Change of https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq

Change description : 2026-06-19 10:32:00: FCDO no longer advises against all travel to Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq but continues to advise against all travel to parts of Federal Iraq and against all but essential travel to other parts of Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Updated information about regional tensions. Updated information about risks from Iranian strikes on Iranian-Kurdish opposition camps and new information about travel disruption in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (‘Warnings and insurance’, ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Regional risks’ pages). [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2026-05-06 13:32:43.791795359 +00:00..2026-06-19 09:33:32.303285582 +00:00

Foreign travel advice

Iraq

! Warning FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Iraq.
! Warning FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Iraq.

Warnings and insurance

Download a more detailed map (PDF, 517653 KB)

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advises against travel  

Federal Iraq

FCDO advises against all travel to:

  • The parts of Anbar province which are west of, but not including Ramadi City
  • Diyala province except for Baqubah City
  • Kirkuk province
  • Ninawa province
  • Salah al-Din province
  • Jurf al-Sakr town in Babil province
  • Sadr City, part of Baghdad province
  • Within 5km of areas that border Iran in Wasit, Maysan and theBasra Kurdistanprovinces
  • Within Region5km of Iraq

    Iraq’s borders with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

FCDO advises against all but essential travel toto:

  • The Federalremainder Iraqof Al-Muthanna province
  • Al-Qadasiyah province 
  • The remainder of Anbar province
  • Babil province (except Jurf al-Sakr town)
  • Baghdad province (except Sadr City)
  • The remainder of Basra province, including Highways 1 and 8 and the KurdistanSafwan-Kuwait Regionborder crossing
  • Dhi Qar Province
  • Karbala Province
  • The remainder of Iraq.Maysan Thisprovince
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  • The riskroad sections of furtherHighway escalation,34 between Baghdad and eventsBaqubah, areand fast-movingHighway 2 between Baqubah and unpredictable.Erbil

Kurdistan Region of Iraq

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Find out more about about why why FCDO advises advises against travel.

Consular support

Consular support is severely limited in areas where FCDO advises against travel.

Regional escalation tensions

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British nationals should: should:

  • read read If you’re affected by a crisis abroad - GOV.UK. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis” 

    crisis”
  • follow advice from the local authorities and sign up to receive information and alerts 

  • sign up to to FCDO Travel Travel Advice email alerts 

    alerts
  • monitor local and international media for the latest information 

    information
  • stay away from areas around security or military facilities andfacilities and US government facilities

  • keep your departure plans under review, and ensure your travel documents are up to date 

    date
  • if you are advisedare advised to take shelter,take shelter, stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter. An interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible may provide additional protection

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See ‘Entry requirements’ for Saudi Arabia.

Crossing the IraqUS -and KuwaitIsrael. (Safwan) border

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If you are in Iraq 

Due to the ongoing security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw some of our staff from Iraq. Our embassy continues to operate.

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel despite FCDO advice, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

Update history

2026-06-19 10:32
FCDO no longer advises against all travel to Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq but continues to advise against all travel to parts of Federal Iraq and against all but essential travel to other parts of Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Updated information about regional tensions. Updated information about risks from Iranian strikes on Iranian-Kurdish opposition camps and new information about travel disruption in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (‘Warnings and insurance’, ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Regional risks’ pages).

2026-05-06 14:31
Updated information about risks from terrorist kidnap (‘Safety and security’ page).

2026-04-01 16:11
Updated information about regional escalation (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2026-03-15 10:02
Updated information about regional escalation and new information about drones (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).

2026-03-12 13:53
New information that FCDO has taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw some of our staff from Iraq. Our embassy continues to operate. (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2026-03-09 17:16
New information about entry to Saudi Arabia (see ‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).

2026-03-09 14:35
New information about the closure of the Iraq – Kuwait border (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2026-03-01 21:57
The FCDO now advises against all travel to Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. (Warnings and insurance)

2026-02-27 22:30
Updated information about the risks of regional escalation (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2026-01-26 17:02
FCDO now advises against all travel to Jurf al-Sakr town in Babil province and within 5km of federal Iraq’s borders with Iran (in Wasit, Maysan and Basra provinces); Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to Baghdad province, excluding Sadr City, Basra province excluding 5km from the borders with Iran and Kuwait but including Highway 1, Highway 8 and the Safwan-Kuwait border, and the road sections of Highway 34 between Baghdad and Baqubah, and Highway 2 between Baqubah and Erbil. FCDO continues to advise against all travel and all but essential travel to parts of Iraq. New information about landmines and land border crossings (‘Warnings and insurance’, ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Regional risks’ pages).

