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Iraq (Middle East)

Advice for all destinations.

Read the information on the COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel page for advice on travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccinations and malaria risk

Review both the Vaccination and Malaria sections on this page to find out if you may need vaccines and/or a malaria risk assessment before you travel to this country.

If you think you require vaccines and/or malaria risk assessment, you should make an appointment with a travel health professional:

  • How to make an appointment with a travel health professional

A travel health risk assessment is also advisable for some people, even when vaccines or malaria tablets are not required.

  • Do I need a travel health risk assessment?

Risk prevention advice 

Many of the health risks experienced by travellers cannot be prevented by vaccines and other measures need to be taken.

Always make sure you understand the wider risks at your destination and take precautions, including:

  • food and water safety
  • accident prevention
  • avoiding insect bites
  • preventing and treating animal bites
  • respiratory hygiene
  • hand hygiene

Our advice section gives detailed information on minimising specific health risks abroad:

  • Travel Health Advice A-Z

Other health considerations

Make sure you have travel insurance before travel to cover healthcare abroad.

Find out if there are any restrictions you need to consider if you are travelling with medicines .

Know how to access healthcare at your destination: see the GOV.UK English speaking doctors and medical facilities: worldwide list

If you feel unwell on your return home from travelling abroad, always seek advice from a healthcare professional and let them know your travel history.

Vaccinations

  • Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including for example, seasonal flu vaccine (if indicated), MMR , vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
  • Courses or boosters usually advised: Diphtheria; Tetanus.
  • Other vaccines to consider: Hepatitis A; Rabies; Typhoid.
  • Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: Hepatitis B.

No yellow fever vaccination certificate required for this country. 

Notes on the diseases mentioned above

  • Diphtheria :  spread person to person through respiratory droplets. Risk is higher if mixing with locals in poor, overcrowded living conditions.

Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation is poor.

Risk is higher for long stays, frequent travel and for children (exposed through cuts and scratches), those who may require medical treatment during travel.

  • Tetanus :  spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available.
  • Typhoid :  spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited.
  • Malaria not normally present unless the illness was contracted abroad.

Other Health Risks

Altitude and travel, schistosomiasis.

There is a risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) in this country.

Please be aware that the risk of COVID-19 in this country may change at short notice and also consider your risk of exposure in any transit countries and from travelling itself. 

  • The 'News' section on this page will advise if significant case increases or outbreaks have occurred in this country.

Prior to travel, you should:

  • Check the latest government guidance on the FCDO Foreign travel advice and country specific pages for travel to this country and the rules for entering the UK on return.
  • Ensure you are up to date with UK recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination.
  • You can check this in the FAQ's.
  • If you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 you should carefully  consider your travel plans  and consider seeking medical advice prior to making any decisions.

For further information, see  Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)  and  COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel  pages.

  • 49 additional items in the news archive for this country

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The Adventures of Nicole

Iraq Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Visit in 2024

Updated March 2024 , Iraq Travel Guide was originally published in January 2022

I first stepped foot in Iraq back in 2019, visiting the far north- only to spiral my curiosity into the country even further (the same thing happened to me in Afghanistan years ago, so I should have known better), bringing me back to travel Iraq yet again in 2021 (and spilling into 2022). So without too much carrying on, I’ve created a quick guide to traveling Iraq after traveling both independently and running a tour here, including everything you need to know to plan your visit in 2024.

Need Travel Insurance and Evacuation Services for Iraq?

Start shopping for travel insurance plans over at  IATI Insurance . Readers of the Adventures of Nicole get a 5% discount off your plan.

The Adventures of Nicole partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading medical evacuation and security advisory services. To travel with peace of mind, shop evacuation coverage at Global Rescue .

Going to Iraq and don’t have much time? Check out my 7 Day Iraq Itinerary for ideas

Iraq Travel Basics

Language:  Iraqi Arabic in Federal Iraq and Kurdish dialects (mainly Kurmanji and Sorani) in Iraqi Kurdistan. Note that English as a second language is popular in all of Iraq, so getting around without knowledge of Arabic is not too difficult. I’d recommend memorizing the Arabic numbers to make reading distances, times, license plates, etc. a little easier and learning a few keywords such as hello ‘ salaam ’, thank you ‘ shrukran ’ (Arabic) ‘ spos ’ (Kurdish), etc. 

Money:  The  Iraqi Dinar  is the official currency of Iraq and is currently ( February 2024 ) exchanging at  1,310 ID to $1 USD . You can easily exchange from dollars (Euro and GBP aren’t as popular with exchangers) to dinars at stalls and exchange shops in most cities. Many hotels will also offer exchange services (at a slightly less favorable rate) and larger purchases can usually be done in US dollars. 

Cash is still king in Iraq, so you will inevitably pay in cash for most things, however, in some more upscale hotels and restaurants you may be able to pay with a card (but don’t always count on it, it’s common for only one or two staff members knowing how to use the card machine or for it to be out of service). 

ATMs:  In general, ATMs in Iraqi Kurdistan are more reliable namely in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Dohuk. In southern Iraq it’s a bit more likely that ATMs will be out of service, but it’s not impossible to withdraw money. That said, bringing cash to exchange is a smart idea. Worst case scenario Western Union and Moneygram are both available in Iraq). 

Only have a week to explore Iraq? Check out my 7 day Iraq itinerary and start planning

Iraqi Visas For Travelers

Note that there are actually two different visas for Iraq, the visa for Federal Iraq and an Iraqi Kurdistan visa. You can enter Iraqi Kurdistan with a Federal Iraq visa but you cannot enter Federal (south/Arab) Iraq on an Iraqi Kurdistan visa. 

Iraqi visa, Iraq visa, Iraq visa on arrival

Visa for Federal Iraq 

Starting in March 2021, it became possible for 38 nationalities to purchase an Iraqi visa on arrival ($77 USD) good for 60 days at Iraqi international airports in Baghdad, Basra, and Najaf. These nationalities include Australia, Canada, China, European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden), Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States. 

Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are eligible for a visa on arrival free of charge at Baghdad, Basra, and Najaf airports. 

Those not on either list above will need to apply for a full on visa the old fashioned way- through an embassy. 

The Iraqi visa on arrival officially costs $75 USD, but at the visa window in the airport they will tell you $77. If you don’t have exact change they’ll gladly take your $80. This was my experience as I forgot to grab cash for the visa before leaving home and withdrew $80 from an ATM on a layover- though this is exactly what I expected to happen and was met with an ear to ear grin and a wink from the guy at the counter. 

In total, it took all of about five minutes to receive my Iraqi visa on arrival and go through the immigration window, but fair warning my flight to Baghdad was nearly empty (don’t be surprised if the guy at the immigration window is smoking a cig when he stamps you in, welcome to Iraq!). Most travelers report waiting 30 minutes to an hour for their visa on arrival so plan for it to take approximately that long. 

Note that  visa on arrival is now available on land borders! , they used to be only possible at international airports but are now possible to get on all of the land border crossings. 

Iraqi Kurdistan Visa

Citizens of Australia, Brazil, Canada, European Union, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States are eligible for a visa on arrival in Iraqi Kurdistan both by land border crossings and at the airports in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. The visa is good for 30 days. 

A change from my initial visit in 2019 is that the  Iraqi Kurdistan visa on arrival now costs $75  (it was free back then). 

As mentioned earlier,  you cannot travel to Federal (South/Arab) Iraq on the Iraqi Kurdistan visa , legally anyway (there are reports of people sneaking past checkpoints successfully, but personally I wouldn’t want to deal with the hassle). You can, however, travel to Iraqi Kurdistan from Federal Iraq on an Iraqi visa. 

Plan your trip to Iraqi Kurdistan with this 10 day itinerary

Getting to Iraq

Iraqi airports .

The easiest way to enter Iraq is via one of the international airports. In Federal Iraq, you can enter at  Baghdad, Basra, and Najaf  Airports. In Kurdistan at  Erbil and Sulaymaniyah  Airports. 

Iraqi Land Borders

There are land border crossings with Turkey, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

Read: The Iran-Iraq border crossing at Haji Omaran

Any travelers that may have first-hand experience crossing land borders with Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria please leave a comment at the end of this article, I’d love to hear about it and add relevant information to this Iraq travel guide to help others. 

Al shaheed Monument, martyr’s Monument, Baghdad, iraq

Traveling Iraq: Independent Travel or Organized Tour?

Both independent travel and organized tours of Iraq have their advantages. I have actually done both, having traveled on my own and leading a tour. 

Of course, the easiest way is to travel on an organized tour of Iraq. Your local guides will handle all the headaches like checkpoints, permits/permissions, hotel bookings, etc. If you are interested in joining a group tour check out the April Baghdad to Basra tour being offered through my local partners. 

Independent travelers will need to navigate checkpoints and everything on their own. It’s not the most difficult undertaking but you really have to ask yourself if this is something you want to deal with. If you have a lot of experience traveling independently, especially in the Middle East region, and aren’t on a time crunch then independent travel in Iraq can be quite rewarding. 

The Best Time to Travel in Iraq

Al Musfi Mosque, Mosul, Iraq

Undoubtedly the fall and spring months of October, November, March, and April are the best time to travel in Iraq with comfortable temperatures for exploring. Kurdistan’s weather is a bit cooler, making September and May good months additionally too. 

The summer months are best avoided (June, July, August) due to scorching temperatures throughout the country. 

Winter can be a nice time to visit Iraq, but you can expect cool temperatures, especially in Iraqi Kurdistan. Pack a warm waterproof jacket too as rain is a bit more prevalent this time of year. 

Destinations in Iraq

I’ve listed the main destinations around Iraq that most travelers would visit and the main sites in each of them below. If I’ve written an in-depth mini-guide to an Iraqi destination you’ll find it linked below, and expect more to pop up here as I get caught up on all these blog posts in the coming months! 

Al Shaheed Monument, Martyr’s Monument, Baghdad, iraq

Baghdad is the capital of Federal Iraq and its most populous city. Most likely, Baghdad will be your first stop in Iraq so get ready for a dizzying array of sites, smells, foods, and interactions. Also, be prepared for some of the worst traffic you’ll ever see (it takes forever to get anywhere unless it’s late-night or early morning). 

Read: 10 best things to do in Baghdad + Baghdad Travel Guide

Things to do in Baghdad

  • Baghdad National Museum (best organized by a guide to get permissions to visit) 
  • Al Shaheed (Martyr Monument)
  • Al Khadimhiya (Yassin) Mosque
  • Tahrir Square
  • Mustanasiryah Madrasa
  • Al Mutanabi Street 
  • Shabandr Cafe
  • Safafeer Copper Market

Best Hotels in Baghdad

  • Shanasheel Palace
  • Coral Baghdad Hotel
  • Babylon Rotana

Samarra, great mosque of Samarra, Iraq

Samarra is most famous for its 9th century Grand Mosque of Samarra and 52 meter Malwiya Minaret that offers sweeping views over the city. Note that the Shia militant group Saryat as Salaam mans the checkpoint leading into Samarra and can lead to some hold-ups while crossing through- you’ll find more on the checkpoint later in the post.

  • Malwiya Minaret & Great Mosque of Samarra 
  • Al Askari Shrine

Hatra 

Hatra is famous for its iconic ruins but has been notably difficult to visit in the past. I didn’t get to Hatra myself, but others have- check out this post by Quit and Go Travel who visited Hatra along with Mosul .

  • Hatra ruins 
  • Officially Hatra is closed for foreigners, though people can and have gotten there. It may be easiest to arrange a visit with the help of a local guide 

To be totally honest, there’s not a whole lot to see in Kirkuk. Most who go to Kirkuk are just passing through between Baghdad and Erbil, though if you’re bound and determined you can take a shared taxi there and make Kirkuk a brief stopover between the two cities.

  • Kirkuk Citadel
  • Tomb of Daniel

Mosul, iraq

Mosul was one of my favorite destinations I visited in Iraq actually. I found the city and its history quite fascinating and worthy of a spot on any Iraq itinerary.

Sadly, many people know Mosul because of the brutal attacks that gravely damaged much of the city at the hands of ISIS in 2014.

Read: Visiting Mosul on a day trip, Iraq’s destroyed city

  • Mosque of the Prophet Yunus
  • Ruined buildings of Old Mosul
  • Mosul Souks
  • Saddam’s Mosque
  • Ancient Walls of Ninevah 
  • Al Nuri Mosque
  • Bash Tapia Castle

Ctesiphon, Persian arch, Iraq

Ctesiphon is a famed ancient Persian city that was founded in the 2nd century and served as the winter capital of the Sassanian Empire. The building is impressively large, though much of the wall section has been more recently rebuilt. The grand arch Ctesiphon is most famous for is in danger of collapse and as of January 2022 had extensive scaffolding inside to prop it up.

Saddam’s Palace, Saddam’s Babylon Palace

The main attraction of Hillah is the ruins of ancient Babylon and Saddam’s Babylonian Palace that overlooked the ruins.

  • Saddam’s Babylonian Palace

Ishtar gate, Babylon, blue gate Babylon, Hillah, iraq

No Iraq itinerary would be complete without a visit to ancient Babylon. You’ll likely end up spending most of a day here taking in all the historic sites that would have made up the famed ancient capital.

  • Ishtar Gate
  • Labyrinth of Babylon
  • Walls of Babylon
  • Lion Statue

Karbala 

Imam Hussein Shrine, Imam Hussein Mosque, Karbala, Iraq

Karbala is one of Iraq’s holiest cities. The city is home to the Imam Hussein Shrine that millions of followers make a pilgrimage to each year for Arbaeen.

  • Imam Hussein Shrine
  • Imam Abbas Shrine

Best Hotels in Karbala

  • Baron Hotel

Wadi as Salam, wadi as Salam cemetery, Najaf cemetery, Najaf, iraq

Like Karbala, Najaf is another holy city for the Shia and no visit would be complete without at least a visit to the Imam Ali Mosque & Shrine and the Wadi as Salaam Cemetery.

  • Imam Ali Mosque & Shrine
  • Wadi as Salaam Cemetery 

Best Hotels in Najaf

  • Aghnar Hotel

Great mosque of Kufa, Kufa, iraq

Kufa is a short taxi ride away from Najaf and is worth tacking on to your day in the holy city. Its main attraction of course is the Grand Mosque of Kufa.

  • Grand Mosque of Kufa
  • Al Saleh Mosque

Nasiriyah & Chibayesh

Chibayesh, Nasiriyah, Mesopotamian marshes, Mesopotamia, iraq

  • Ziggurat of Ur
  • Jumping off point for the Mesopotamian Marshes (Chibayesh)
  • Cruise around in a mashuuf (traditional boat) in the marshes 
  • Visit the Marshland reed houses

There isn’t a lot to do in Nasiriyah itself but it is a great jumping-off point for other adventures in the general vicinity but the Nasiriyah Museum and the Euphrates Riverfront are worth checking out.

Outside Nasiriyah, the Ziggurat of Ur is a must. It’s a well-maintained relic to the ancient city-state of Ur that would have ruled over the Mesopotamia region around 2200 BC.

The other attraction outside of Nasiriyah is the fascinating Mesopotamian Marshes. Personally, cruising the Mesopotamian Marshes by mashuuf (a traditional canoe-like boat) to see the traditional marshland reed houses were a highlight of traveling around Iraq for me.

Note that there is a checkpoint going into Nasiriyah that is notoriously difficult to get through. You do need to have a local contact in the city and possibly for them to come met you at the checkpoint (though in February 2022 I had seen posts of people stating that this is no longer the case). For updates from recent travelers and to find contacts in Nasiriyah, check out the Iraqi Travellers Cafe page on Facebook.

Best Hotels in Nasiriyah 

  • Al Zaitoon Hotel

Basra fish market, Basra souk,  Basra, iraq

Basra is the southern port city of Iraq, situated close to both Iran and Kuwait. A river cruise on a small boat on the Shatt al Arab is a must in Basra, as well as wandering the streets of Old Basra (Shanasheel) and visiting the photogenic fish markets. The Basra Museum is supposed to be quite nice, but getting through the checkpoint at the gate can sometimes be a pain, they wouldn’t let us through when I visited Basra.

  • Take a cruise on the Shatt al Arab
  • Wander around Shanasheel (Old Basra)
  • Visit the fish markets
  • Basra Museum
  • Imam Ali Mosque (Old Mosque of Basra)

Best Hotels in Basra

  • Shams al Basra
  • Horizon Hotel

Heading to Iraqi Kurdistan? Check out this quick Iraqi Kurdistan Travel Guide

Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan

Erbil is a quite modern city despite its long history. No visit to Erbil would be complete without a stop at the Erbil Citadel and Erbil Square. The meandering maze-like Qaysari Bazaar is another favorite spot of mine in the city too.

If beautiful architecture is what you’re after, don’t miss Jalil Khayyat Mosque. Of course, Shanider Park and Minaret Park are worth visits on a nice day.

  • Erbil Citadel
  • Erbil Square
  • Qaysari Bazaar 
  • Jalil Khayyat Mosque
  • Shanidar Park
  • Minaret Park

Read: Top things to do in Erbil

Best Hotels in Erbil

  • Bella Roma Hotel
  • Fareeq Hotel
  • Divan Hotel

Tomb Of Sheikh Adi Ibn Musafir, Lalish, Yazidi, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan

Read: Visiting the Yazidi holy site of Lalish

Lalish is a fascinating destination and one of my favorite places in all of Iraqi Kurdistan. Lalish serves at the holiest location for the Yazidi, an ethnoreligious group that practices Sharfadism (the Yazidi religion) which blends a number of aspects from Islam, Christianity, ancient Mesopotamian religions, Zoroastrianism, among others.

The Yazidi have been heavily persecuted historically with their most recent being in 2014 at the ISIS. Despite this, I found the Yazidi quite welcoming.

