Plan your trip with confidence.
Iraq has never been more accessible. Here's everything a first-time visitor needs — visas, timing, money, safety, and etiquette.
Apply online in 5 steps.
- 1
Create an account
Register at evisa.iq/en with a valid email.
- 2
Upload documents
Passport (6+ months validity), passport-style photo, and proof of onward travel.
- 3
Pay the fee
Card payment in USD. Fees vary by nationality (typically $75–$80 for tourist e-Visa).
- 4
Wait 3–5 business days
You'll receive an emailed PDF. Print two copies.
- 5
Arrive & scan on entry
Present the PDF at Baghdad, Basra, Najaf, or Erbil international airports.
When to go
October – November
Warm days (24–30°C), cool evenings. Ideal for Babylon, Ur, and marshland trips.
March – April
Wildflowers in the north, comfortable temperatures. Nowruz in Kurdistan is spectacular.
December – February
Cool and clear. Snow possible in Kurdish highlands. Bring layers.
June – August
45–50°C daytime highs. Only advisable for Arba'een pilgrims prepared for extreme heat.
Currency & money
- Iraqi Dinar (IQD). ~1,310 IQD ≈ 1 USD (rate fluctuates; always check).
- Cash country. Bring crisp, post-2013 USD bills. Exchange at official bureaus in Baghdad or Erbil — never at the airport.
- Cards. Accepted only at upscale hotels and airline offices. ATMs are unreliable for foreign cards.
- Tipping. 10% at restaurants, 5,000 IQD for porters, and small notes for shrine shoe custodians.
- Daily budget. Backpacker: $60. Mid-range: $150. Boutique with driver: $350+.
Safety in 2026
- Baghdad, Najaf, Karbala, Kadhimiya, Babylon, Ur, Basra, and all Kurdistan are open for independent tourism.
- Mosul, Samarra, and Hatra are accessible with a certified guide and pre-arranged transport.
- Border regions (Syrian, Iranian frontiers outside official crossings) remain off-limits.
- Register with your embassy on arrival. Save the tourism police number: 101.
- Photograph freely at heritage sites; ask before photographing people, military, or infrastructure.