2026-01-14 21:21
There is a heightened risk of regional tension. Escalation could lead to travel disruption and other unanticipated impacts (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2025-12-10 12:45
New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2025-11-28 16:40
Removal of information about regional risks and airspace restrictions.

2025-06-24 17:34
Updated information about the risks of regional escalation and the instruction to take shelter if instructed (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2025-06-22 12:40
Update on regional risks following US military strikes against Iran on 22 June (‘Safety and security’ page).

2025-06-16 16:35
Update on regional risks and airspace restrictions (‘Safety and security’ page).

2025-06-13 12:37
Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region (‘Safety and security’ page).

2025-03-13 15:12
CORRECTION: FCDO now advises against all travel to parts of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Regional risks’ pages).

2025-03-13 14:56
FCDO now advises against all travel to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Regional risks’ pages).

2025-03-06 09:29
Updated information on visitor visas (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2025-02-17 11:34
Updated information about taking money into or out of Iraq (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2025-01-13 16:08
FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to some areas of Federal Iraq. FCDO continues to advise against all travel to some areas of Federal Iraq, and to advise against all but essential travel to KRI (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-11-25 16:11
Removal of information on curfew in place 20-21 November (‘Warnings and insurance’ page)

2024-11-18 10:51
Updated information on curfew in place 20-21 November(‘Warnings and insurance’ page)

2024-10-30 12:49
Updated information that you must pay by credit card for a visa on arrival in Iraq, as cash payments are no longer accepted (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2024-10-02 03:41
Updated information on the conflict affecting Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)

2024-10-02 03:38
Updated information on the Conflict affecting Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)

2024-09-29 00:22
Updated information on the Conflict affecting Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)

2024-09-28 23:03
Updated information on the Conflict in Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)

2024-07-16 10:53
Information about the new Anti-Prostitution and Homosexuality Law, including jail sentences and fines for anyone seen to promote same-sex identities or prostitution (‘Safety and security’ page).

2024-06-12 14:17
Information on risks to LGBT travellers in Iraq (see ‘LGBT travellers’ on the ‘Safety and security’ page).

2024-04-26 12:37
Removal of some language on military activity in the region (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-04-19 15:00
Information on explosions in Iran, and unconfirmed reports of explosions in Syria and Iraq (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-04-16 13:35
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.

2024-04-14 09:17
13 April 2024 – drones and missiles fired from Iran into Israel (‘Summary’ page)

2024-04-12 20:01
Information on regional risks (‘Safety and security’ page).

2024-01-16 16:38
Addition of information about Iranian missile strikes targeting the north-eastern edge of Erbil city on 15 January (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).

2024-01-12 00:23
Update to Safety and Security page

2023-11-10 18:55
Information on drone and rocket attacks and the security situation across Iraq (‘Summary’, ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).

2023-10-26 17:01
Information on UK Government staff being temporarily withdrawn from the British Embassy Baghdad due to risks of a deterioration in the security situation (‘Safety and security’ page).

2023-10-21 11:29
A number of areas of Iraq remain subject to sporadic attack by artillery, drones and rockets (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)

2023-06-28 10:17
Information on e-visas for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (‘Summary’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).

2023-06-22 10:53
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages

2023-05-30 13:34
Information on the UK Air Safety List and child custody (‘Safety and security’ and ‘Local laws and customs’).

2023-03-17 09:50
New information about a new e-visa process introduced by Government of the Kurdistan region of Iraq (‘Summary’ and ‘’Entry requirements’ pages).

2023-03-13 13:53
Information on the new Municipalities Income law, which includes a provision prohibiting the import, manufacture, and selling of alcoholic beverages of all sorts, punishable by fines (‘Local laws and customs’ page).

2023-02-07 16:40
Updated information on COVID-10 entry requirements and the political and security situation in Iraq (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’, ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).

2022-12-14 13:56
Updated information on protests that took place throughout 2022 in the International Zone in Baghdad (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).

2022-10-07 15:05
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 (‘Summary’ page).

2022-08-31 15:46
Updated information on the security situation and the severely limited availability of consular support for British nationals (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).

2022-08-29 18:48
Updated information on the security situation and the severely limited availability of consular support for British nationals (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)

2022-08-08 15:50
Updated information on the security situation and the severely limited availability of consular support for British nationals (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)

2022-07-30 14:03
Addition of information on increasing risk of tensions in Baghdad (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and Security’ pages)

2022-06-22 09:49
Addition of information on increasing cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever throughout Iraq and local law (‘Health’ and ‘Local laws and customs’ pages)

2022-04-05 16:32
Update to information on entering and exiting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)

2022-03-30 10:24
Update to information on entering and exiting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’)