Visiting the Sheikh Abi Ibn Musafir Temple is an absolute must for those coming to Lalish.

  • Temple of Sheikh Abi Ibn Musafir (note that to enter Lalish you need to be barefoot, so leave your socks and shoes in the car)

Alqosh 

Rabban Hormizd Monastery, Alqosh, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdistan, Iraq

Alqosh is home to the Chaldean Catholic Church’s holy site of Rabban Hormizd Monastery that clings impossibly to a beautiful mountainside. Similar to Lalish, Alqosh was brutally attacked by ISIS in 2014.

  • Rabban Hormizd Monastery

Read: The Rabban Hormizd Monastery in Alqosh

Mar Mattai’s main attraction is its monastery.

  • Mar Mattai Monastery 

Dohuk 

There’s not really much to see in terms of sites but is a good place to stay when exploring Amedi, Zakho, and other destinations in the far northwest of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Best Hotels in Dohuk

  • Kristal Hotel

Amedi, Amediya, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdistan

Amedi is an ancient Assyrian citadel that rises impossibly from a wide valley floor in the far north of Iraqi Kurdistan and was another of my favorite places I visited in Iraqi Kurdistan. It’s believed to have been home to the biblical three wise men.

I would recommend taking a hike opposite the citadel to get the best aerial views from a distance before going through the Bahdinian Gates and exploring the citadel itself.

  • Go to the viewpoint opposite Amedi
  • Bahdinian Gate
  • Great Mosque of Amedi 
  • Tomb of the Prophet Hazkial

Read: Visiting the ancient Assyrian Citadel of Amedi

Akre is a beautiful spot, the main thing to do is to the famous viewpoint for the past panorama of the picturesque town.

Rawanduz Canyon

Iraq, Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Rawanduz, Iran-Iraq border

Rawanduz Canyon is an outdoor lover’s paradise with a canyon to trek all over, waterfalls, and gorgeous nature.

  • Hike along Rawanduz Canyon
  • Trek to Bekhal Waterfall
  • Visit Geli Ali Beg Waterfall

Halgurd-Sakran National Park

Halgurd-Sakran National Park is another outdoor junkie’s dream. There is an endless array of mountains to be hiked in, including a summit of Iraq’s highest peak, Mount Halgurd (permit required, but it’s free of charge).

Iraq, Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Gomi Felaw, Gomi Felawe, Felaw, Felawe, Choman, Iran-Iraq border

Gomi Felaw overlooks Halgurd-Sakran National Park and was my favorite nature spot in all of Iraq with its dazzling little pond overlooking snow-capped mountain views. Gomi Felaw is accessible by heading off the famous Hamilton Highway as you near the Iranian border at Choman. 

Read: How to get to beautiful Gomi Felaw, Iraqi Kurdistan

Dore Canyon

Dore Canyon, Barzan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq

Dore Canyon has been nicknamed ‘Iraq’s Horseshoe Bend’ and is yet another beautiful scenic spot in Iraqi Kurdistan. From the town of Barzan, it’s possible to follow a 4WD track or walk to Dore Canyon. 

Read: How to get to Dore Canyon

Iraq, Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Dukan

Dukan Lake is the largest lake in Iraq and is actually a reservoir. It’s a great place for a picnic and there are a scattering of restaurants near the lake too.

Sulaymaniyah 

Iraq, Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Amna Suraka, Red Museum, Red Museum Kurdistan, Red Museum Iraq, Red Museum Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah

Sulaymaniyah (also called Slemani or Suli) is a modern city and you’ll find a lot of university students here as many people come from all over Iraq to study here. There isn’t a lot in terms of things to do for tourists in Suli, but the Amna Suraka Museum and the Sulaymaniyah Archeological Museum are well worth a visit.

Suli is surrounded by mountains, some of which have roads leading up where it’s perfect to have a picnic or enjoy the sunset. There’s also the possibility of paragliding from the mountaintops.

  • Amna Suraka Museum
  • Sulaymaniyah Bazaar
  • Sulaymaniyah Archeological Museum

Best Hotels in Sulaymaniyah 

  • Dolphin Hostel
  • Grand Millennium Suleimani

Halabja 

Halabja is a nice city break from nearby Suli. Halabja sadly suffered one of Saddam’s brutal chemical attacks that killed many of its residents.

  • Halabja Museum
  • Memorial Cemetery 

Getting Around in Iraq

Khaydar Khana Mosque, Baghdad, iraq

Between Cities

For independent travelers, getting around Iraq is pretty straightforward with minibusses and shared taxis plying routes between most major cities. There’s also a train between Baghdad and Basra on certain nights. For those wanting ultimate freedom, it’s possible to rent cars in both Federal Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan. 

Small buses are a common way to get from city to city in Iraq. They can be a bit cramped but it’s a convenient and cheap way to get around. 

Shared Taxis 

You’ll find two different types of shared taxis between cities in Iraq, standard cars that hold up to four passengers and larger SUV (usually a GMC) that hold up to seven. Note that the front seat will cost a little more than a backseat. 

Shared Taxi Prices on Common Routes

Note that prices listed are one-way and are for regular shared taxis unless stated otherwise. You can expect prices to be a bit higher for GMC/SUV shared taxis and a little lower for a seat in a minibus. You can usually add 2,000-5,000 ID to the price (depending on the length of the ride) if you want the front seat. 

  • Baghdad-Samarra:  15,000 ID (130 km)
  • Baghdad – Hillah:  10,000 ID (115 km)
  • Baghdad – Karbala:  10,000 ID (115 km)
  • Hillah (Babylon) – Karbala:  2,000 ID (45 km)
  • Karbala – Najaf:  8,000 ID (85 km)
  • Hillah – Najaf:  7,500 ID (60 km)
  • Najaf – Nasiriyah:  15,000 ID (250 km)
  • Nasiriyah – Chibayesh (Marshes):  – 5,000 ID (90 km)
  • Nasiriyah – Basra:  15,000 ID (195 km)
  • Basra – Baghdad:  30,000 ID  (350 km) 
  • Baghdad – Mosul:  25,000 ID (400 km)
  • Baghdad – Erbil:  30,000 ID (365 km)
  • Baghdad – Sulaymaniyah:  30,000 ID (340 km)
  • Mosul – Erbil:  10,000 ID (90 km)
  • Erbil – Sulaymaniyah:  15,000 ID (180 km)
  • Erbil – Dohuk:  15,000 ID (160 km) 
  • Sulaymaniyah – Halabja:  6,000 ID (80 km) 
  • Erbil – Akre:  10,000 ID (95 km)

Looking for Shared Rides in Iraq? If you aren’t sure where to go to catch a shared taxi, SUV, or minibus, just ask for the name of the city you’re going + garage (ie: Karbala Garage). Garage is the word used in Iraq rather than bus station or taxi stand. 

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights trains go between Baghdad and Basra, leaving around 7 pm and arriving around 6 am. Seats go for 10,000 ID and beds (inside a two-bed compartment) go for 40,000 ID.

Tickets must be bought at the train station, but I’ve read and been told conflicting information on when you can do so. Recently I have seen people saying that you need to go to the station at 7 am the day of departure to purchase your ticket, but I’ve also been told that you should go to the station a day or two before departure to purchase the ticket.

In order to book a ticket, you will need to go down to the train station with your passport and visa in order to book. One thing to note is that you can send someone to purchase the ticket for you. All they need is a copy of your passport and visa.

I didn’t take the train myself as I wasn’t going to be traveling on the right day when there was a departure.

Within Cities

Within the cities of Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Najaf, and Erbil the Careem app is available, making getting from one place in the city to another a breeze. Of course, regular taxis are always available too but plan to haggle. 

Checkpoints in Iraq

You will inevitably cross through many checkpoints on your travels in Iraq. In general, they’re pretty straightforward, though some are a bigger pain in the ass than others. 

Checkpoints can be found as you enter pretty much every city and along roads between them. Typically they will just flick through your passport to look at your ID page and for your Iraqi visa and sometimes the officers will even chat with you or ask for a photo. Some checkpoints they may not even stop to check at all (I found this to be the case a lot for me, but mostly on the account that I can pass as Arab I was told). 

Checkpoints are mostly manned by the Iraqi police or military in South/Arab Iraq and by Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan. Though you will find some checkpoints are controlled by armed militia groups. 

Checkpoints with a reputation for being more difficult or require some more checking include Samarra, Nasiriyah, Mosul, and between Iraq-Iraqi Kurdistan, all of which I’ve included some info about below. 

Samarra Checkpoint

The armed Shia militia group Saryat as Salaam mans the checkpoint to Samarra and they are very suspicious of foreigners. Even those on a guided group tour can expect a bit of a hold-up at the Samarra checkpoint. Just be patient. 

If visiting independently, it would be wise to find some local Iraqis to accompany you on your day trip to Samarra to make getting through the checkpoint easier and without wasting hours waiting to get through. 

Nasiriyah Checkpoint

Nasiriyah is home to the high-security al Hoot prison where many dangerous ISIS fighters are held (you will drive past the prison on your way to the Ziggurat of Ur). Because of this the Nasiriyah checkpoint usually takes a little while. Technically you need to have a sponsor in Nasiriyah (ask in Iraqi Travelers Cafe and you will easily find one) with a phone number you can give to the guards at the checkpoint. 

Recently (February 2022), I’ve seen a couple of posts in Iraqi Travellers Cafe saying that they went through the Nasiriyah Checkpoint with a local contact and that it is no longer a requirement to cross through. I am not certain that this is an actual change to the rules or if the officers were being lax or whatever. Either way, I would still have a contact lined up just in case you end up needing them.

Mosul Checkpoint

Officially you need a sponsor (similar to visiting Nasiriyah) in Mosul in order to cross through the checkpoint independently, but you may be able to cross through eventually. Mosul is a sensitive destination due to the devastating attacks on the city at the hands of ISIS in 2014. 

My friend Brett and I ended up opting to hire a driver from Mosul to do a day trip into the city from Erbil. There were three checkpoints (one-way). I was never checked, Brett’s passport was at each of them. 

Of course, if you are visiting as a day trip like we did, or as part of an organized trip, your guide or driver will help facilitate this if there is any scrutiny. 

Iraq-Iraqi Kurdistan Checkpoint

Crossing between the two Iraqs is straightforward but you do have to deal with being registered at the main checkpoint outside of Kirkuk. Local Iraqis have to register too, so all cars plying the route will stop here. 

This requires you to go inside the building and show your passport at window #1. After, walk through to the far side of the building and go to window #2 where your passport will be scanned and you will be registered. If you appear at all confused you can almost certainly expect some friendly Iraqi locals to point you in the correct direction, I also found that the drivers tend to help tell you were to go- whether you have any shared language abilities or not. 

Once this is complete you can go back out to your vehicle. As you leave the area you will cross a checkpoint where your passports will be checked again, but once out of this you’re officially crossed into Iraqi Kurdistan. 

Getting an Iraqi SIM Card

Getting an Iraqi SIM Card is easiest done at the airport on arrival, with Asiacell and Zain Iraq being the most popular mobile providers, Korek being another popular one mostly in Iraqi Kurdistan. You will need your passport and visa in order to purchase one. 

You can pop into one of the mobile provider’s offices once you are in Iraq too. 

What to Wear in Iraq

iraq travel uk

What to wear in Iraq obviously has more concerns for women than for men, but know that it’s not quite as conservative here as you might assume. Since the dudes can wear pretty much the same things they’d wear at home (though I’d advise against shorts and tanks/singlets) I’m going to focus this section on the ladies. 

As a general rule for what to wear in Iraq, women will be most comfortable erring on the more modest side. Looser-fitting tunic-style tops or full-length dresses are good choices, but with that said, it’s not super uncommon to see girls and women out in jeans and t-shirts. 

Always keep a scarf handy to cover your hair for certain sites and for the really holy sites you can pick up an all-enveloping abaya/chador for around 5,000-10,000 ID that can be found for sale outside. 

Places to note include Karbala, which is a holy city requiring women to be fully covered in an abaya/chador to even enter the city itself. Najaf and Kufa are also holy cities but not quite as strict as Karbala- though the main reason for visiting them is to visit holy shrines and mosques so you may as well just pop the chador on for the entirety of your visit in both. 

Safety in Iraq

I’ll split this section into two, separating safety in Federal Iraq from that in Iraqi Kurdistan. 

iraq travel uk

Safety in Federal Iraq

Iraq has a reputation for being among the most dangerous countries in the world but more recently the security situation in the country has greatly improved. That said, there still are risks nonetheless, as the country has seen decades of strife from the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, the wrath of Saddam Hussein’s rule, the 2003 US Invasion, and the rise of the Islamic State. 

It would be wise to do some research previous to your visit and keep an eye out on current events as your trip to Iraq nears- for this, the Iraq Travelers Cafe Facebook page can be a great resource. 

From my personal experience, I felt quite safe in my travels in Iraq and faced few issues, but realize that the situation in Iraq could change at any moment. 

It’s also a bit easy to forget the fragile state Iraq is in even as you travel around as a tourist. For example, on my most recent visit, there was a rocket attack on Baghdad’s Green Zone just before I was departing the country (though I was far from the action at the time at least). 

For those more concerned about their safety while traveling Iraq, I would definitely recommend joining a group tour or organizing a private trip with a local guide/company where these details are handled and mitigated by a local team. 

Safety in Iraqi Kurdistan

Iraqi Kurdistan, in terms of security, is a different world from Federal Iraq. I’ve found Iraqi Kurdistan to be incredibly safe on both my visits. Of course, the usual precautions apply but in general Iraqi Kurdistan is a breeze to travel around whether joining a group or solo backpacking your way across the region. 

Read: Solo female travel in Iraqi Kurdistan

Have Any Questions About Traveling in Iraq?

Ask in the comments section below. 

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Crossing land border from Iran to Iraq at Shalamcheh / Al Shalamshah is possible. Visa on arrival is available there too. We crossed by vehicle registered in Germany. They can deal with all of the formalities.

Hi, the VOA is available at land borders, just FYI. I came into Iraq via the land border at Safwan (for Basrah) a few days ago, and paid the same $77.

Awesome, thanks for the update- great news! Also got your email as well

Hi, Loved your Posts, Planning to Visit Iraq, How did you book your Hotels/ Hostels? Booking . com works there?

Thanks! Yes, some were booked using booking.com and some we just showed up or called to ask if they had rooms availble.

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Iraq

Iraq: The cradle of civilization. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers snake through the region and produce a rich soil which gave humanity fertile ground to grow food and create foundational inventions such as the wheel. All of humanity can call this land home. Sadly, hardship has poisoned Southern Iraq over the last century. Colonization, Saddam Hussein's regime, the U.S. invasion in 2003, and instability—all these forces have affected Iraq in some negative way. Yet beneath the tragedy lies a lovely country with spectacular sights and people—a place where we are all connected through our collective history. Our journey begins in Baghdad. Several days will be dedicated to the capital and the surrounding area. You will visit Liberation Square, Al-Qishla, Al-Mustansiriya School, old bazaars and copper markets. Add into the mix a boat trip down the Tigris river. We will also journey to other cities: Babylon, Ctesiphon, al-Qatarra and Karbala, and the fantastic sites found within each one. For nature lovers, our excursion to the marshes will leave you speechless. Southern Iraq's marshlands are a hidden gem of the natural world, an aquatic oasis in an otherwise parched landscape.

Upcoming Tours

Our current upcoming group tours can be seen below. They are all guaranteed departures.

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Our Iraq tours currently run twice per year. The tours start in Baghdad and end in Erbil.

Visa is available on arrival for most nationalities.

We also offer tours to Iraqi Kurdistan 4-5 times per year.

The price for this tour is £2385.

Single supplement cost is £275 (subject to availability)

A £500 deposit is payable to secure your booking.

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Please note that although we only run tours to areas we feel we can keep our clients safe, the British FCO advises against all travel to Iraq.

We research the security of our destinations highly and safety is a priority for us, however, we advise you to do your own research as well to ensure you are comfortable with your trip.

Please note these travel warnings may also affect travel insurance for these regions, please contact us for advice on this. For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, click here

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Restored ziggurat in ancient Ur, sumerian temple in Iraq

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Torn between its glorious past and its recent bloody history, Iraq is a country in turmoil. Just as the place was beginning to recover from the 2003 US-led invasion and its aftermath, jihadist group Isis took control of large swathes of the country's north in 2014. The tide may have turned back in favour of the Iraqi government with the recapture of Mosul and other cities in 2017, but most of Iraq remains extremely dangerous.

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Travel Advisory October 22, 2023

Iraq - level 4: do not travel.

Updated to reflect the ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members.

Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.

On October 20, 2023, the Department ordered the departure of eligible family members and non-emergency U.S. government personnel from U.S. Embassy Baghdad and U.S. Consulate General Erbil due to increased security threats against U.S. government personnel and interests.

Country Summary: U.S. citizens in Iraq face high risks to their safety and security, including the potential for violence and kidnapping. Terrorist and insurgent groups regularly attack Iraqi security forces and civilians. Anti-U.S. militias threaten U.S. citizens and international companies throughout Iraq. Attacks using improvised explosive devices, indirect fire, and unmanned aerial vehicles occur in many areas of the country, including Baghdad and other major cities. In an emergency, consular services to U.S. citizens in Iraq are limited due to severe restrictions on the movements of U.S. government personnel.

Demonstrations, protests, and strikes occur frequently throughout the country.  These events can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting traffic, transportation, and other services, and sometimes turning violent.

Do not travel near Iraq’s northern borders due to the continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups, armed conflict, aerial bombardment, and civil unrest.  U.S. citizens should especially avoid areas near armed groups in northern Iraq, which have been targeted with aerial strikes by neighboring countries’ militaries.

