one of Europe's strictest — even one beer can put you over the legal limit. Do not drive after any alcohol consumption.

⛔Norway's drink-driving limit of 0.02% BAC is near-zero tolerance — even one drink before driving can result in automatic licence suspension, heavy fines, and possible imprisonment. Do not drive after consuming any alcohol.

⛔Dubrovnik, Split, and Hvar police actively fine tourists caught in swimwear or without shirts in town centres — keep a cover-up in your bag at all times.

⛔Cannabis is completely illegal in Hungary — possession of even small amounts can result in criminal charges, not just a fine.

⛔LGBTQ+ relationships are technically illegal in Jordan. Although enforcement against tourists has been limited historically, the legal framework exists and the risk should not be dismissed.

⛔LGBTQ relationships are illegal under Section 365 of the Penal Code. Same-sex couples should be discreet in public to avoid legal risk.

⛔Drug possession carries serious criminal penalties including imprisonment; do not be misled by the cultural visibility of hashish near some temple areas.

⛔Hong Kong's National Security Law applies to foreigners. Actions that would be lawful in your home country — including social media posts critical of China's government — can lead to arrest and prosecution. Exercise caution.

⛔Drug offences can result in the death penalty — do not carry, use, or attempt to purchase any narcotics anywhere in the Maldives.

⛔LGBTQ travellers face genuine legal risk in Kenya where same-sex relationships are criminalised. Exercise significant discretion and avoid any public displays of affection — the law is actively enforced.

⛔LGBTQ relationships are a criminal offence in Tanzania with sentences up to 30 years imprisonment — this law is enforced against foreigners and is not merely theoretical.

⛔Cannabis is illegal under federal law regardless of state legality — do not carry it through airports, across state lines, or onto any federal land including national parks.