🇮🇶 Is Iraq safe to visit?
Daily safety index from official government advisories, plus the consular map of Iraq: 35 diplomatic missions from 30 countries, local emergency numbers and language essentials.
Updated Sep 13, 2026 · Composite index recalculated daily from official government advisories.
What official sources say
Levels are normalized to Telcomia's 1–4 scale. Always read the full official advisory at the source.
What to know before traveling to Iraq
Drawn from the linked official advisories — always check the full text at the source.
Trip essentials
- FCDO advises against all travel to large parts of Iraq; travel insurance may be void if you ignore this advice
- Consular support is severely limited across all areas where FCDO advises against travel
- Highway 34 (Baghdad–Baqubah) and Highway 2 (Baqubah–Erbil) road sections are flagged as high-risk routes
- Safwan–Kuwait border crossing and Highways 1 and 8 in Basra province are in the essential-travel-only zone
- Travel to Iraq is strongly discouraged due to an active regional conflict affecting the Middle East
- Airspace is currently closed
- Passport valid for at least 6 months required; visa mandatory for federal Iraq (excluding Kurdistan Region)
- Visa can be requested at the Iraqi Embassy in Madrid or online for arrival at Baghdad International Airport
Risk areas and situations
- All travel banned: Anbar (west of Ramadi City), Diyala (excl. Baqubah), Kirkuk, Ninawa, Salah al-Din provinces
- All travel banned: Jurf al-Sakr (Babil), Sadr City (Baghdad), within 5km of Iran border in Wasit/Maysan/Basra
- All travel banned: within 5km of Iraq's borders with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
- Essential travel only: Baghdad (excl. Sadr City), Basra, Karbala, Najaf, Dhi Qar, Al-Muthanna, Al-Qadasiyah, Wasit, Maysan
- Entire country is under travel advisory against visiting due to regional armed conflict
- Crowds, demonstrations and protests should be avoided throughout the country
- Crossing any Iraqi border illegally, including internal borders with Kurdistan, carries criminal charges
Local laws and customs
- Crossing external borders illegally is a criminal offence punishable by detention and formal charges
- Travelling from the Kurdistan Region to federal Iraq without a valid visa is also considered illegal border crossing
Health
- Travellers on medical treatment should carry sufficient medication supplies for the duration of their stay
Emergency numbers in Iraq
Embassies and consulates in Iraq
35 diplomatic missions from 30 countries, across 5 cities.
| Nationality | Missions | Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇿 Czechia | 2 | Baghdad, Erbil |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2 | Baghdad, Erbil |
| 🇮🇳 India | 2 | Baghdad, Erbil |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 2 | Erbil, Kurdistan |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | 2 | Baghdad, Erbil |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 1 | |
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 1 | Baghdad |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 1 | Baghdad |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 1 | |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 1 | Baghdad |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 1 | Baghdad |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 1 | Erbil |
…and 18 more nationalities with diplomatic presence.
The full directory — addresses, phone numbers and locations on the map — is available in the Telcomia app.
Local language
The main local language in Iraq is Arabic. The Telcomia app includes 16 emergency phrases in Arabic, with audio, ready to play when you need them.
See the 16 emergency phrases in ArabicTraveling to Iraq?
Stay connected from the moment you land: prepaid eSIM data plans for Iraq, delivered instantly, with the Telcomia safety layer included.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iraq safe to visit right now?
The Telcomia Safety Index for Iraq is 3.5/4 (Do not travel, level 4 of 4) as of Sep 13, 2026. It is a composite of official advisories from Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, recalculated daily.
What is the emergency number in Iraq?
The general emergency number in Iraq is 911. Save it before you travel — with a Telcomia eSIM you can call for help without hunting for Wi-Fi.
How many embassies are there in Iraq?
Telcomia tracks 35 diplomatic missions from 30 countries in Iraq, across 5 cities. The full directory with addresses and phone numbers is in the Telcomia app.
Informational only
This page is general information, not a substitute for official government travel advice. Conditions can change quickly — always check your own government's latest advisory before and during your trip.
Advisory levels summarize official sources: Spain's MAEC, the UK FCDO (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0) and the U.S. Department of State (public domain). Follow the links above for the full official text.