U.S. citizens should not travel through Iraq to engage in armed conflict in Syria, where they would face extreme personal risks (kidnapping, injury, or death) and legal risks (arrest, fines, and expulsion). The Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq has stated that it will impose prison sentences of up to ten years on individuals who illegally cross the Iraq-Syria border. Additionally, fighting on behalf of or supporting designated terrorist organizations is a crime under U.S. law that can result in prison sentences and large fines in the United States.

Because of security concerns, U.S. government personnel in Baghdad are instructed not to use Baghdad International Airport. Due to risks to civil aviation operating in the Baghdad Flight Information Region, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended for an additional two years its Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) prohibiting certain flights at altitudes below 32,000 feet. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Iraq.

If you decide to travel to Iraq:

  • Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
  • Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
  • Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
  • Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States.
  • Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas .
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
  • Review the Country Security Report for Iraq.
  • Visit the CDC website for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist

Embassy Messages

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Quick Facts

Embassies and consulates.

U.S. Embassy Baghdad Al-Kindi Street International Zone Baghdad, Iraq

Business Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Sunday through Thursday Telephone: From Iraq and outside the United States:  +964-760-030-3000 From the United States:  +1-301-985-8841 U.S. Citizen Emergency Telephone (After-Hours, Friday, Saturday & Holidays): Call and ask to speak with the Duty Officer Email:  [email protected]

U.S. Consulate General Erbil 413 Ishtar, Ankawa Erbil, Iraq Business Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Sunday through Thursday Telephone: From Iraq and outside the United States:  +964-66-211-4000 From the United States:  +1-240-264-3467extension 4554 U.S. Citizen Emergency Telephone (After-Hours, Friday, Saturday & Holidays): Call and ask to speak with the Duty Officer E-mail:   [email protected]

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Iraq has a strict entry and exit system.  Visa requirements vary depending on the traveler’s citizenship, Iraqi ancestry, purpose of travel, and duration of stay.  Visas on arrival are available for U.S. citizen tourists at airports in Iraq, including Erbil International Airport.  Travelers to Iraq should not depart Iraq without ensuring they receive an exit stamp in their passport. 

Residency stamps and blood tests may be required for long-term residents and those who plan to seek employment.  Iraq imposes penalties, such as fines, detention, or deportation, for violations of Iraqi immigration policies, including overstays or working without authorization.  

The possession of weapons and movements through checkpoints are strictly regulated.  U.S. citizens traveling to Iraq without authorization to possess weapons, or those who travel through checkpoints without proper documents or a clear purpose of travel, may be detained by authorities.

All travelers should visit the Embassy of Iraq’s website at  https://www.iraqiembassy.us/page/visas-to-iraq/ for visa and other relevant travel information. 

HIV/AIDS:   Iraq imposed HIV/AIDS-related travel restrictions on all visitors and new residents.  Travelers with HIV/AIDS should verify their eligibility to travel to Iraq with the  Embassy of Iraq  before travelling.

Find information on our website about  dual nationality ,  prevention of international child abduction , and  customs regulations .

Safety and Security

Terrorism: Terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations are intent on attacking U.S. citizens abroad. Terrorists increasingly use less-sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, and vehicles – to target crowds at venues such as:

  • High-profile public events (sporting contests, political rallies, demonstrations, holiday events, celebratory gatherings, etc.)
  • Hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by tourists
  • Places of worship
  • Shopping malls and markets
  • Public transportation systems, including subways, buses, trains, and scheduled commercial flights.

Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Da’esh, is a designated terrorist organization, which is active in Syria and near the Iraq border. ISIS and its associated terrorist groups indiscriminately commit attacks and violent atrocities in Iraq despite improved Iraqi government control. ISIS, militia groups, and criminal gangs target U.S. citizens for attacks and hostage-taking.

Iraq’s northern borders are especially dangerous due to the continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups, armed conflict, aerial bombardment, and civil unrest.  U.S. citizens should especially avoid areas near armed groups in northern Iraq, which have been targeted with aerial strikes by neighboring countries’ militaries.

Due to security and safety threats, U.S. government personnel in Iraq live and work under strict security guidelines, which limit their movements and interactions.

Crime:   Carjacking is common, even during daylight hours, and particularly on the highways from Jordan and Kuwait to Baghdad.  Kidnappings of foreigners, Iraqi citizens, and dual U.S.-Iraqi citizens can occur for ransom or political/religious reasons.  Many hostages have been killed.  The murder rate remains high due to terrorism, tribal and family disputes, and religious/sectarian tensions.  Sexual assault and domestic violence are common.  Petty theft is common in Iraq, including pickpocketing and theft of valuables from hotel rooms and private residences.

Demonstrations  occur frequently.  They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events.

  • Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly become violent.
  • Avoid areas around protests and demonstrations.
  • Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.

International financial and romance scams can be connected to Iraq.  See the  Department of State  and the  FBI webpages  for information.

Women Travelers:  Female U.S. citizens have been subject to threats, kidnappings, abuse, and extortion by their family, including loss of custody of children or forced marriage.  U.S. laws do not protect U.S. citizens when they are outside of the United States.  The Iraqi police and legal system may offer little protection.  See our travel tips for Women Travelers .     

Victims of Crime:   Report crimes, fires, and accidents to local authorities by dialing 104 (Police), 115 (Fire), 112 (National Emergency Hotline), or 139 (sexual assault and domestic violence).  Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.  They speak Arabic.  U.S. citizen victims may contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance at +964-760-030-3000.  We can:

  • Help you find appropriate medical care
  • Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
  • Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
  • Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion
  • Provide a list of local attorneys
  • Provide information on victim’s compensation programs in the United States

Domestic Violence:   U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence in Iraq are encouraged to contact the Embassy for assistance.

Tourism:  Tourists participate in activities at their own risk.  Emergency response and subsequent appropriate medical treatment may not be available in-country.  U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.  See our website for information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Furthermore, some laws are prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on  crimes against minors abroad  and the  Department of Justice  website.

Arrest   Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our  webpage  for further information.

Property Disputes : Land disputes are common in Iraq and are often difficult to resolve through legal channels. The U.S. Embassy cannot take sides in a legal dispute. Those involved in a court dispute risk having cases filed against them, arrest, and being jailed.

Special Circumstances:

Iraq has serious deficiencies in public services. Electricity often fails. Fire and rescue services are inadequate, and hotels may not be equipped with fire safety equipment. Landline telephone service is limited; while cellular service reliability varies by region. The banking and financial infrastructure is underdeveloped. Transactions are largely cash-based. Hotels usually require payment in foreign currency. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are rare.

Customs officers have broad authority to search persons or vehicles at Iraqi ports of entry. Officers may confiscate any goods deemed a threat to the peace, security, health, environment, or social order of Iraq. Antiquities, cultural and undeclared items for export may be confiscated. Visitors may be ordered to return such goods, at their expense, to the jurisdiction from which they came.

Counterfeit and Pirated Goods : Possession of counterfeit goods may be confiscated or fined. See the U.S. Department of Justice website for more information.

Dangers of Proselytizing:   While proselytizing is not considered a criminal offense under Iraqi law, it may expose you to danger.  Iraq is a predominantly Muslim country, and individuals visiting for the purpose of spreading other faiths have been targeted and attacked by armed groups.

Faith-Based Travelers:  See the following webpages for details:

  • Faith-Based Travel Information
  • International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
  • Human Rights Report – see country reports
  • Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
  • Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad    

LGBTQI+ Travelers:  Discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and unconventional appearance is common. See   our  LGBTQI+ Travel Information   page and section six of our  Human Rights report  for details.

Travelers with Disabilities:  Individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what they find in the United States. Buildings, public restrooms, classrooms, offices, public transportation, and other places may not be accessible.

Students:  See our  Students Abroad  page and  FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers:   Female U.S. citizens have been subject to threats, kidnappings, abuse, and extortion by their family, including loss of custody of children or forced marriage. U.S. laws do not protect U.S. citizens when they are outside of the United States. The Iraqi police and legal system may offer little protection.  See our travel tips for  Women Travelers . 

Basic, modern medical care and medicines are not widely available in Iraq and do not meet U.S. standards. A limited number of companies facilitate medical evacuations. Blood banks exist in Iraq, though the blood supply may not be sufficient in the event of an emergency and likely has not been tested under U.S. standards for infectious disease. There is limited mental health or psychiatric care in Iraq.

For ambulance services dial 122. Ambulance services are not present throughout the country or are unreliable in most areas. They are not staffed with trained paramedics and often have little or no medical equipment.

We do not pay medical bills.  Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Medical Insurance:  Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas.  Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments.  See our webpage for more  information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .  Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

We strongly recommend  supplemental insurance  to cover medical evacuation.

Always carry your prescription medication in the original packaging along with your doctor’s prescription.

Vaccinations:  Be up-to-date on all  vaccinations recommended by  the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further Health Information:

  • World Health Organization
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)

Prevalent Diseases:

  • Tuberculosis
  • Food-borne illnesses

Water Quality: In many areas, tap water is not safe to drink. Bottled water and beverages are generally safe, although you should be aware that many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. Be aware that ice for drinks may be made using tap water.

Air Quality

Air pollution is a significant problem in several major cities in Iraq. Seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may be especially harmful to the following people:  

  • Infants, children, and teens
  • People over 65 years of age
  • People with lung disease, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema
  • People with heart disease or diabetes
  • People who work or are active outdoors

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  Vehicular travel in Iraq can be extremely dangerous. There have been attacks on civilian vehicles and on Iraqi military and security convoys on roads and highways throughout Iraq, both in and outside metropolitan areas. Attacks can occur at any time, night or day, and have involved small arms fire and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) capable of destroying vehicles.

Traffic Laws:  Drivers usually do not yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and ignore traffic lights (if available), traffic rules, and regulations. Jaywalking is common. Roads are congested. Some cars do not use lights at night and urban streetlights may not be functioning. Some motorists drive at excessive speeds, tailgate, and force other drivers to yield the right of way.

Iraq has many government checkpoints scattered throughout the country. New ones may be placed randomly, particularly after terrorist attacks. It can take a long time to navigate them in crowded traffic, and some may shut down altogether at certain hours. Drivers should have car registration and ID documents available and should be very patient and polite.

Public Transportation:  Buses run irregularly and frequently change routes. City transit vehicles are often poorly maintained and can be involved in accidents. Long-distance buses are available but are often in poor condition and drive at unsafe speeds.

See our  Road Safety page  for more information.

Aviation Safety Oversight:  As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Iraq, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the Government of Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the  FAA’s safety assessment page .

Because of the risks to civil aviation in the vicinity of Iraq, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) that prohibits U.S. operators and codeshare flights from operating in Iraqi airspace below 32,000 feet. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the  Federal Aviation Administration's Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

Maritime Travel:  Mariners planning travel to Iraq should also check for  U.S. maritime advisories and alerts . Information may also be posted to the  U.S. Coast Guard Homeport  and the  NGA Broadcast Warnings  website. 

For additional travel information

  • Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
  • See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
  • Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
  • See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Iraq . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report. 

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Travel safely to Iraq with Passport Health's travel vaccinations and advice.

Travel Vaccines and Advice for Iraq

Passport Health offers a variety of options for travellers throughout the world.

Iraq enjoys a rich, ancient history as the site of Mesopotamia, the “Land Between the Rivers”.

The country is surrounded by Iran in the East, Syria and Jordan in the West, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in the South, and Türkiye in the North. To the Southeast it also has 55 kilometres of coastline of the Persian Gulf.

Major elements of Iraqi cuisine include spiced and marinated meats such as lamb and chicken, flatbread, Iraqi dates, and coffee.

Do I Need Vaccines for Iraq?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Iraq. The National Travel Health Network and Centre and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Iraq: COVID-19 , hepatitis A , hepatitis B , typhoid , cholera , yellow fever , rabies , polio and tetanus .

See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunizations:

  • COVID-19 – Airborne – Recommended for all travellers
  • Hepatitis A – Food & Water – Recommended for most travellers to the region, especially if unvaccinated.
  • Hepatitis B – Blood & Body Fluids – Accelerated schedule available
  • Tetanus – Wounds or Breaks in Skin – Recommended for travelers to most regions, especially if not previously vaccinated.
  • Typhoid – Food & Water – Jab lasts 3 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator.
  • Cholera – Food & Water – While only present in some regions, cholera vaccination is recommended for most travellers.
  • Yellow Fever – Mosquito – Required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
  • Rabies – Saliva of Infected Animals – High risk country. Vaccine recommended for long-stay travellers and those who may come in contact with animals.
  • Polio – Food & Water – Required if arriving from a country with active polio transmission. Recommended for some travellers to the region. Single adult booster recommended.

See the table below for more information:

Polio cases have been reported in neighbouring countries. While vaccination is not currently recommended for Iraq, it should be considered.

See our vaccinations page to learn more about these infections and vaccines. Ready to protect yourself? Book your travel health appointment today by calling or schedule online now .

Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Iraq?

A visa is required for all travel to Iraq. Passports must have at least six months validity. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required if you are travelling from a region where yellow fever is present.

All travellers to Iraq must have a blood test for HIV and hepatitis within 10 days of arrival. The test is repeated every 90 days whilst in-country.

Sources: Embassy of Iraq and GOV.UK

What is the Climate Like in Iraq?

Iraq has a hot, dry climate with varying mid-high temperatures.

The summer is hot with temperatures in the high-30’s. The country experiences low humidity and winds during this season also. August is usually the hottest month.

Winter months are cooler, with temps around 18 degrees during the days. January is the coldest month. Freezing temperatures can occur in Iraq, usually at night.

The southern sharqi winds blow from April to June and again from late September to November. These winds can be strong and tend to bring dust storms. Between the sharqi wind periods is the shamal wind from the Northwest. These are usually dry and cooling.

There is little to no rain in summer. Nearly all Iraq’s annual rainfall occurs from November to April. Mountainous areas receive significantly more rain than other regions.

How Safe is Iraq?

The UK government advises against travel to Iraq for a variety of reasons including terrorism and kidnapping. Ensure to take extra precautions before and during your trip.

Terrorism is a serious risk in Iraq, particularly with ISIS. Expressing support for the Iraqi government, Western institutions and some religious groups can be dangerous. Be careful what you say and where you say it.

Identification checks and checkpoints are commonplace. Officials in Iraq search goods and persons and confiscate goods as deemed necessary. You may be forced to return items at your own expence to wherever they came from. Be polite and patient at the government roadblocks which are all over Iraq.

Power outages are common and generators are not always available. Air quality is sub-standard, especially in Baghdad.

Buses are irregular and constantly change routes. Long-distance buses are often in poor condition and drive at unsafe speeds. City transit vehicles are often poorly-maintained and involved in accidents.

Avoid the borders of Iraq, they are largely undefined and potentially unsafe. Petty theft, carjacking, gang crimes, and ransom kidnappings are very common.

Explore the Newly Reopened Iraq National Museum

The Iraq National Museum was closed after losing nearly 15,000 pieces during conflicts in 2003. It was officially reopened in 2015 after a dozen years in the dark. One-third of the lost items have taken their rightful place back in the museum.

The Iraq National Museum is the perfect choice for to learn about the region’s 7,000 year history. Iraqi lands were part of ancient Mesopotamia. It was also part of the famous Ottoman Empire.

To the Iraqi people, the museum represents both years of striking heritage and a stand against terrorism.

The museum is located in the country’s capital of Baghdad.

What Should I Pack for Iraq?

Think ahead on what to pack by perusing these suggestions:

  • Cool Clothing – Iraq can be be quite hot. Be sure to pack according to your itinerary. Consider items such as sun cream, sandals, and airy clothing especially.
  • Sun Protection – Heat is just one aspect of the climate. High intensity sun means sun cream, hats and sunnies are essential.

Embassy of the United Kingdom in Iraq

If you are in Iraq and have an emergency (for example, been attacked, arrested or someone has died) contact the nearest consular services. Contact the embassy before arrival if you have additional questions on entry requirements, safety concerns or are in need of assistance.

British Embassy Baghdad International Zone Baghdad Iraq

Stay safe abroad with Passport Health. Ring or book online now and start travelling safely today!

On This Page: Do I Need Vaccines for Iraq? Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Iraq? What is the Climate Like in Iraq? How Safe is Iraq? Explore the Newly Reopened Iraq National Museum What Should I Pack for Iraq? Embassy of the United Kingdom in Iraq

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  • A guide to traveling in Iraq in 2024

By Joan Torres 60 Comments Last updated on January 26, 2024

Iraq travel guide

Wanna travel to Iraq with Against the Compass?

iraq travel uk

Join a group of like-minded travelers in our next scheduled tour in Iraq, where we’ll visit Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala, Mosul, and more

May 19th to 26th, 2024

This country is truly an adventure, and this guide contains absolutely everything you need to know to travel to Federal Iraq , including visa procedures, how to move around, where to stay, going through checkpoints, budget, money, security tips, and much more.

By the way, this guide refers to traveling independently in Iraq proper, which includes Baghdad, Mosul , the Marshes, and everything in between, but it doesn’t focus on the autonomous region of Kurdistan. For that, read our Kurdistan travel guide ,

Don’t forget to check my Iraq itinerary

travel to Iraq

In this Iraq travel guide, you will find:

Table of Contents

  • COVID-19 travel bans
  • Travel insurance
  • Recommended books
  • Independent travel vs organized tour
  • Top experiences
  • Iraqi culture
  • Iraqi cuisine
  • Best time to visit
  • Internet & connectivity
  • Budget & money
  • Moving around
  • Checkpoints
  • Where to stay
  • Solo female travel
  • More information

Introduction: why visit Iraq?

After decades (literally) of being pretty isolated from the outside world, Iraq finally decided to open its borders to international travelers, making a dream for many come true.

This is the cradle of modern civilization and the heart of Ancient Mesopotamia, home to Babylon, the City of Ur and Nineveh, once the center of the world, and today epic archaeological sites awaiting to be discovered by intrepid adventurers.

