Western Asia · UN member
Iraq: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Iraq · جمهورية العراق · ܩܘܼܛܢܵܐ ܐܝܼܪܲܩ
Iraq is a country in Western Asia with its capital in Baghdad. It has a population of 47.0 million (#34 in the world) and covers 438,317 km². The official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. The currency is the Iraqi dinar (IQD, ع.د).
Where is Iraq? Map of Iraq
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait.
- Region
- Western Asia
- Coordinates
- 33° N, 44° E
- Neighbours
- 6 — see list
- Coastline
- 58 km
- Iraq
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Iraq showing Baghdad (capital) and the largest cities: Mosul, Erbil, Basrah, Karbala, Kirkuk, Nasiriyah, Najaf and Dihok.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Iraq
- Passport
Iraq's Foreign Ministry lists a passport valid for at least six months among the conditions for a visa request, and the UK government says your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arri…
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 1 needs no visa, 47 need an eVisa, 150 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Iraq entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
The UK government tells British travellers, who must apply for an Iraqi e-visa, to have a return ticket or a ticket out of Iraq to a third destination in place: without one there is a risk of the airline refusing boardi…
- Proof of funds
Iraq's Foreign Ministry lists, among the conditions for a visa on an ordinary passport, that you can cover your living costs for the whole stay in Iraq.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement.
- Customs allowance
The UK government says you must declare local currency over IQD 200,000, and currency or items worth over USD 10,000 or the equivalent in another foreign currency.
- Travel advice
Avoid travel — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
9 things to know before you travel to Iraq
- Safety: Governments advise against travel to Iraq: the US State Department rates Iraq Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
- Best time to go: March and November — when daytime highs in Baghdad are around 23–24°C.
- Money: the Iraqi dinar (IQD) — 1 US dollar is about 1,512.2 IQD.
- Plugs: type C, D and G, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112 / 911, Ambulance 112 / 911, Fire 112 / 911.
- Language: Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 60 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+3 in Baghdad.
- Capital: Baghdad. About 47.0 million people live in Iraq.
Key facts
Iraq at a glance
Languages spoken: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official); Turkmen (a Turkish dialect) and Syriac (Neo-Aramaic) are recognized as official languages where native speakers of these languages are present
Geography & history
About Iraq
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom during World War I and was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration in 1920. Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. It was proclaimed a republic in 1958 after a coup overthrew the monarchy, but in actuality, a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Hussein, from 1979 to 2003. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly war from 1980 to 1988. In 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led UN coalition forces during the two-month-long Gulf War of 1991. After Iraq's expulsion, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to s…
Read the full history
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom during World War I and was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration in 1920. Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. It was proclaimed a republic in 1958 after a coup overthrew the monarchy, but in actuality, a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Hussein, from 1979 to 2003. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly war from 1980 to 1988. In 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led UN coalition forces during the two-month-long Gulf War of 1991. After Iraq's expulsion, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions led to the Second Gulf War in 2003, when US-led forces ousted the SADDAM regime. In 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR). The COR approved most of the cabinet ministers, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half-century. Iraq's constitution also established the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a semi-autonomous region that administers the governorates of Erbil, Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniyah. Iraq has held four national legislative elections since 2006, most recently in 2021. The COR approved Mohammad Shia' al-SUDANI as prime minister in 2022. Iraq has repeatedly postponed elections for provincial councils -- last held in 2013 -- and since 2019, the prime minister has had the authority to appoint governors rather than provincial councils. Between 2014 and 2017, Iraq fought a military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) to recapture territory the group seized in 2014. In 2017, then-Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI publicly declared victory against ISIS, although military operations against the group continue in rural areas. Also in 2017, Baghdad forcefully seized disputed territories across central and northern Iraq from the KRG, after a non-binding Kurdish independence referendum.
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Climate
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in centr…
Terrain
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
Highest point
Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent") 3,611 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Natural hazards
dust storms; sandstorms; floods
National symbols
golden eagle
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Iraq
The default speed limits in Iraq are 60 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 6060 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWHO data (2017)
- 100100 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWHO data (2017)
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 ViennaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)21.5 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0) and WHO. Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Iraq safe to visit?
Governments advise against travel to Iraq: the US State Department rates Iraq Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information about regional tensions following recent strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran ('Warnings and insurance' page).
Updated 22 Jul 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Iraq
The best time to visit Iraq is March and November, when daytime highs in Baghdad are around 23–24°C. April is also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (46°C by day), January the coldest (3°C at night).
- Jan16°C3°C
- Feb19°C5°C
- Mar24°C9°C
- Apr31°C15°C
- May38°C21°C
- Jun43°C26°C
- Jul46°C29°C
- Aug46°C29°C
- Sep41°C24°C
- Oct34°C19°C
- Nov23°C10°C
- Dec17°C5°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Iraq
Plugs & sockets
- Type C (Europlug)two round pins
- Type Dthree large round pins in a triangle
- Type Gthree rectangular pins in a triangle
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Currency · 26 October 2026
Iraqi dinar exchange rates today
Iraq uses the Iraqi dinar (IQD, ع.د). One US dollar buys 1,512.2 IQD; over the last 30 days the IQD has lost 13.4% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in IQD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Iraq ranks
How Iraq compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Iraq
85 airports and airfields — 6 large, 24 medium and 39 small, plus 16 heliports. 6 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Iraq borders 6 countries along 3,809 km of land borders. Coastline: 58 km.
Military
Iraqi armed forces
Iraq ranks #45 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $6.4 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Baghdad (7.7 million), Mosul (1.8 million), Basra (1.4 million), Kirkuk (1.1 million), Najaf (958,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Export partners
China 33%, India 28%, USA 8%, Greece 5%, UAE 5% (2023)
Top exports
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, petroleum coke, gold, natural gas (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Iraq
Next public holiday
Victory Day — Thursday, 10 December 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Iraqi passport
Ranked #197: 8 countries visa-free, 21 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 48 with an eVisa.
Iraqi passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Iraq's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Iraq
Dial +964 before the local number. Internet domain .iq.
Climate footprint
233.6 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 5.07 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Iraq: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Iraq
Travellers to Kuwait Still Advised to Reconsider Trip as Houthi Risk Rises
The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait updated its travel advisory on 23 October 2026 to reflect a greater threat of Iranian-supported Houthi attacks. The level …
Jordan advisory stays at Level 3 as Houthi regional threat is cited
The U.S. Department of State updated Jordan's travel advisory on 23 October 2026 to reflect increased Iranian-supported Houthi aggression. The level …
Travellers to Iraq still face Level 4 warning after October review
The U.S. Embassy in Iraq says the country's travel advisory was updated on 23 October 2026 to reflect increased Iranian-supported Houthi aggression. …
Frequently asked questions about Iraq
What do I need to travel to Iraq?
How long must my passport be valid for Iraq?
Where is Iraq?
What is Iraq known for?
What is the capital of Iraq?
What language is spoken in Iraq?
What currency does Iraq use?
What is the calling code of Iraq?
Which countries border Iraq?
How strong is the Iraqi passport?
What is the speed limit in Iraq?
Is Iraq safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Iraq?
What plug type does Iraq use?
How many airports does Iraq have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.