Iraq e-visa – From March 2025, visa on arrival ended for Iraq: travellers must use an e-visa costing $165 and processing in 24 hours.
For travellers hoping to reach Iraq in 2026, the key hurdle is no longer finding the right flight or accommodation, but securing the correct immigration permission before leaving home.
Iraq has tightened its entry rules: since March 1, 2025, visa on arrival has been discontinued.. Instead, a tourist e-visa is required for travel into the country.. The e-visa costs 165 USD and is described as taking 24 hours to process. with entry permitted through Baghdad International Airport. Basra International Airport. and border crossings with Jordan. Kuwait. Iran. and Saudi Arabia.
The eligibility list covers EU passport holders as well as citizens of the United States. the United Kingdom. Russia. China. Japan. South Korea. Canada. Australia. New Zealand. and Switzerland.. For nationalities outside that group. the information available indicates that entry is possible only with approval arranged through an authorized tour company. at a stated cost of $250. with approvals taking up to four weeks.
The tourist visa is valid for 60 days.. As for where it can be used. the e-visa described here applies to “Federal Iraq” and also to the Kurdistan region.. However. there is an important operational warning: if travellers enter Iraq via Kurdistan. the Kurdish visa is no longer valid for movement into Federal Iraq. and the guidance says it is not possible to obtain a new Federal Iraq visa at the border because. from the government’s perspective. the area is not treated as a border point with immigration authorities able to issue visas.. The practical takeaway for travellers is that someone starting in Erbil would need to fly to Baghdad to travel around Federal Iraq.
Travel planning in Iraq for 2026 is also shaped by how tourism is being organized.. Departures listed for scheduled group travel include October 6 to 16. 2026 (with another October 29 to November 9. 2026 departure marked sold out). as well as December 19 to 29. 2026.. More dates follow into 2027. including March 12 to 19 and March 19 to 26. with additional departures from March 31 to April 10 and April 13 to April 24.
These itineraries emphasize travel within Baghdad and other stops that can include Babylon, Karbala, and Mosul, among others.. The guidance also draws a clear distinction between travelling “independently in Iraq proper” and not focusing on the autonomous Kurdistan region. pointing readers to a separate Kurdistan guide for that part of the country.
Getting there is presented as feasible through air connections. with Baghdad International Airport described as linked to major Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai. Doha. Beirut. Amman. and Riyadh. and Istanbul noted as a common stopover route for European travel.. A route into Iraq that relies on overland entry at land borders is also described as available. with the specific note that the Syria-Iraq border is closed.
Once inside, connectivity and money management are treated as practical day-to-day concerns rather than afterthoughts.. The guidance recommends buying a local SIM card in phone shops. with Zain suggested for plans that start at 10. 000 IQD for a week and offer roughly 3 to 5GB. while warning that a Kurdish operator with limited southern coverage should be avoided if starting in Kurdistan.. It also notes that eSIM options exist through providers offering coverage that includes Iraq. and that while some hotels and cafés offer Wi‑Fi. reliability can be inconsistent.
On payments, the Iraqi dinar (IQD) is the currency used, with a reference exchange rate of roughly 1 USD = 1300 IQD.. The information says exchanging money is generally straightforward. but that euros are not accepted everywhere. especially outside major cities. while US dollars can be changed widely.. It also points to ATMs accepting VISA and Mastercard, while credit-card payments are described as uncommon outside “fancy” places.
Travel security, as expected, remains central to how the trip is framed.. The guidance acknowledges that Iraq was long considered among the most dangerous destinations. citing decades of conflict involving Iran and Iraq from 1980. Saddam Hussein’s era. the 2003 US invasion. and later ISIS rule.. It says conditions have improved in recent years. referencing Pope Francis’ visit in March 2021 as part of the country’s re-opening to tourism.. Still, it stresses that religious sectarianism exists and that bombings can occur, including in Baghdad as recently as July 2021.
For day-to-day movement, checkpoints are described as the main challenge for travellers.. The guidance says checkpoints exist to enter cities and on roads. are intended for security. and are often run by Iraqi police though some are controlled by local militias.. It also notes that authorities tend to be friendly and may ask for photos.. Passport checks are usually straightforward. but a specific issue is mentioned: if visa dates are written in English. soldiers may need additional verification time.. The document also flags that two checkpoints can take longer. including Nasiriya. where a local sponsor requirement was described as no longer being applicable as of an update. and Samarra. where checkpoints are associated with security practices after the 2006 suicide bombing targeting Al-Askari mosque.
Accommodation and on-the-ground logistics are addressed in similarly practical terms.. The guidance says there are no hostels in Iraq. but hotels are available. with prices described as higher in Baghdad and more affordable elsewhere.. A list of specific stays includes Uruk Hotel in Baghdad (around 70 USD a night). Al Karama Hotel in Karbala (15. 000 IQD). Qaem Hotel in Najaf (20. 000 IQD). Hotel Tourist in Nasiriya (50. 000 IQD). and Alsfer Hotel in Mosul (15 USD).. For Chibayish. it mentions a homestay around $30 including dinner and breakfast. while noting that travellers are “technically not allowed” to stay in Samarra.
For solo women travellers. the guidance claims the experience is broadly similar to other Arab countries such as Egypt or Jordan. with occasional verbal harassment described as happening rarely and Iraqi responses portrayed as welcoming.. It also gives specific clothing guidance: modest dress is recommended in cities such as Baghdad. Mosul. and Nasiriya. with a headscarf advised depending on the area. while in Karbala and Najaf an abaya covering the whole body is described as mandatory.
On food. the guidance argues Iraq’s cuisine extends far beyond staples such as shawarma. falafel. and kebabs. highlighting regional dishes like kubba. masgouf. and kahi with geymar. plus gus from Mosul.. It also touches on the fact that alcohol is not allowed to be drunk in the street in Federal Iraq. even though liquor shops are described as present in cities including Baghdad and Mosul. with more permissive conditions in Kurdistan.
And timing matters.. The “best season” for Federal Iraq is described as mid-October through March. with winter conditions in the north reaching near freezing around Mosul. while the south remains warmer but still cools at night.. Summer and late spring are described as difficult. with heat reaching 40 to 50 C making travel less recommended unless someone can handle extreme temperatures.. Kurdistan’s seasonal pattern is also outlined, with snow in December-January and greener landscapes in spring.
For travellers moving through the country in 2026. these details add up to one central point: Iraq may be opening more to visitors. but entry rules. visa validity. and checkpoint navigation are still tightly managed.. Anyone planning to travel is effectively being asked to plan in advance. confirm eligibility for the e-visa. and build their route around what the visa allows and how the country’s border and movement realities work on the ground.
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