The country, however, is much more than just archaeological sites; Iraq is made of its people, kind-hearted Iraqis who will accompany you in your journey, offering you unprecedented doses of Arab hospitality and generosity.

Jaw-dropping shrines, the lively streets of Baghdad, and a surprisingly elaborate local cuisine: there are many reasons to travel to Iraq.

😷 Iraq COVID-19 travel bans, restrictions and requirements

COVID-19-related requirements for entering Iraq have been lifted.

🪪 How to get a tourist visa for Iraq

For your information, you can travel to Iraq since March 2021, when they finally introduced a very long-awaited Visa on Arrival (VOA) regime.

The visa on arrival for Iraq proper is available at:

  • Baghdad International Airport
  • Basra International Airport
  • Jordan-Iraq border
  • Kuwait-Iraq border
  • Iran-Iraq border
  • Saudi-Iraq border

Warning: The Turkey-Iraq border is also open but that border takes you into the region of Kurdistan. You can get a VOA for Kurdistan but remember that the Kurdish visa is not valid for Iraq proper and that you can’t get an Iraqi visa at the Kurdish/Iraq border, but you need to fly into Baghdad.

Which countries can get a visa on arrival (VOA) for Iraq?

All EU passport holders, and also the United States (yes, Americans can travel to Iraq), United Kingdom, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland

Bonus: What happens with the rest of the nationalities?

If you are not one of the lucky countries, you can still travel to Iraq, but you will need approval from the respective Ministry, something which you must arrange through an authorized Iraq tour company.

For this service, they usually charge between $250 and $300, plus you need to join one of their guided tours.

This approval takes up to 4 weeks but once it’s issued, you’ll be able to collect your visa at your desired Iraqi embassy.

How to get an LOI for traveling to Iraq

As mentioned, one must first book a guided tour in Iraq.

By joining one of our expeditions, we can easily get the LOI for you.

Check below our upcoming Iraq departures :

  • February 29th to March 10th, 2024. SOLD OUT
  • May 19th to 26th, 2024. APPLY NOW
  • September 30th to October 10th, 2024. SOLD OUT
  • December 6th to 16th, 2024. ( Spanish ) APPLY NOW

How long is the Iraq VOA valid for?

The visa allows you to travel in Iraq for 60 days.

How much does the Iraq VOA cost?

Today, the Iraqi visa costs 80 USD.

They raised it from 77 USD to 80 USD in November 2023.

How to get your VOA at the airport: procedures

Getting my Iraq travel visa on arrival was surprisingly easy.

Upon my arrival at the airport, all I had to do was fill out a form and pay the respective fee.

They processed my visa in less than 15 minutes.

Up to mid-2023, having a hotel reservation in one of the authorized hotels was also a requirement, but this isn’t the case anymore.

Iraq is becoming more and more tourist-friendly by the day.

Is the Iraq travel visa valid for the Kurdistan region?

Yes, it is.

Once you are in possession of an Iraqi tourist visa, you can travel freely all over the country, from Baghdad to Erbil , including by land.

However, if you enter Iraq via the Kurdistan region, the Kurdistan visa (75 USD, on arrival) is not valid for Federal Iraq.

Therefore, given that the visa for Federal Iraq is only available if flying in, you will have to fly from Erbil to Baghdad.

Iraq travel tip – If you are planning to visit all over Iraq, including the Kurdistan region, it’s better to fly into Baghdad first, so you will only have to purchase one visa.

How to get a visa for Iraq

✍️ How to sign up for a tour in Federal Iraq

Traveling with a group and an expert local guide will make things much easier, and more fun!

Against the Compass has several Iraq expeditions scheduled all year long, and the next one is on:

Also, click here to learn more about our Iraq Tours

Private and bespoke tours for Iraq

Do you wish to join a small group, but you can’t travel on any of the above dates?

No problem, just shoot us an email at [email protected] indicating:

  • How many people you are
  • How many days do you want to spend in Iraq
  • Which dates

And we will try to find other travel buddies you may travel with. Otherwise, know that we can also organize private, tailored trips. 

tours for Iraq

🚑 Travel Insurance for Iraq

For obvious reasons, regular insurance companies don’t cover travel in Iraq.

One of the very few companies which does cover, however, is IATI Insurance , a travel company based in Europe, which I recommend because:

  • It offers different plans for all types of travelers: from families to budget backpackers
  • Covers senior citizens
  • Valid for multi-country trips
  • Readers of this blog can get an exclusive 5% discount .

📚 Useful books for planning your trip to Iraq

Iraq travel guide by bradt.

If you follow my blog, you will see that I always recommend Bradt guides for all destinations, so Iraq will be no different. They have the most insightful guidebook to Iraq.

iraq travel uk

The Rise of the Islamic State by Patrick Cockburn

This is my favorite journalism book ever and it is written by Patrick Cockburn, one of the world’s top experts on the Middle Eastern conflict. In this book, he gives an extremely perceptive introduction to the origins of ISIS, with many references to Iraq, of course. A really useful book to understand the complexity and origin of the conflict.

iraq travel uk

A pictorial guide to Iraq by Sian Pritchard-Jones & Bob Gibbons

My friends and fellow travelers Sian and Bob just published this pictorial guide to Iraq which also contains fresh and actionable advice to the country. 

iraq travel uk

⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Iraq?

Safety is the number one concern for people visiting Iraq.

From the war between Iran and Iraq in 1980 to Saddam’s Hussein regime, the US invasion in 2003 and the more recent ISIS rule, decades of conflict and religious sectarianism made Iraq an actual war-torn country, labeled by all international media as one of the most dangerous destinations in the world.

While it’s true that for decades, Iraq was a pretty dangerous country to travel to, the situation has drastically improved.

This has been recently proved by the visit of Pope Francis in March 2021, thanks to whom – no kidding – Iraq finally opened its borders for tourism.

I traveled around Iraq independently, moving around by public transportation and I was particularly surprised by how calm and peaceful everything seemed to be, especially Mosul and around, an area occupied by ISIS just a few years ago.

Except for the endless checkpoints, everything else seemed pretty normal when traveling in Iraq, with the particularity that Iraqis, in general, were always extremely kind, helpful, and generous, like nowhere else you might have been to.

Nevertheless, remember that religious sectarianism still exists across the country and that occasional bombings may happen from time to time, in Baghdad in July 2021 .

Iraq is mostly safe to travel but even experienced travelers should keep an eye open because we can’t forget that the country is highly unstable.

Always stay up-to-date with the latest security updates but, instead of reading biased newspapers or the Iraq travel advice FCDO , do contact the local people.

For that, Iraq Travelers Café is an invaluable source of information, where you can get in touch with English-speaking Iraqis.

What about the Kurdistan region? Kurdistan is a different story. The region has always been safe, which is why it has been open to international tourism for quite a while now. For a better understanding, read: Is Kurdistan safe?

iraq travel uk

🤔 Iraq independent travel vs organized tour

May 19th to 26th, 2024 – APPLY NOW

For most people, Iraq is perceived as a challenging country to travel to, a destination only aimed at experienced backpackers, the reason why most travelers tend to visit Iraq with a local guide or on an organized tour group.

Traveling in Iraq independently – aka backpacking in Iraq

You would be surprised to know that independent travel in Iraq is completely doable, in fact much easier than in countries like Pakistan or Afghanistan .

There’s plenty of public transportation, most cities have a range of hotels and local Iraqis are super helpful.

The only challenge you may encounter, however, is police and army checkpoints .

Some checkpoints are pretty easy to get through, but some may come with their own challenges, for which is best to have a local contact, which you can easily get from Iraqi Travelers Café . More on checkpoints later.

Nevertheless, some previous experience traveling alone in Arab countries like Palestine or Lebanon is highly recommended.

Iraq travel tips

Traveling in Iraq with a local guide or on a group tour

That’s what most people do, and it’s fine.

Against the Compass (this site) is leading group expeditions into Federal Iraq.

Learn more: Against the Compass EXPEDITION to Federal Iraq .

iraq travel uk

🛖 Top experiences when traveling in Iraq

Remember to read my Iraq itinerary

Explore vibrant Baghdad

With its bustling bazaars and lively districts, Baghdad is a thrilling city with so much going on, the destination within Iraq where you need to spend at least one day.

Visit iraq

Learn about the Islamic State’s legacy

The rule of the Islamic State in the north of Iraq is still latent in people’s life, living history I call it.

Witnessing the city’s reconstruction and the Iraqis’ struggle to return to normality is an unmissable part of their history to experience.

traveling to Iraq

Touring the Mesopotamian Marshes on a boat

The Arab Marshes are a wetland ecosystem in south Iraq, a huge aquatic landscape in the middle of the desert, home to a distinct cultural group named the Marsh Arabs. Going through the Marshes on a traditional boat, visiting the different islands and the local people is a great experience.

Marsh Arab

Witness one of the largest pilgrimages in the world

The city of Karbala, along with Najaf and Samarra, are the holiest cities for Shia Muslims, cities that every year receive millions and millions of pilgrims from all over the world , especially from Iran .

visit Karbala

Discover Iraq’s ancient history

Iraq was the heart of Ancient Mesopotamia, the people who developed the first cities, writing and agriculture, between 10,000 and 3,000 BC.

Discover Iraq’s glorious past by paying a visit to the most relevant archaeological sites.

ancient Babylon

🕌 Iraqi culture, language and religion

Iraqis are proud Arabs, something you are likely to notice throughout your travels in Iraq.

They comprise 75% of the total Iraqi population, the rest being Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians, Yazidis, Armenians, Mandaeans, Shabaks, and other minority groups.

It’s an ethnically diverse country but these figures might have changed in recent years, especially those of Yazidis, Mandaeans and Turkmens, whose numbers have drastically decreased due to violence unleashed against them.

how to get to Iraq

Getting to know local Iraqis

Before traveling to Iraq, I expected Iraqis to be very generous, similar to their Arab neighbors, but what surprised me the most is that they could be perfectly equal to Pakistanis , Afghans or Iranians – you know, the most hospitable countries in the world – unprecedented hospitality in the Middle East .

Topics aside, making friends in Iraq is particularly easy, and a lot of fun.

Local Iraqis will always be super happy to hang out with you, to show you around, something truly appreciated in a country where chances to meet other travelers are scarce.

They can, however, be over-protective sometimes, and will always want to pay for all your meals and buy you souvenirs. This made me feel awkward but that’s their culture, you are their guest and, although you should always attempt to pay for your own food, just go with their flow.

iraq travel uk

Language spoken in Iraq

Arabic is the common language throughout Iraq, understood by pretty much everybody, except for a large portion of Kurds.

English is relatively commonly spoken among highly educated people but not the rest of Iraqis, especially at checkpoints, so learning some Arabic words can prove very useful.

Religion in Iraq

More than 90% of Iraqis are Muslim, divided into Shia and Sunni Muslims by ≈ 50%, depending on the report.

This extreme division dictates Iraq’s everyday politics and is one of the reasons why religious sectarianism flourishes.

There is a large proportion of Christians too, around 7% according to some reports, mostly living in Baghdad, Mosul, and Erbil.

traveling to Iraq

Close to Mosul, there is a city named Bakhdida, home to 300,000 people, 90% of whom are Christian, the largest Christian city in Iraq and perhaps in the whole Middle East .

Pope Francis visited it in March 2021, where he said Mass in a recently restored Catholic church that had been burnt down by ISIS.

Bakhdida Iraq

🍲 Cuisine in Iraq

Before traveling to Iraq proper, I had spent two weeks in Kurdistan running two expeditions, eating nearly the same thing every single day.

In Iraq proper, where I also traveled for two weeks, I thought I’d be eating the same dishes again, but I was wrong.

While it’s true that shawarma, falafel, and grilled kebabs abound everywhere, being their staple foods, there are many must-try, elaborate dishes defining Iraq’s rich, complex history.

In the north, I found the food to be more sophisticated, more varied, probably because of their proximity to Syria and also because the land is more fertile.

The classic Syrian foul for example, which is like hummus but made of beans, could be found everywhere in Mosul.

In the south, I ate mandi on a few occasions, consisting of rice with meat on top, and the national dish in Yemen , but also in neighboring Saudi Arabia .

Alcohol in Iraq You would be surprised that liquor shops in Iraq abound, especially in Baghdad and Mosul, where you find the largest Christian populations. Drinking in the street is technically not allowed in Federal Iraq, but you can do it in your hotel and in Baghdad there are many Western-style bars. Kurdistan on the other hand, is way more permissive than Federal Iraq, with far more liquor shops.

Anyways, some more must-try dishes when you visit Iraq are:

Kubba – Consisting of a couscous paste filled with meat. It comes in plenty of different sizes and shapes, depending on the region in Iraq. I was always down for kubba 🙂

Iraqi food

Masgouf – An old Mesopotamian dish consisting of a huge fish from either the Tigris or Euphrates, which they grill for hours sometimes.

Iraqi cuisine

Kahi with Geymar – The national breakfast, consisting of a sweet pastry with honey or syrup, covered with a creamy, thick white cream made from buffalo milk. Amazing.

Kahi with Geymar

Gus – Similar to shawarma but eaten with broth and floating pieces of bread. Typical from Mosul.

Best food in Iraq

⛅ When is the best time to visit Iraq

Read: Places to visit in Syria

Best season to travel to Federal Iraq

From mid-October until March, when the temperature is pleasant.

You should know, however, that in winter, especially from December until January, the northern part (Mosul and surroundings) can get pretty cold (0ºC).

The south is warmer but it can also get chilly at night so, if you are traveling in Iraq during winter time, do bring some warm clothes.

Worst season to travel to Federal Iraq

Summer, late spring, early autumn.

During the warmer months, all Iraq can be too hot for traveling so, unless you can stand extreme heat (40 to 50ºC), I don’t recommend visiting Iraq at that time of the year.

What about Kurdistan? Kurdistan is a mountainous region, with extremely cold winters and extremely hot summers. In December-January, most of the region is covered by snow but in spring, the whole region is covered in lush green and colorful meadows, making it a visually appealing season to travel to. Autumn is a great season too, with pleasant temperatures and beautiful fall colors. Remember to check my Kurdistan itinerary

how to travel to Iraq

🛫 How to get to Iraq

Remember to get travel insurance for Iraq IATI Insurance is one of the very few that covers travel in Iraq (+ COVID-19) Get 5% discount if purchasing via this link

How to travel to Iraq by air

The International Airport of Baghdad has connections with pretty much any city in the Middle East, especially Dubai , Doha, Beirut , Amman and Riyadh .

If you are coming from Europe, Istanbul is a common stopover, Pegasus having the cheapest fares.

Erbil , the capital of Kurdistan, has an international airport too, with similar connections to Baghdad. Remember, however, that it’s recommended to fly into Baghdad first because the Iraqi visa can be used for Kurdistan too, while the Kurdish visa is only valid for Kurdistan.

Getting from Baghdad International Airport to the city center At the arrival terminal, there are branded official taxis that can take you to the city for 40,000IQD. To make it cheaper, you can take the bus (9,000IQD) that takes you out of the airport security zone. From there, you can take a taxi for 12,000-15,000IQD

How to travel to Iraq by land

Now that you can finally get a visa for Iraq at most landborders, things have improved a lot when it comes to overlanding into Iraq.

Traveling from Turkey to Iraq

You can easily cross into the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

There are direct buses from the city of Diyarbakir to Zakho, the first Kurdish town, and a visa is available on arrival.

However, remember that Turkey only connects with the Kurdistan region and that a Kurdistan visa is not valid for traveling in Iraq proper.

Traveling from Iran to Iraq

You can also cross into both Kurdistan, and the rest of Iraq, and the visa is available at both.

You cross the border on foot because direct transportation is not available.

I once crossed from Iran into Kurdistan at Bashmak-Penjwen .

Traveling from Jordan to Iraq

The border is open, and there are direct shared taxis from Amman for around $75.

Traveling from Kuwait to Iraq

The border is open as well, but transportation options might be more scarce.

Travel reports on this border are welcome in the comments section.

Traveling from Saudi Arabia to Iraq

The border is fully open, and you can get a visa on arrival.

Read my Saudi travel guide

Traveling from Syria to Iraq

The border is closed. Read my Syria travel guide

Don’t forget to check also our travel guide to Haiti .

How to get to Iraq

💻 Internet & connectivity in Iraq

Buying a sim card in iraq.

You can buy a SIM Card in a phone shop but not all of them can sell one, you will have to enter and ask.

I recommend Zain. Typically, they have 1-week or 1-month plans, the 1-week plan starting at 10,000IQD, more or less, for 3-5GB.

If you start your journey in Kurdistan, don’t get Korek, a Kurdish operator with limited service in southern Iraq.

Connecting to Wi-Fi in Iraq

Relatively good hotels do have Wi-Fi, and some cafés too, but it’s not very reliable. Do buy a SIM Card to stay connected.

Get a VPN for traveling in Iraq

You should always use a VPN when you travel, especially when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

Your connection will be much safer. 

Moreover, you will be able to access content that is typically censored in Iraq. 

I recommend ExpressVPN – Extremely easy to use, fast and cheap. 

If you want to learn more about VPN, check: Why you need a VPN for traveling .

💰 Money and budget: need to know

In Iraq, they use the Iraqi Dinar (IQD) and approximately:

1 USD = 1,459 IQD

Exchanging money in Iraq

Exchanging money in Iraq is fairly easy.

Exchange offices are plentiful, but one small issue I encountered is that Euros (€) are not accepted everywhere, especially outside of the big cities.

US dollars, however, can be changed all over.

This wasn’t the case in Iraqi Kurdistan, where both USD and € are widely accepted.

Withdrawing money in Iraq

ATMs are accepting both VISA and Mastercard but you need to look for them. It’s better to bring cash with you.

Also remember that except for a few fancy places, you can’t pay by credit card in Iraq, but only cash.

How much does it cost to travel in Iraq independently?

Baghdad was obviously the most expensive city in all Iraq, while Mosul was the cheapest.

Kurdistan lies somewhere in between and the rest of Iraq is pretty affordable. These are the cost of the most typical things:

  • Visa: 80USD
  • All entry sites to archaelogical sites cost 25,000IQD
  • Budget (but comfortable) hotels in Baghdad: from 60,000IQD
  • Budget (but comfortable) hotels in the rest of Iraq: 25,000IQD – 40,000IQD
  • Bottle of beer in a liquor shop: 1,200IQD – 1,1200IQD
  • Local eateries: 5,000IQD to 8,000IQD for a local meal
  • Fancy restaurants: main courses starting at 14,000IQD
  • Taxi rides within cities: 3,000IQD – 7,000IQD
  • Transportation between cities: 5,000IQD – 25,000IQD depending on distance

Average daily backpacking budget for Iraq Starting from $45 – $65 a day

iraq travel uk

🛺 Transportation: how to travel around Iraq

Moving around Iraq by public transportation is fairly easy.

Typically, most towns and cities are connected with either local shared taxis or minibuses .

The local shared taxi is always a bit more expensive than the bus, but it’s way faster and more comfortable. I only took shared taxis and I recommend you do the same.

Shared taxis I took (with prices):

  • Baghdad to Karbala – 10,000IQD (115km)
  • Karbala to Hilla (Babylon) – 2,000IQD (45km)
  • Hilla to Najaf – 7,000IQD (60km)
  • Najaf to Nasiriya – 10,000IQD (250km)
  • Nasiriya to Chibayish (Marshes) – 5,000IQD (90km)
  • Nasiriya to Baghdad – 20,000IQD – 25,000IQD, depending on the seat (345km)
  • Baghdad to Mosul – 20,000IQD – 25,000IQD, depending on the seat (400km)

Iraq Travel tip – garage is the word used for referring to a bus or taxi station. If you wish to go to Nasiriya, just ask for the Nasiriya garage and Iraqis will point you in the right direction,

Hitchhiking in Iraq

I didn’t hitchhike but in Karbala, when asking for the Hilla garage , a random Iraqi told me: I am going in that direction, you can join me . Does that count as hitchhiking?

In any case, hitchhiking in Iraq should be easy.

Taxis to move around Baghdad

If you have a SIM Card, get your Careem App , which is the regional version of Uber.

Taxi rides within Baghdad cost anything between 3,000-7,000IQD.

iraq travel uk

Checkpoints in Iraq

As mentioned, military checkpoints are the one challenge travelers need to face when backpacking in Iraq.

A few things about checkpoints in Iraq:

  • There are checkpoints to enter each and every city, and also on roads.
  • Checkpoints exist for security purposes.
  • The authorities tend to be very friendly, and even ask for photos.
  • Checkpoints can be operated by different armed groups. Most of them are run by the Iraqi police, but they can also be controlled by different local militias, mostly Shia but also Christian militias, like in Bakhdida.
  • Most checkpoints are pretty straightforward, you either get through or they just quickly check your passport.
  • One issue I encountered at many checkpoints was that, since the entry date of my visa was written in English, soldiers weren’t able to understand it. This meant waiting a bit extra, since they had to consult with a superior, but it never turned out to be an issue.

However, there are 2 checkpoints that can take a lot of time.

Based on my own experience, here’s an overview of each one of them:

Nasiriya checkpoint

Update 2024: A local contact/sponsor was required but this isn’t the case anymore

Nasiriya is a big city in southern Iraq and an unavoidable destination for anyone heading to Basra or the Marshes.

Its main peculiarity is that this is home to al-Hoot prison , an American-made high-security prison, today filled with ISIS fighters, and the reason why the Nasiriya checkpoint is a tricky one.

Basically, in order to enter Nasiriya, you are supposed to have a local to sponsor your visit . If you don’t have one, you will eventually make it through but there are reports from travelers who waited there for several hours.

In my case, I did have a friend in Nasiriya.

I gave his phone number to the authorities and after 45 minutes, they let me go. During those 45 minutes, all we did was have friendly chats, mainly about Spanish football. That’s it.

Samarra checkpoint

In 2006, the city of Samarra was affected by a suicide bombing targeting Al-Askari mosque , one of the holiest shrines in the world for Shia Muslims.

Since then, the armed group and Shia militia Sarayat al Salam has taken control of Samarra, establishing checkpoints all over the city, closing all hotels, and making Samarra the worst city to live today in Iraq, according to local Iraqis.

Sarayat al Salam is a paranoid group which is suspicious of everyone, especially foreigners. If you come to Samarra by yourself, without a local Iraqi, chances are that you can be waiting at the checkpoint all day before they let you through.

I visited Samarra with two local Iraqis actually from Samarra and even with them, we had to wait 15-20 minutes at each checkpoint before they let us through.

iraq travel uk

🏨 Where to stay in Iraq: accommodation guide

There are no hostels in Iraq, but you can find all sorts of hotels.

In Baghdad, they can be expensive for what you get but, in the rest of the country, they are pretty affordable.

Here’s a list of all the hotels I stayed during my trip to Iraq:

  • Baghdad – Uruk Hotel – Around 70 USD a night. Very good location, comfortable and great Wi-Fi.
  • Karbala – Al Karama Hotel – 15,000IQD. Very basic, but OK for one night. It was close to the shrine.
  • Najaf – Qaem Hotel – 20,000IQD. Also basic but better than the one in Karbala. Amazing shower and good Wi-Fi.
  • Nasiriya – Hotel Tourist – 50,000IQD. Quite good, and comfortable.
  • Chibayish – I did a homestay, paying around $30 including dinner and breakfast.
  • Mosul – Alsfer Hotel – $15. Surprisingly good for the price.
  • Samarra – You are technically not allowed to stay in Samarra.

💃 Solo female travel in Iraq

According to female travelers I have been talking to, traveling in Iraq as a solo woman isn’t very different than in other Arab countries like Egypt or Jordan .

Occasional verbal harassment does happen, but it’s rare, and most Iraqis will be nothing but extra kind with any foreign women.

What to wear as a solo female traveler in Iraq

In cities like Baghdad, Mosul, or Nasiriya, you will see all sorts of women dressing in all different ways, some of them apparently quite liberal.

However, do always dress modestly in order to avoid unwanted attention, and bring a headscarf with you, since you may need it depending on the area you are visiting.

On the other hand, in Karbala and Najaf – two very holy cities – a full abaya covering your whole body is mandatory.

For more information, read this Iraq travel guide for females .

iraq travel uk

❗ More information for traveling in Iraq

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Iraq destination

  • A City Guide to Mosul
  • Visiting Syrian Refugee Camp
  • Is Iraq Safe?
  • Solo Female Travel Guide to Iraq
  • Iraq Itinerary
  • Travel Guide to Amedi
  • Erbil Travel Guide
  • Tales of Backpacking in Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Solo Female Travel Guide to Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Iraqi Kurdistan Itinerary
  • Iraqi Kurdistan Travel Guide

Travel guides to other countries in the Middle East

  • Iran Travel Guide
  • Palestine Travel Guide
  • Travel Guide to Oman
  • Travel Guide to Lebanon
  • Syria Travel Guide
  • Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia
  • Yemen Travel Guide

You will also like our Libya travel guide .

You will also be interested in: Where in the Middle East is safe? and The most beautiful places in the Middle East .

I hope you enjoyed this article, which I believe is the best travel guide to Iraq available on the internet. Any questions or concerns, kindly let me know in the comments section.

How to travel to Iraq

60 comments

Hi Joan! Very interesting and inspiring article, thank you for that 🙂 I’m looking to do a several month long trip in the middle east and I was wondering if it’s also possible to enter Iraq by land from Syria?

Hey man! No, no chance. VOA is not available and in any case, you can’t visit that part of Syria bordering Iraq, not possible.

Your posts are always riveting. Can’t wait to hit the road to the Middle East again. I have had nothing but the most amazing hospitality while travelling and studying/working there over the years.

Hi Joan! Truly inspiring and eye-opening article. I have become motivated to venture into Iraq and see it from a completely different lens. How many group tours are you planning on running in Iraq this year (and for the future)? Can you recommend other group tours if yours runs out of space?

Hey Paul! I will run more next fall, around November, definitely!

Hi Joan Another excellent, and useful, guide. It is good to know that other parts of Iraq are now safe to visit. Having been to Kurdistan using information supplied by yourself, it is great to have this new one.

Many thanks

Mike Robinson

Thank you, it’s a pleasure Mike!

These guides are invaluable; thank you so much! How would you recommend visiting the Mesopotamian Marshes? Is it possible to arrange a tour of the marshes from within Federal Iraq?

I just showed up in the city of Chibayish, went to the spot where boats departed from and asked for a boat tour. It’s a touristic area because local Iraqis come here too. That’s the cheapest way of doing it. Otherwise, you can also contact an Iraqi travel agency, but that will come with an extra cost.

Did you also arrange the homestay on the spot or was that through the Iraqi travelers Cafe. Also is there direct transport between Chibayish and Baghdad?

I arranged it on the spot itself No official direct transportation between Chibayish and Baghdad (as far as I know) but you must change in Nasiriya

Can you cross into Iraq from Kuwait (and vice versa)?

I don’t know to be honest, haven’t heard from any report about it

Hello! My name is Ana Peña

I would like to join your Irak your this March.

Can you email me and let me know how to reserve my spot if there is still one left?

Thank you!!!

[email protected] is my email adress:)

Hi Ana, Thanks for reaching out.- I’ll send you an email now.

Hello Jean Did you visit either the arch (Taq-i-Kisr / Arch of Ctesiphon) or Agarquf / Dur-Kurigalzu from Baghdad? I am thinking they would be worth a trip – but fear that they would both be private taxi trips… unless I get my thumb-out and hitch the road! Cheers Andy

I’ve heard that there are buses going from Abdali Amman, Jordan, to Baghdad, Irak. But here it says that there is no way to cross the border from Jordan to Iraq by land. Does someone have a recent experience here?

Cheers, Julia

Your blog posts are great thank you! I was wondering if there is any other way to get a VOA or visa for federal Iraq crossing by land from Iran. I had wanted to cross into Iraq Kurdistan which offers a land based VOA I believe but wasn’t sure how to then get a visa to go into federal Iraq. Does anyone have any insight into this?

I am a more ‘mature’ woman who is desperate to visit the archeological sites mainly north of Baghdad (where I lived for 4 years), i.e. ancient part of Mosul, Khorsabad, Nimrud, Nineveh, Hatra, Ashur (anything else??). I’ve been to Erbil a couple of times and have had private visits to the Citadel and bazaar so I don’t need to repeat. What I do need is a good guide who can explain, no 5-star accommodation, just clean and as much integration as possible. But unfortunately no trekking or hitchhiking, too old! Muchas gracias de antemano.

Hi Suzanne, any guiding-related stuff, kindly write me at [email protected]

Hi Joan, I have – as you have requested – sent you an email at the address above last week. Have you received it yet? Suzanne

Since you have covered the safety part, I’d like to ask about family visit to Iraq from Turkey and obviously via Kurdistan. Have you met ANY other foreign family (non-Arab) while you were in both Kurdistan and Federal Iraq? We are considering the option of crossing Iraq on our way home (UAE). The tricky part is that we are traveling with a 4 y.o. Any insights on foreign travelers with kids in Iraq? Gracias por adelantado

Hi Lora, I do know one family who overlanded from Turkey to Iraq via Kurdistan and had a great time. Irak is nowadays pretty safe, I’d definitely take my kid there, and I don’t think traveling with a kid is any different, safety-wise speaking. On the contrary, if they see you have a kid, you’ll be blessed with more hospitality.

Hi Joan, Thanks so much for a fantastic post. We are travelling in our campervan (covert transit van). We are currently in Turkey, we are waiting on visas for Iran, apparently for Irish people it is now mandatory to have a guide in Iran ? We expect the visas for take another three weeks and are thinking of heading to Iraq for the three weeks, do you know what the situation is like for travelling in a campervan? Also would we need to come back to turkey to drive into Iran or is it possible from Iraq? Is the carnet de passage necessary for Iraq? Thanks a million.

Hi Meabh, are you planning to visit southern Iraq or just Kurdistan part? Kurdistan definitely not a problem, many people drive there. South Iraq shouldn’t be a problem either but do have patience for all checkpoints. No problem overlanding in and out of Iraq, especially in Kurdistan part.

Hi Joan, Really happy to read your story about iraq. I’m Salli from indonesia. I plan to visit iraq also as solo female. Unfortunately, Indonesian citizen can’t enter Iraq with VOA. I need to get VISA for Iraq. So, just wondering if you have specific contact / travel agency in Iraq that can help me on visa invitation in Baghdad.

Hello Salli, at the moment, I can’t help you with that, I am very sorry!

Iraqi travellers group hasn’t approved my request to join the group for 5 days. Are there any other contacts you know of that can help me get a local contact to help me get through the checkpoints?

Hi Joan, I am trying to figure out whether a visit to Iraq would close my door to a future visit to the USA. As I understand this might completely block my visit visa issuance by the USA state. Any insights on this? Any non-US citizen who has been to Iraq and then decided to visit the USA and was denied access?

Thank you in advance

My family (2 adults, 2 young kids) and I are spending the summer in Jordan and are thinking of visiting Iraq for a short trip, maybe a week or less. We’d love to visit Baghdad, Karbala, and Najaf. Do you think this is enough time to visit these places? Are there other places in Iraq you would recommend for a short visit?

Hello AJ, yes, with 1 week it’s more than enough, and you could even add Babylon and Samarra.

Hello Joan ! Wonderful web site. Congratulations !

Now the question 🙂 Are you absolutely sure that I can’t get an Iraqi visa at the Kurdish/Iraq land border, but I need to fly into Baghdad ? Is this info valid for April 2023 ? I checked many different websites and I didn’t find such restrictions… Could you be so kind and share with me the source of this message ?

I plan to go first to Kurdistan and then by land to Iraq so your answer is extremely important for me.

warm regards Pawel

Hi Pawel, there’s no official information about it but you can’t certainly cross and that reason is that it’s not an actual border, so there aren’t immigration authorities who can issue you a visa.

Hi Joan, many thanks for so fast reply. I assumed that the border is more or less official with Iraqi authorities able to issue a visa. So in practice I can enter proper Iraq through Kurdistan, even without visa, but at the first checkpoint I will be stopped and then the consequences can be severe for me… Am I right? Pawel

The problem is that if the Iraqi authorities ever set up a border there, it would mean that they recognize Kurdistan as an independent region or country, that’s the main issue. For them, there can’t be a border because Kurdistan is Iraq.

The solution would be for Iraqi authorities to be present along the Turkish border or at the Erbil airport but they can’t because in that area, immigration is controlled by the Kurds and Kurds give you Kurdish visas.

I don’t know what would happen if you ever sneaked in and traveled around Iraq. I did it a few years ago, just to go to Mosul, but that was before Iraq began issuing visas, so the checkpoints to Mosul didn’t really check that but apparently, now they do. In any case, I did it with a fixer who faked some NGO papers, something I don’t really recommennd.

Yes, clear. As I see I will have to start from Baghdad. The only problem is the price of the tickets which are expensive… Sunny day ! Pawel

Oscar Hotel link doesn’t work. How did you book this?

Maybe they stopped appearing on booking.com

Did you visit the ancient sites of Babylon, Ur & Ctisiphon ? Do we need permits ?

Hey John! no permits needed 🙂

Thanks Joan. Any tips for a good place for a cold Farida in Baghdad ?

Hi John! There are several bars on Sadoun street, around Baghdad Hotel. Those are very local bars, not particularly good places and usually with very loud music, but it’s an experience to try them once. Alternatively, there’s the Hunting Club, it’s a social club where the wealthy local community hangs out, an area with several bars and restaurants but if you aren’t a member, you may need to have an invitation, but I’d still try to go anyways

Hi Joan, as a British Iraqi, I am very happy to see such a great blog (albeit with a few errors!) about my home and I am using it to convince my non-Iraqi husband to visit. I just wanted to mention that Sarayat Alsalam (offshoot of Jaysh Al-Mehdi) were actually an invaluable group who defended and supported Iraq and Iraqis and were a major reason why ISIS were defeated. Many of them lost their lives with little recognition from the so-called government. Anyone spreading hate for them, do so for political reasons as they tend to be supporters of Iranian groups who believe Iraq belongs to the land of Persia.

Hi Sara! Thanks a lot for sharing your feedback on this 🙂 This is however turning into a political discussion that goes beyond my understanding, but something which I’d like what other Iraqi fellows think about.

Hi Joan, Has the visa situation improved since Iraq opened for tourism 2 years ago? Can you get a visa at the Jordanian land-border? Is there still a requirement to book hotels prior to your visit and show the receipt at the border? For how long are you allowed into the country? Thanks in advance, Yuval

Hi Yuval – You can know get a visa in land borders, including Jordan – Hotel receipt isn’t really needed anymore – You’re allowed to stay 30 days

Thanks for the amazing blog – this is so useful. I’d love to understand two things. Firstly how much planning before do you recommend? I’m experienced travelling Latin America, Asia and Europe where you can arrive last minute and talk to other travellers to learn how to enjoy a place. Secondly, as a solo traveller but no backpacker dorms in Iraq – will it be difficult to make friends? I’m trying to understand how lonely/fun it might be.

Hi Joan We have a security question. We planned to travel to Iraq between November 17 and December 9 (Baghdad, Karbala, Najaf, Kufa, Basra, etc., all south of Baghdad). However, after what happened in Gaza, we hesitate. We know the Arab countries well, including the Middle East and Central Asia . We don’t speak Arabic, and the Persian I know isn’t likely to be useful here. As a student, I spent the revolution in Iran, we were caught up in the riots in Pakistan, we have been travelling around the world in very different conditions. Roughly, we have been travelling for over 40 years. What are we afraid of? That some hidden ISIS cells will be reborn, etc.

What is your opinion? And thanks for the suggestion about the hotel in Baghdad. Can you suggest accommodation in Kufa and Basra? Congratulations on your blog – it’s great. Greetings from Krakow (Poland) Elizabeth

Hello Elisabeth, we did cancel ours tours to Syria (since you enter via Lebanon) but our Iraq tours still go on, and we have a group there as we speak, all is normal there!

Are you sure, that these days the Saudi Iraq border is open and you can get there VOA? I’ve heard few different opinions

IATI Insurance doesn’t seem to cover Australian residents?

Hi! Do you know how to get invitation letter for all Iraq?I from Serbia and I need tourist visa before travel.I would like to travel without tourist guide

Try to ask in Iraqi Travelers Cafe FB group. There are some well-connected people who are willing to get the approval without booking a tour but they’ll charge around $400-$500

Hello Joan, I plan to drive myself in a rental car and head to some remote/rural regions in the south and east (and eventually continue on to Mosul and Erbil). I will always ask on site whether my planned route is considered safe (and adjust it if necessary). Do you think this is sufficiently safe or would you advise against driving alone in these areas?

Hi Matthias, I think anywhere in Iraq is nowadays safe.

Hi Joan, Thank you this page has been massively helpful in my research. I am planning a solo backpacking/hitchiking trip to Iraq. Beginning in Baghdad through Basrah and finally ending Kuwait to fly home.

I had a few questions:

I am a British citizen, do you know if the VOA is still applicable to British citizens, as I have heard mixed things.

Will I need a letter of invitation?

Would it be wise to contact the Iraqi embassy?

In terms of security given the current situation in Gaza and West Bank, would it be too dangerous for one to attemps a solo trip through Iraq?

Hey Finnian! VOA is totally available, and no LOI is needed for UK passports when traveling to Iraq. You don’t need to contact the embassy either. We are currently running many group expeditions into Iraq. Actually, we have one group there as we speak, life there is going on as usual! Have a safe trip to Iraq!

Hello! This is such an interesting guide and I’m really interested in visiting Iraq. I am a UK citizen and I live in Riyadh and I’m wondering if you know whether it’s possible to take a Saudi car over the border for a road trip?

Yes, it totally possible, they are really easing things for foreigners!

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Visa to Iraq

Documents required for Iraqi nationals living in the United Kingdom

1- Fill out the visa application form electronically (online) including an address in Iraq (neighborhood, street, and a house number) and a valid phone number.

2- You should provide Two identical and recent photos:

  • Photo size: 35x45mm
  • In color, not black and white

3- A valid passport for a period of 6 months minimum.

4- The presence of the applicant personally to the Consular Section to apply for a visa is essential.

5- All applicants of Iraqi origin holding dual British-Iraqi nationality must provide valid documents including the applicant’s name (identical) as the name in the British or foreign passport, will be exempted from the visa fee £50.

6- To get the application form  click here

Conditions and Instructions for Travel to Iraq and Granting Visa

1- Foreign passport holders can enter Iraq directly without the need for a visa if he/she has Iraqi documents. (If traveling directly to Iraq)

2- The visa is granted to applicants whose place of birth is Iraq provided that they submit a document proving that he was born in Iraq, such as a birth certificate, as recorded in the passport in the place of birth field.

3- The visa is granted to the wives of Iraqi who are foreigners, provided that they submit the marriage certificate legalized by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the state in which the certificate was issued in addition to the legalization by the Iraqi Embassy in that country as well as the documents of the Iraqi husband. However, such a visa is granted after approval by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the applicant should pay (50) pounds fees.

4- For the children traveling with their parents it is required to bring their foreign birth certificate, on the condition that the father and mother’s name is identical with the Iraqi documents, in the event of parents who had changed his or her name, the changed name should be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in which the process was issued.

5- The Iraqi women married to foreigners who want to travel to Iraq, can admit their children, provided that they submit the children’s foreign birth certificate, on the condition that the mother’s name is identical with the Iraqi documents.

6- Visa is not granted to minors, who are traveling with their mother unless the father attends the Consular Section and records acknowledgment of no objection to his children traveling with their mother, or visit the Foreign Ministry / Consular Section if he was present in Iraq to confirm no objection of the issue, or visit the Iraqi Embassy in the country in which he resides and send them to the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in London.

7- As in the case of divorce, they have to bring a divorce certificate legalized by competent authorities, for the purpose of that the mother becomes able to apply for a visa for them if the father could not be contacted, in the case the children were in the custody of the mother.

8- British and European passport holders can get visas upon arrival at any of Iraq’s points of entry.

9-Iraqi nationals and foreign visitor are no longer required to provide COVID-19 vaccination status certificates.

The documents required for granting visas to Arab and foreign investors:

1- Filling out a visa application form electronically (online) of all fields.

To obtain the application form  click here

2- (2) Recent colour personal photos.

3- Photocopy of the passport.

4- Providing endorsement a letter from the company in which the visa applicants work.

5- Provide a letter of invitation from the government body / the ministry which the investors intend to contract with

6- A valid passport for a period of 6 months minimum.

The documents required for granting a visa to journalists:

4- Submit a letter from the news channel in which the visa applicants work.

5- A valid passport for a period of 6 months minimum.

Please use the following email address and phone number to contact us and schedule Iraqi press visa interview with the embassy:

[email protected]

+44 (0)2075907650

Iraq - AlMustansiriyaU Baghdad, Iraq

Introducing Iraq

  • Images of Iraq
  • History, language & culture
  • Weather & geography
  • Doing business & staying in touch

Plan your trip

  • Travel to Iraq
  • Where to stay

While you’re there

  • Things to see & do
  • Shopping & nightlife
  • Food & drink
  • Getting around

Before you go

  • Passport & visa
  • Public Holidays
  • Money & duty free

Book your flights

  • Erbil International Airport

Iraq travel guide

Iraq may be synonymous with strife, a land of dusty, dubious conflicts, but what you don’t see in the mainstream media are the country’s many attributes: its fantastic birdlife, shimmering oases, turquoise rivers, fertile valleys, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and stunning cityscapes. Some of the world’s oldest societies came out of this ancient land and many refer to the region as the ‘cradle of civilisation.’

But despite its glorious past, the country has little to celebrate at present. Most of Iraq’s political, social, physical and economic infrastructures were destroyed by the US-led invasion in 2003. Successful elections and the withdrawal of troops in 2009 seemed to herald Iraq’s road to recovery and there were reasons to be optimistic: despite continuing violence, tourism had climbed back up to an impressive two million people a year by 2013 and plans were afoot to increase that number threefold.

The government even announced that it would restore the Arch of Ctesiphon, the world’s biggest arch made of bricks, and what remains of the ancient Persian capital of the same name. Also revealed were plans to repair the damage done to the southern marshes, which Sadam Hussein drained, and use its status as a bird haven to create a centre for eco-tourism.

Since 2013, though, the security situation has rapidly deteriorated, culminating with the Islamic militant group ISIS seizing large swathes of territory in the north in 2014. The Iraqi government has since pushed back against the insurgency, but the situation remains highly volatile with no end in sight.

Despite government warnings to avoid travelling to the country, a few adventure tour companies are still taking small groups to Iraq, albeit not the north. If and when the country finally stabilises, there’s little doubt that tourists will return in greater numbers to the ‘cradle of civilisation’. But until then, travel to Iraq is strongly advised against.

438,317 sq km (169,235 sq miles).

37,547,686 (UN estimate 2016).

Democratic republic.

President Barham Salih since 2018.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi since May 2020.

Travel Advice

The foreign, commonwealth & development office ( fcdo ) advises against all travel to all provinces of iraq except the kurdistan region of iraq, and against all but essential travel to the kurdistan region of iraq..

Protests regularly take place in and around the International Zone in Baghdad. Protests can, and sometimes do, escalate into violence. You should avoid any rallies, marches or processions, and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Iraq remains subject to regional tensions. A number of areas of Iraq remain subject to sporadic attack by artillery, drones and rockets. See Political and security situation

A threat to Western interests remains, including to UK citizens. You should remain vigilant, have robust security arrangements and contingency plans in place, keeping these under review, and keep up to date with the latest developments, including via the media and this travel advice.

Due to the security situation and the advice against all travel to all provinces of Iraq except the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and against all but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, British nationals are reminded that consular support in all of Iraq is severely limited. The security situation across Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq could deteriorate quickly and without warning. You should not assume that, in the event of a further deterioration in the security situation, assistance to leave Iraq, including from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, will be available.

You may be eligible to obtain a visit visa on arrival in federal Iraq. Check visa requirements with the Iraqi Embassy in London, or the Iraqi Consulate in Manchester before you travel. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) you may apply for an e-visa online before arrival on the e-visa portal of the Kurdistan Region Government . It is also possible to obtain a visa on arrival. Both types of visa are valid for travel in the KRI only. See Visas

The Iraqi Prime Minister announced the territorial defeat of Daesh in Iraq on 9 December 2017. However, terrorists are still very likely to try to carry out attacks in Iraq. You should remain vigilant and monitor media reports. See Terrorism

There’s also a high threat of kidnapping throughout the country, including from both Daesh and other terrorist and militant groups, which can be motivated by criminality or terrorism. You should review your security arrangements regularly and consider carefully any travel plans around the country. See Kidnap

Since October 2023 drone and rocket attacks directed at US military installations have occurred across Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Erbil International Airport has experienced temporary closures for brief periods with operations resuming after a few hours. On 15 January, Iranian missile strikes targeted the north-eastern edge of Erbil city, near the areas of Kasnazan and Mulla Omar, killing and injuring civilians.

Turkey conducts regular military action in the north of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and, occasionally, further south. There is particular risk in mountainous areas, especially around Qandil, Makhmur, and near the border with Turkey. Iran has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks by ballistic rockets and drones, including in Erbil, Koya and surrounding areas. Crossing points along the Iraq-Turkey border may also be affected. See  Kurdistan Region

If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the  nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission . Consular support is severely limited in Iraq. The British Embassy in Baghdad and the British Consulate-General in Erbil operate a limited consular service by appointment only. The Embassy and Consulate-General’s ability to visit locations across Iraq is limited and travel to unsecure areas to deliver consular services may not be possible.

As of 26 October, some UK Government staff have been temporarily withdrawn from the British Embassy Baghdad due to risks of a deterioration in the security situation. The Embassy will continue essential work, including consular support, which remains extremely limited in Iraq.

Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Iraq’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.

If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.

It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides appropriate cover. See the FCDO ’s guidance on foreign travel insurance .

Coronavirus Travel Health

Check the latest information on risk from COVID-19 for Iraq on the TravelHealthPro website .

See the TravelHealthPro website for further advice on travel abroad and reducing spread of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic .

International Travel

Commercial flights are operating to and from Iraq. Check with your airline before travelling.

All travellers entering Iraq from China must provide proof of a PCR test conducted in the previous 72 hours.

Entry and Borders

See Entry requirements to find out what you will need to do when you arrive in Iraq.

Be prepared for your plans to change

No travel is risk-free during COVID-19. Countries may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example due to a new COVID-19 variant. Check with your travel company or airline for any transport changes which may delay your journey home.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may need to stay where you are until you test negative. You may also need to seek treatment there.

Plan ahead and make sure you:

  • can access money
  • understand what your insurance will cover
  • can make arrangements to extend your stay and be away for longer than planned

Travel in Iraq

You should keep up to date with information from your sponsor or employer in Iraq and/or with your airline on the impact of any existing travel plans. If you need further information about entry requirements, contact the local immigration authorities or the nearest Iraqi Embassy.

Healthcare in Iraq

If you are in Iraq and displaying symptoms of coronavirus you should seek medical advice while self-isolating. Current advice in Iraq is to self-isolate for 5 days after testing positive. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company.

For contact details for English speaking doctors visit our list of healthcare providers .

Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Read guidance on how to look after your mental wellbeing and mental health

View Health for further details on healthcare in Iraq.

For information on financial support you can access whilst abroad, visit our financial assistance guidance .

Help and support

If you need urgent consular assistance, contact your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate . All telephone numbers are available 24/7.

If you are in Iraq and need advice which is not covered by reading our travel advice then you can contact us online.

If you need urgent consular assistance, call the FCDO on +44 207 008 5000. To get the latest information, sign up for travel advice email alerts .

Military activity in the Red Sea area       

Military activity is currently underway in response to attempts by Houthi militants to prevent movement of international shipping in the Red Sea. While the area of activity is limited to the Red Sea and Yemen, there is a possibility that Travel Advice for nearby countries could change at short notice. You should continue to monitor Travel Advice and follow any relevant instructions from local authorities.

Political and security situation

Iraq remains subject to regional tensions. A number of areas of Iraq remain subject to sporadic attack by artillery, drones and rockets. Since October 2023 drone and rocket attacks directed at US military installations have occurred across Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

As of 26 October 2023, some UK Government staff have been temporarily withdrawn from the British Embassy Baghdad due to risks of a deterioration in the security situation. The Embassy will continue essential work, including consular support, which remains extremely limited in Iraq.

Protests regularly take place in and around the International Zone in Baghdad. Protests can escalate into violence. You should avoid any rallies, marches or processions, and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Large protests also occur regularly across Iraq. While many of these demonstrations are peaceful, there have been frequent violent clashes between Iraqi security forces and protesters, resulting in significant casualties including loss of life. You should avoid any rallies, marches and/or processions, and follow the instructions of local authorities.

In the event of widespread disturbances or a deterioration in the security situation, there may be limits to the assistance that the FCDO can provide. Read further information and advice on how to deal with a crisis overseas . Make sure that you are content with your own and your family’s security arrangements and keep yourself up to date with developments, including by regularly monitoring this travel advice. Be prepared to “shelter in place” or hunker down for several days, should the security situation require it. This means having adequate essential supplies, such as food, water and medicine, at the place where you are staying. You should ensure you have correct and up-to-date travel documentation in case a sudden deterioration in the situation on the ground requires travel out of Iraq. Do not rely on the FCDO being able to evacuate you in an emergency.

There may be restrictions on movement, and the Iraqi authorities have discretion to impose curfews as they deem necessary. Curfews and vehicle bans can be enforced at short notice, particularly during protests and civil unrest, but also around religious holidays, pilgrimages and key political dates like elections. Religious gatherings have previously been targeted by terrorists.

British government officials serving in Iraq live and work under strict security rules. Depending on the threat level, they may be prevented from travelling to certain areas of Iraq.

If you’re travelling or moving to Iraq, you should take appropriate security precautions before travelling. Outside of the Kurdistan Region you are strongly advised to employ a private security company, make arrangements for secure accommodation and transport and consider pre-deployment training.

Local travel

Northern and western iraq.

Areas liberated from Daesh are likely to contain remnants of war and improvised explosive devices.

Routes in and out of Baghdad may become blocked and airports closed or inaccessible at little or no notice. You should plan and check your routes in advance of travelling.

There remains a threat to hotels in Baghdad, which could be targeted by terrorist groups. You should remain vigilant and follow the advice of the local authorities.

You should avoid political gatherings and large crowds, and minimise your movement around banks, restaurants and shopping malls. Observe instructions given by the local security authorities.

Kurdistan Region of Iraq

While the Kurdistan Region has a different security environment to the rest of Iraq, there remains a risk of attacks by Daesh.

Turkey conducts regular military action in the north of the Kurdistan Region and on occasion, further south. There is particular risk in mountainous areas, particularly around Qandil, Makhmur, and near the border with Turkey. Crossing points along the Iraq-Turkey border may also be affected.

Since October 2023, there have been a number of drone and rocket attacks on US military installations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Iran has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks by ballistic rockets and drones, including in Erbil, Koya and surrounding areas. There have also been a number of attacks in border areas.

On 15 January, Iranian missile strikes targeted the north-eastern edge of Erbil city, near the areas of Kasnazan and Mulla Omar, killing and injuring civilians.

Foreign nationals crossing the border from neighbouring countries into the KRI have been arrested for immigration offences. If prosecuted offenders could face a prison sentence of up to 5 years or fines of several thousand US dollars.

Protests are common in Basra. You should remain alert, monitor media reports and keep up to date with this travel advice.

Land borders

Border crossing points with countries neighbouring Iraq may close with little or no notice.

Check whether border crossings will be open before travelling.

Do not leave airports without taking adequate security precautions. You should also take care within all terminal buildings.

Flight schedules may change without notice. Contact your airline or travel company for the latest information before travelling.

The UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Iraq that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority .

UK government staff working in Iraq are authorised to use aircraft operated by Iraqi Airways for internal flights on a case by case basis.

Maritime facilities are under a high risk of attack. Maritime and sailing craft should take great care in the northern Persian Gulf. Vessels transiting the Gulf of Oman, Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab El Mandeb regions may be at increased risk of attack. You should consider any regional tensions that may affect your route.

Check whether sea borders will be open before your crossing.

Road travel

You need to have a 1968 International Driving Permit to drive in Iraq. 1926 IDPs previously issued by the UK may no longer be accepted. You can get IDPs over the counter from 2,500 UK Post Offices. You will not be able to buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.

Road travel within Iraq remains highly dangerous. Driving standards are low compared to those is the UK. Road traffic accidents are frequent and often result in fatalities. False vehicle checkpoints have been used to launch terrorist attacks. There is also a risk of carjacking and robbery.

Consular assistance

UK Consular support is severely limited in Iraq. The Baghdad Embassy and Erbil Consulate-General’s ability to visit locations across Iraq is limited and travel to unsecure areas to deliver consular services may not be possible.

If you need urgent consular assistance, call the FCDO in London on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

Advice to business

A number of UK companies visit and operate successfully in Iraq. However, movement is restricted and companies nearly always travel with close protection security teams. Specific guidance for companies seeking to do business in Iraq can be found on the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) website. DBT are also able to put you in touch with companies operating in Iraq who offer security services. For more information see Operating in high-risk environments: Advice for business

Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Iraq.

In December 2017, Iraq’s Prime Minister declared the territorial defeat of Daesh (formally referred to as ISIL) in Iraq. However, the risk of terrorist attacks in Iraq remains. Attacks are more frequent in areas where Daesh had a strong presence and capability, such as Anbar, Baghdad, Ninewah, Salah-Al-Din, Diyala and Tam’mim (Kirkuk) provinces, but can occur throughout the entire country.

Targets for terrorist attacks have included: residential compounds, military establishments, oil facilities, airports, public transport, commercial venues, including markets and stores, maritime facilities, land border crossings, government buildings, hotels, restaurants, large crowds, police stations, political offices/events, sports venues/stadiums and religious sites/ceremonies. There is a heightened threat of attacks against western interests. While attacks can take place at any time, there’s a heightened threat during religious or public holidays.

Methods of attack have included shootings, large-scale co-ordinated bombings designed to cause mass casualties, suicide bombs, vehicle bombs, rockets and mortars.

Other militant groups opposed to western presence in Iraq continue to pose a threat to UK and other interests in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Foreign nationals, including those of non-western appearance, are high value targets for terrorists, insurgents and criminals. Indiscriminate attacks against public places and Iraqi civilians also occur.

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

If you travel to Iraq to fight, and your activities amount to offences against UK terrorism legislation, you could be prosecuted on return to the UK.

Terrorists in Iraq likely maintain the intent and capability to target aviation.

Targets for terrorist attacks have included Iraq’s Airports.

Since October 2023 drone and rocket attacks directed at US military installations have occurred across Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Erbil International Airport has experienced temporary closures for brief periods with operations resuming after a few hours.

Both Baghdad International Airport, and Erbil Airport have been targeted by indirect rocket attacks. The most recent attacks took place in September 2021 (Erbil) and January 2022 (Baghdad).

You should co-operate fully with security officials at airports and observe any additional security measures.

There’s also a high threat of kidnapping throughout the country, including from both Daesh and other terrorist and militant groups. You should review your security arrangements regularly and consider carefully any travel plans around the country. Kidnappings can be for purely ideological reasons as well as financial or political gain. British nationals have previously been targeted.

You should regularly reassess your security arrangements and consider carefully any travel around the country. Close protection security is important, but does not remove the threat; a number of previous kidnap victims had security arrangements in place.

The US Overseas Security Advisory Council has previously issued warnings over the risk of kidnapping attempts on the vehicles of non-governmental organisation (NGO) staff providing aid to Mosul and on the elevated kidnap risk to US citizens in Baghdad and wider Iraq, linked to the elevated tensions between the US and Iran.

British nationals are viewed as legitimate targets, including those engaged in tourism, humanitarian aid work, journalism or business. If you’re kidnapped, the reason for your presence is unlikely to serve as a protection or secure your safe release.

International and local journalists have previously been detained in Iraq due to allegations of inadequate paperwork. Journalists should exercise extreme caution and take adequate security measures.

The long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners builds the capability of terrorist groups and finances their activities. This can, in turn, increase the risk of further hostage-taking. The Terrorism Act (2000) makes payments to terrorists illegal.

Local laws reflect that Iraq is a predominantly Islamic country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religious customs at all times, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or when visiting places of religious significance.

Although homosexuality is not illegal under Iraqi law, the LGBT community generally keeps a low profile, making it difficult to assess its size or relative freedoms. Local attitudes towards LGBT people may be hostile. There are also reports that LGBT people experienced discrimination, harassment and violence at the hands of state authorities. You’re advised to exercise discretion. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.

Iraq continues to practise the death penalty for a range of crimes. This includes for murder, espionage, rape, kidnapping, terrorism, war crimes, smuggling antiquities and drug trafficking.

Iraqi family law is very different from UK law and particular care is needed if child custody becomes an issue.

If you have concerns about child custody you should seek advice before travelling to Iraq about ‘travel bans’ that can be imposed by male heads of family. Even if you, or your child, hold a British passport, you may be subject to Iraqi laws and regulations.

Any child, whose father is Iraqi or dual national Iraqi, travelling from Iraq without their father (even if the mother is accompanying them) may need to provide proof that paternal permission to travel has been given.

On 20 February, 2023, the Iraqi national gazette published the new Municipalities Income law, which includes a provision prohibiting the import, manufacture, and selling of alcoholic beverages of all sorts, punishable by fines of up to IQD 25m. This is being challenged in the Iraqi courts. We are not aware of any instances of Iraqi officials stopping travellers carrying alcohol for personal use.

This page has information on travelling to Iraq.

This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Iraq set and enforce entry rules. If you’re unsure how Iraq’s entry requirements apply to you, contact its UK embassy, high commission or consulate .

You should also consider checking with your transport provider or travel company to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.

Entry rules in response to coronavirus

All travellers entering Iraq from China must provide proof of a PCR test conducted in the previous 72 hours. The Iraqi CAA have medical teams deployed to all civil airports to screen travellers. You should comply with any additional screening measures put in place by the Iraqi authorities.

Check with your airline for further information.

Regular entry requirements

You may be eligible to obtain a visit visa on arrival in Iraq. Check visa requirements with the Iraqi Embassy in London or the Iraqi Consulate in Manchester before you travel.

The government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has introduced a new e-visa process. You can find the details and apply on the e-visa portal of the Kurdistan Region Government . It is also possible to obtain a visa on arrival. Both types of visas are valid for travel in the KRI only.

As of 31 October 2023, be aware that the fees for visas on arrival to Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, may only be paid in Iraqi dinars.

Documentation

Make sure you have the right documents when you arrive in Iraq, including Weapon Authority Cards (WAC) if you are carrying weapons.

Foreign nationals have been arrested for failing to provide the correct documentation when requested. For more information contact the Iraqi Embassy in London .

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Iraq.

Yellow fever certificate requirements

Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website .

If you remain in the country for more than 10 days without extending your visa, you’ll need to get an exit stamp to leave the country.

Your sponsor (for example the company you work for) must apply for the exit visa to the Residency and Immigration Office, which is part of the Ministry of Interior. Your sponsor will need to submit letters to the Immigration Office stating the start and end date of employment.

All visitors to Iraq, with the exception of those travelling on a tourist visa, must have a blood test for HIV and hepatitis within 10 days of arrival. The test must then be repeated every 90 days while you’re in Iraq. Guidance on where to go for the blood test is available at the airport when you arrive.

If you have a health condition, or you are pregnant, you may need specialist healthcare abroad. Check whether your destination country can provide the healthcare you may need and ensure you have appropriate travel insurance for unexpected medical evacuation or local treatment.

See the Coronavirus travel health and Healthcare sections in the  Coronavirus page for COVID-19 health information.

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website .

General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines . For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, you’ll need to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to.

There are clear links between mental and physical health, so looking after yourself during travel and when abroad is important. Information on travelling with mental health conditions is available in our guidance page . Further information is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) .

Medical treatment

Medical facilities are limited. In the event of serious accident or illness, an evacuation by air ambulance may be required. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. The British Embassy in Baghdad, and British Consulate General in Erbil, cannot help with medical repatriation arrangements and costs.

Read our guidance about hospitals abroad

Health risks

The temperature in summer months can exceed 50 ºC (122ºF), which can result in dehydration and serious health problems.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

Visitors should be aware that cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever have been present throughout the country. The virus is transmitted via tick bites (particularly Hyalomma ticks, although other types of ticks can also be infected) or through contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals during and immediately after slaughter.

Further information can be found on the WHO website .

Iraq is situated in an active seismic zone and there is a risk of tremors and earthquakes.

In 2017, a powerful earthquake struck Iran’s mountainous border with Iraq, killing more than 400 people and injuring more than 7,000.

During periods of heavy rainfall flash flooding can occur. There have been a number of incidents of flooding, causing loss of life and serious damage to infrastructure in the KRI in recent months. You should remain vigilant in areas of heavy rainfall and follow the advice of the local authorities.

If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission . If you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad, contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London on 020 7008 5000 (24 hours).

Foreign travel checklist

Read our foreign travel checklist to help you plan for your trip abroad and stay safe while you’re there.

Travel safety

The FCDO travel advice helps you make your own decisions about foreign travel. Your safety is our main concern, but we can’t provide tailored advice for individual trips. If you’re concerned about whether or not it’s safe for you to travel, you should read the travel advice for the country or territory you’re travelling to, together with information from other sources you’ve identified, before making your own decision on whether to travel. Only you can decide whether it’s safe for you to travel.

When we judge the level of risk to British nationals in a particular place has become unacceptably high, we’ll state on the travel advice page for that country or territory that we advise against all or all but essential travel. Read more about how the FCDO assesses and categorises risk in foreign travel advice .

Our crisis overseas page suggests additional things you can do before and during foreign travel to help you stay safe.

Refunds and cancellations

If you wish to cancel or change a holiday that you’ve booked, you should contact your travel company. The question of refunds and cancellations is a matter for you and your travel company. Travel companies make their own decisions about whether or not to offer customers a refund. Many of them use our travel advice to help them reach these decisions, but we do not instruct travel companies on when they can or can’t offer a refund to their customers.

For more information about your rights if you wish to cancel a holiday, visit the Citizen’s Advice Bureau website . For help resolving problems with a flight booking, visit the website of the Civil Aviation Authority . For questions about travel insurance, contact your insurance provider and if you’re not happy with their response, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service .

Registering your travel details with us

We’re no longer asking people to register with us before travel. Our foreign travel checklist and crisis overseas page suggest things you can do before and during foreign travel to plan your trip and stay safe.

Previous versions of FCDO travel advice

If you’re looking for a previous version of the FCDO travel advice, visit the National Archives website . Versions prior to 2 September 2020 will be archived as FCO travel advice. If you can’t find the page you’re looking for there, send the Travel Advice Team a request .

Further help

If you’re a British national and you have a question about travelling abroad that isn’t covered in our foreign travel advice or elsewhere on GOV.UK, you can submit an enquiry , or contact us on Twitter or Facebook . We’re not able to provide tailored advice for specific trips.

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Find cheap flights to Iraq from £110

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the united kingdom to iraq departing on 21/4. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to iraq.

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Best Iraq Flight Deals

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours

Good to know - Cheap tickets to Iraq

Faqs - booking iraq flights, how long is the flight to iraq.

An average direct flight from the United Kingdom to Iraq takes 12h 00m, covering a distance of 2605 miles. The most popular route is London - Erbil with an average flight time of 6h 50m.

What is the cheapest flight to Iraq?

The cheapest ticket to Iraq from the United Kingdom found in the last 72 hours was £217. The most popular route is London Heathrow to Erbil Intl and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was £287.

What are the most popular destinations in Iraq?

The next most popular destinations are Baghdad (27%) and Sulaymaniyah (24%).Searches for flights to Najaf (8%) and to Basra (3%) are also popular.

How does KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Iraq

  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Iraq flight deals.

Top 4 airlines flying to Iraq

I had already opted for Vegan food before 2 months yet they say we have no record for it,

Boarding procedures are very tiring. We have to clear security twice for our connecting flights from Doha. Also every time we board flights we have to show boarding passes 5-6 times.

Crews are very rude and unhelpful. Cramped seats in economy. Foods are useless

Ultimate customer care humble and excellent service oriented crew , perfect timing maintained by the crew . My profound appreciation.

After going through security and waiting for the flight at the gate, there was no access to bathrooms and no place to charge a phone while waiting for the flight. But once I was on the plane, everything was very good.

Very very poor service. Authorities must take action against this airline immediately. Total failure to follow the rules and regulations of an international airline

Luggage handling was very very bad. Damaged my new Calvin Klein bag and delayed another. Still did not get it since 2 days. Worst airlines and service.

The staffs were very good and helpful especially since we were traveling with a toddler

They ran out of some of the popular food items. 😞

The plane from Dublin to Doha was quite comfortable. I was in economy and the seats and rows were very tight. The man in front of me reclined his seat and it made my screen incredibly close to my face and I wasn’t able to take my tray down and my knees were pressed against the seat. I had to ask three times for him to pull his seat up but in his defence he hadn’t even reclined it far, the rows were just too close. I had a pain in my side by the end of the flight from the chairs which were quite worn and not very padded or supportive. It was a significantly inferior plane to the plane from Doha to Sydney and vice versa.

A good airline, but at checking in, they allocated seats for my wife, and I far away from each other, and to change them, they wanted a payment, such a bad policy, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth All was good on the plane, good food, but the air hostess was abrupt and a bit rough dealing with the passengers, but one has to find excuses for staff working under pressure

I’m unclear why I had to pay extra for assigned seats as Turkish airlines did not honor the seating. We were placed across the aisle from each other on TK 34, and were seated behind one another on TK 694. Because my name was misspelled on e-ticket (Klawiter, instead of Klawitter) I could not log onto website to get the connection gate number in Istanbul. The monitors in the airport were a jumbled mess 1/2 Arabic and 1/2 English.

I will avoid this airline as much as possible. Service was rude, and I don’t think the crew knew how to answer a CALL LIGHT. I pushed my call light on the ohare to Istanbul and the Istanbul to Thailand flight because I was very very thirsty. NO ONE CAME. I pushed it twice! NO ONE CAME! Why have a call light when no one will come? My experience was the WORSE AND I WILL NEVER EVER FLY WITH THIS AIRLINE AGAIN. The cabin crew needs to learn MANNERS AND BE RETRAINED on their jobs on how to be helpful and kind instead of being short with their customers and ANSWER CALL LIGHTS! I honestly wouldn’t be suprised this airline goes out of business.

Better attitude training for staff at airport, better training for flight attendants, better food, don’t put us with all the crying babies that cried nonstop for 12 plus hours.

Crew announced boarding started and they asked passengers to form a queue. Actual boarding didn’t start and queue was not moving for around 40-50 mins. Very poor management.

Istanbul to Miami Sector the plane was nice and clean except for no WiFi during the entire flight. The flight from Karachi to Istanbul was another story .The sad part is we paid for business class to be comfortable. The foot rest didn’t work. The flight attendant had to push the seat to put to recline position and/or put it back. This was not only for me but for other passengers in business class. The tray table would not come out so had to get help from the passenger sitting next to me. I understand that they may have to use old planes but Turkish Airlines have to make sure that the things are functional especially the duration of flight is six hours and they are charging a lot of money. It seemed that i was flying a domestic sector instead of an international flight.

The food could be better. The service was okay. Could have done more to provide water throughout the flight.

I found it okay. Did not think the food was that great. And the service could have been better. Seat was a little cramped. Delay getting to Istanbul made me rush all the way across the airport to get to the connection. This was a not good experience.

Leaving on time would have been a good start . Sat in plane while they cleaned around us . We got to Turkey raced to our next flight to see plane sitting at the gate 5 minutes before departure time to be told “ plane is gone “ while obviously it wasn’t . Showed them time on my phone before departure. Then “ gate is closed “ . Then he said “Instead of talking to me you need to go talk to someone else to get another flight “ . We booked business class no service waited in line to have to rebook same flight day later. Offered hotel room but wait for a bus to heard us to what I’m sure would have been cheap hotel. Opted for private cab and decent hotel at our own expense. Bad service at ever turn . NEVER TURKISH AIRLINES AGAIN !

We were traveling first class. Checkin counter lady and her manager, both were in bad mood and did not treat us well about checking in the handbag. The gate agent took care of it right away. I travel Turkish twice a year in first class. No one has ever refused to check in the hand bag. Not sure, why this agent and her manager refused. Everything else was excellent.

Worst flying experience ever. Both kids fell sick from food afterwards. In flight Service was missing. Same food served for all meals and that too stale which made us sick.

I had bad experience, this flight from Amman to Detroit was delayed for 40 hours!!!! The staff are rude & the food was not good at all.

I had bad experience, the first flight was delayed for 4 hours & the second flight was delayed for 40 hours!!!!! The staff on the flight from Amman to Detroit are rude . The food was not good at all.

Entertainment content is outdated. Food; I chose the chicken meal with rice, I would like to know the thought process of serving rice and chicken to be eaten with only a fork?! I don't eat spicy food for health reasons, I found out that the rice is very spicy after the first bite, so I didn't eat.

It was operated by Oman Air . So old airplane so dirty and so hot till we were flown We paid a full price for this flight but it’s not acceptable The plane was parked in cargo parking it was very far from the airport

Some entertainment would have been appreciated on a 5 hours+ flight, the aircraft was quite old, even trays kept falling down with each minor turbulence. Meals were also bad.

The staff (crew) was very unprofessional They don't care about passengers' complaints and don't respond when we call them The food is very poor and the seats are old, broken and making noises The plane is generally dilapidated and needs restoration

Boarding was easy. Relatively on time. For a long flight from Montreal to Jordan should offer more water, drinks etc. Dehydration is linked to DVTs . Also some of the stewards were a bit rude but it’s ok ; maybe stress of dealing with rude people

Had a bitter experience with RJ, and had the challenge to login to account no information about what went wrong and not being able to select the food option after check-in flight they don't have any vegetarian food option on the flight, and they told us to have to select the food option before boarding :( i had the challenge of login into my account, with explaining all the details to crew members they told they don't have any vegetarian food to serve for my entire family throughout the journey and my baggage does not arrive to the destination on time. Overall its very bad experience for my entire family

Their website has been created for better use by individuals and it does not allow me to create an account to manage the bookings and food options. the flight crew does not have any option for vegetarians their default option is non-veg if a person has a technical reason to connect their account they have no food choice during the entire journey. mine have a bad experience from DXB to JFK such a long drive with 2 kids.

I used the airline 5-6 times for the last year and every flight have had perfect timing and I like it. Despite catastrophic absence of space for my legs 😁

The crew was utterly non helping and non courteous.I asked for a water. The air hostess could have said it's paid . She informed me that I will come later after serving but never turned up. The seats were never comfortable.My first and last flight with Pegasus.I am not taking again

The plane left Istanbul 1 hour late and the AC was not really working great it was so hot inside and no air. This was my worst flight in a long time since I had a flight with Ryanair.

Cheap and cheerful. It’s a super cheap, no frills flight. Very professional and as it’s an A320 relatively spacious. Seats do not recline. Happy with the service. You get what you pay for. Can’t complain

I had 4 flights for less than a week and there were no delays and issues. Thanks to the crews and for perfectly organised service.

There is no usb for charging the phone you should provide the water

Pegasus is a clean safe and most importantly CHEAP way to travel. If you travel a lot on a budget, it can be a great option

Didn't enforce passengers to wear medical grade masks nor that they even properly wear their masks throughout the flight. So it was lots of people of unknown vaccination status all around me without masks on the whole flight.

I liked that we could pre order and pay for meals. Crew was super efficient and got everything exactly right and of course we didn’t even have to ask it was all super seamless I wish other airlines would do this.

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Cheapest flights to Iraq from the United Kingdom found in 2024

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The Post Office row rumbles on and MPs are challenged to back a ceasefire in Gaza.

On the day that Prince Harry’s security bill and MPs’ security were top of the agenda.

Watch every moment of Prime Minister's Questions with analysis from the ITV News team.

Middle East latest: Starbucks operator 'to cut 2,000 jobs' after boycotts; truce talks end as aid dropped on Gaza

The latest round of ceasefire talks have broken up without a breakthrough. Meanwhile, Al Shaya, the Starbucks operator in the Middle East, is planning to lay off 2,000 people as the business takes a hit from boycotts linked to the war, according to Reuters.

Tuesday 5 March 2024 17:18, UK

  • Israel-Hamas war

Aid is parachuted into Gaza

  • Latest round of truce talks end without breakthrough  
  • Dominic Waghorn:  What is the impact of truce optimism fading?
  • Starbucks operator 'to cut 2,000 jobs' after boycotts
  • Global internet cables cut in Red Sea
  • Family 'scammed out of £2,300' trying to evacuate relative from Gaza
  • Houthis hit container ship with ballistic missile
  • Mark Stone : Kamala Harris's comments only a subtle shift in tone - but White House cannot ignore Gaza crisis
  • Live reporting by Ollie Cooper

Joe Biden has repeated US claims that a ceasefire deal is solely "in the hands of Hamas". 

"It's in the hands of Hamas right now," he said. 

"The Israelis have been cooperating. We need a ceasefire."

His secretary of state Antony Blinken also said earlier there is an opportunity to achieve an immediate ceasefire, but that the onus was on Hamas.

A senior Hamas official denied this, claiming that "it is now in the hands of the Americans, if they are serious about achieving a ceasefire before Ramadan, to exercise enough pressure on the Israelis" (see 2.48pm post). 

Much of today's updates have been around the chronic lack of crucial aid inside Gaza - with many international partners calling on Israel to do more to get more in.

But can they do more? And perhaps more pertinently, will they?

Our data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire has taken a closer look...

An Israeli strike has killed a mother, father and their son in the southern Lebanese town of Houla, the local mayor has said. 

"It was a three-floor house, now it's all the way collapsed and the rescue workers are still working to see who is left under it," Shakib Koteish said.

Israel has been exchanging cross-border fire with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah since the conflict with Hamas began.

Today's joint operation between Egypt, France, the US and Jordan to drop humanitarian aid into Gaza was the largest operation of its kind to date, according to a statement carried on the Jordanian state-run Petra news agency.

Three Jordanian C-130s delivered the aid, along with three US planes, one from Egypt and another from France, the statement said.

Relief supplies from the World Food Programme were among the deliveries.

Jordan has conducted 28 airdrop missions and another 15 joint operations since Israel's war with Hamas began 7 October. 

Israeli minister Benny Gantz will meet with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin today, the Pentagon has announced.

Mr Gantz, a political rival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but member of the war cabinet, made headlines last week after announcing his decision to travel to the US for talks reportedly without the approval of Mr Netanyahu.

Former Pentagon adviser Jasmine el Gamal described the move as "a huge slap in the face for Benjamin Netanyahu", with Mr Gantz meeting with US vice president Kamala Harris yesterday. 

Israel's military is drawing up plans to open a new crossing to deliver humanitarian aid directly into northern Gaza, two Israeli officials have told our partner network NBC News.

The crossing is expected to be in the area around Kibbutz Be'eri, the officials said, though both stressed that plans were not finalised and could still change.  

Be'eri was one of the hardest hit communities during the 7 October attacks after Hamas gunmen stormed the area and wrought havoc. 

The plan for a new crossing comes after intense US pressure on Israel to get more aid into Gaza, amid growing signs of famine in the northern half of the strip. 

Israel controls all crossings into Gaza apart from Rafah, located on Egypt's border, which it monitors. Rafah and one other crossing, Kerem Shalom in southern Israel, are open for aid - subject to inspections.

The top diplomat in the US has urged Israel to exhaust "every possible means" to more aid into Gaza. 

"Israel has to maximise every possible means, every possible method of getting assistance to people who need it," Antony Blinken said.

Humanitarian agencies are unable to deliver aid due to a breakdown in law and order brought on by war and starvation, they say, and claim Israel is responsible for distributing aid as an occupying power.

Israel blames aid agencies for not transporting the assistance, and Hamas for taking supplies for themselves.

Mr Blinken described the current situation as both unsustainable and unacceptable. 

Speaking before his meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani in Washington, Mr Blinken also said there is an opportunity to achieve an immediate ceasefire, but that the onus was on Hamas.

In our last post, we outlined the comments of Hamas official Bassem Naim, who claimed the deal lay in the hands of the US - which needed to apply pressure in turn to Israel to accept the terms. 

A senior Hamas official has told our partner network NBC News that it is now up to the US to pressure Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement before Ramadan next week, after the militant group presented its proposal for a new hostage release deal at talks in Cairo.

A Hamas delegation had participated in a new round of talks with mediators in the Egyptian capital and was now awaiting a response from Israel, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said.

"It is now in the hands of the Americans, if they are serious about achieving a ceasefire before Ramadan, to exercise enough pressure on the Israelis," he said in a voice message.

Bassem Naim is the head of political and international relations for Hamas, and told Sky News in the weeks following 7 October attacks that the group's fighters did not target civilians, despite masses of evidence to the contrary. 

As our last post outlines, access to food and other essentials for young people in Gaza is critically low. 

 Parents have been left "helpless" as their children starve and aid is "kept out of reach", according to UNICEF. 

These images, from Rafah, show the daily struggle for Palestinian children waiting to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid the chronic shortages. 

Parents have been left "helpless" as their children starve and aid is "kept out of reach", UNICEF has said.

"The sense of helplessness and despair among parents and doctors in realising that lifesaving aid, just a few kilometres away, is being kept out of reach, must be unbearable," Adele Khodr, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said.

Malnutrition is "particularly extreme" in northern Gaza, according to Richard Peeperkorn, World Health Organisation representative for Gaza and the West Bank.

Ahmed Cannan, a toddler weighing just 13 pounds at al Awda clinic in Rafah, is among those suffering from malnutrition.

"His situation worsens each day. God protect us from what is coming," said his aunt, Israa Kalakh.

Nurse Diaa Al-Shaer said emaciated children were now pouring into the clinic in unprecedented numbers.

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iraq travel uk

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iraq travel uk

  • Passports, travel and living abroad
  • Travel abroad
  • Foreign travel advice

If you have a health condition, or you are pregnant, you may need specialist healthcare abroad. Check whether your destination country can provide the healthcare you may need and ensure you have appropriate travel insurance for unexpected medical evacuation or local treatment.

See the Coronavirus travel health and Healthcare sections in the  Coronavirus page for COVID-19 health information.

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website .

General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines . For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, you’ll need to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to.

There are clear links between mental and physical health, so looking after yourself during travel and when abroad is important. Information on travelling with mental health conditions is available in our guidance page . Further information is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) .

Medical treatment

Medical facilities are limited. In the event of serious accident or illness, an evacuation by air ambulance may be required. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. The British Embassy in Baghdad, and British Consulate General in Erbil, cannot help with medical repatriation arrangements and costs.

Read our guidance about hospitals abroad

Health risks

The temperature in summer months can exceed 50 ºC (122ºF), which can result in dehydration and serious health problems.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

Visitors should be aware that cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever have been present throughout the country. The virus is transmitted via tick bites (particularly Hyalomma ticks, although other types of ticks can also be infected) or through contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals during and immediately after slaughter.

Further information can be found on the WHO website .

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People

Couple Travels to Iraq After Vowing to Visit All 195 Countries — Their Experience Goes Viral (Exclusive)

Hudson and Emily Crider are vlogging their way around the world on a mission to visit every country

  • Hudson and Emily Crider are traveling to every country in the world — so far, they've visited 179 out of 195 countries total
  • The married couple journeyed to Iraq and documented their visits to historic, holy and ancient sites around the Middle Eastern country
  • Through their videos, the Criders hope to shine a light on the country's welcoming citizens

Globetrotting travelers Hudson and Emily Crider are opening up about their experience in Iraq.

The married content creators are on a mission to explore every country in the world and document their cultural experiences on social media.

The Criders — who have visited 179 countries of the total 195, plus all 50 U.S. states — have posted videos from their time in New Zealand, Japan, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and beyond, but their most recent trip to Iraq has grabbed the attention of millions across Instagram and TikTok .

In a series of over 20 videos, the couple details what it's like to be an American tourist in Iraq, offering travel tips and disproving misconceptions along the way. 

One video — which has over 35,000 views on Instagram — opens with several screenshots of comments criticizing Iraq as a travel destination before cutting to footage of Hudson and Emily enjoying their time in the Middle Eastern country.

“The more we travel, the more we realize that countries are so much more than their governments," the Criders wrote in the caption. “There are incredible people all around the world, and some of the friendliest and most hospitable people we've met are in Iraq.”

(The U.S. State Department has placed Iraq on the highest travel advisory level , warning against American tourism in the country due to safety and security risks.)

Their latest visit marks the Criders' second time in Iraq, and they've vlogged their journeys to the country’s holy sites , marshlands and major cities , like Baghdad, Karbala and Nasiriyah. The full-time travelers tell PEOPLE that the ancient history in Iraq is "on another level."

“The ‘cradle of civilization’ is based in modern day Iraq," the couple says, detailing how they visited historic Mesopotamian locations like Babylon and Ur. "Being able to walk through history was truly amazing,” they add.

Hudson and Emily's more contemporary excursions granted them an unshakable new perspective on global affairs, especially during a visit to the city of Mosul, which was under ISIS occupation from 2014 to 2017.

“Walking with locals through the destruction of their city as they shared their stories is something we will never forget. Despite all the horrific things they’ve experienced, the people’s joy is incredibly inspiring. This was also one of the most hospitable places we have ever visited. They said tourism is a sign of hope for them," the Criders tell PEOPLE.

The couple says they were met with no shortage of kindness and generosity from the Iraqi people. On multiple occasions, they said vendors offered them goods for free , “just because they wanted us to know we were welcomed in Iraq,” the couple says, adding, “We had to insist on paying!”

Their fans and followers' most frequent questions concern safety while traveling in the Middle East. The couple tells PEOPLE they haven’t felt any threats of danger during their trips to Iraq, though they advise interested travelers to book a local guide.

“You can travel to Iraq on your own, but some places are more difficult to reach or to get access to visit,” the Criders share.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People .

Courtesy Hudson and Emily Crider Hudson and Emily Crider

IMAGES

  1. Iraq Tours From The UK

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  2. 8 Things To Do in Iraq [Best Places to Visit in Kurdistan and Iraq]

    iraq travel uk

  3. Travel to Baghdad, the Capital of Iraq, 2024: 30 Best Things to Do in

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  4. Exploring Baghdad: A Traveler's Guide to Iraq

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  5. Travel Guide to IRAQ: Visiting a Country During War Times

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  6. Digital Wissen

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VIDEO

  1. English Fan Joins IRAQ ULTRAS vs Indonesia

COMMENTS

  1. Iraq travel advice

    The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO) advises against all travel to all provinces of Iraq except the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and against all but essential travel to the ...

  2. Travelling to Iraq

    Iraq travel advice. Latest FCDO travel advice for Iraq including on entry requirements, safety and security and local laws and customs.

  3. Iraq Tours From The UK

    There are now many options for Iraq Tours from the UK. Since the fall of ISIS in Iraq, Rocky Road Travel conducted numerous research trips and concluded that many places in southern Iraq are now considered safe to visit. ... I went to Iraq with Rocky Road Travel in 2022, and again to Socotra in 2023. Both trips are amazing! I really enjoyed ...

  4. Iraq Travel Advisory

    Updated to reflect the ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members. Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq's limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.. On October 20, 2023, the Department ordered the departure of eligible family members and non-emergency U.S. government ...

  5. Iraq

    Prior to travel, you should: Check the latest government guidance on the FCDO Foreign travel advice and country specific pages for travel to this country and the rules for entering the UK on return. Ensure you are up to date with UK recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination. Check if you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19.

  6. Iraq Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Visit in 2024

    Iraq Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Visit in 2024. Updated March 2024, Iraq Travel Guide was originally published in January 2022. I first stepped foot in Iraq back in 2019, visiting the far north- only to spiral my curiosity into the country even further (the same thing happened to me in Afghanistan years ago, so I should have known better), bringing me back to travel Iraq yet ...

  7. Lupine Travel

    They are all guaranteed departures. Book shopping_cart £ 1,875.00 7 Nights 1 places. Federal Iraq Highlights Tour Apr 12-19 2024 Itinerary. Full info £ 1,875.00 7 Nights 0 places. Federal Iraq Highlights Tour Oct 5-12 2024 Itinerary. Book shopping_cart £ 1,875.00 7 Nights 6+ places. Federal Iraq Highlights Tour Oct 20-27 2024 Itinerary.

  8. Is it safe to travel to Iraq?

    What does the FCO say? Western governments continue to advise against all but essential travel to parts of Iraqi Kurdistan and southern Iraq, and against all travel to the rest of the country. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice is no different. According to them, threats include a high risk of terrorist attack and kidnapping.

  9. Iraq travel

    Iraq. Middle East. Torn between its glorious past and its recent bloody history, Iraq is a country in turmoil. Just as the place was beginning to recover from the 2003 US-led invasion and its aftermath, jihadist group Isis took control of large swathes of the country's north in 2014. The tide may have turned back in favour of the Iraqi ...

  10. Iraq International Travel Infromation

    For additional travel information. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern ...

  11. PDF Iraq: Travel Advice

    IRAQ SYRIA IRAN TURKEY JORDAN ŪK ... Advise against all travel National Capital Administrative Centre Other Town Major Road Rail International Boundary Administrative Boundary 0 150 kilometers 0 100miles Please note Briefing Maps are not to taken as necessarily representing the views of the UK government on boundaries or political status.

  12. Travel Vaccines and Advice for Iraq

    The UK government advises against travel to Iraq for a variety of reasons including terrorism and kidnapping. Ensure to take extra precautions before and during your trip. Terrorism is a serious risk in Iraq, particularly with ISIS. Expressing support for the Iraqi government, Western institutions and some religious groups can be dangerous.

  13. A guide to traveling in Iraq in 2024

    May 19th to 26th, 2024. This country is truly an adventure, and this guide contains absolutely everything you need to know to travel to Federal Iraq, including visa procedures, how to move around, where to stay, going through checkpoints, budget, money, security tips, and much more. By the way, this guide refers to traveling independently in ...

  14. Visa to Iraq

    1- Fill out the visa application form electronically (online) including an address in Iraq (neighborhood, street, and a house number) and a valid phone number. 2- You should provide Two identical and recent photos: Photo size: 35x45mm. In color, not black and white. 3- A valid passport for a period of 6 months minimum.

  15. Traveling to UK from Iraq in 2024: Passport, Visa Requirements

    Passengers can bring in: Beer - 42 litres. Wine (still) - 18 litres. Passengers can also bring in either: Spirits and other liquors over 22% alcohol - 4 litres. Sparkling wine, fortified wine (for example port, sherry) and other alcoholic drinks up to 22% alcohol (not including beer or still wine) - 9 litres.

  16. Iraq travel guide

    But until then, travel to Iraq is strongly advised against. Key facts. Area: 438,317 sq km (169,235 sq miles). Population: 37,547,686 (UN estimate 2016). Population density: ... Other militant groups opposed to western presence in Iraq continue to pose a threat to UK and other interests in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Foreign ...

  17. PDF Iraq: Travel Advice

    IRAQ SYRIA IRAN TURKEY JORDAN ŪK ... Please note Briefing Maps are not to taken as necessarily representing the views of the UK government on boundaries or political status. This map has been designed for briefing purposes only and should not be used for determining the precise location of places or features, ... Iraq: Travel Advice.

  18. Cheap Flights to Iraq from £108

    The cheapest ticket to Iraq from the United Kingdom found in the last 72 hours was £215. The most popular route is London Heathrow to Baghdad Intl and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was £286.

  19. The latest ITV News headlines

    Watch the latest from ITV News - Watch a short summary of today's top stories from the ITV News team.

  20. Middle East latest: Truce talks end without breakthrough; global

    The latest round of ceasefire talks have broken up without a breakthrough. Meanwhile, global internet cables have been cut in the Red Sea that provide data to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

  21. Health

    Latest FCDO travel advice for Iraq including on entry requirements, safety and security and local laws and customs.

  22. Couple Travels to Iraq After Vowing to Visit All 195 Countries

    In a series of over 20 videos, the couple details what it's like to be an American tourist in Iraq, offering travel tips and disproving misconceptions along the way.