# How to Get a Tourist Visa for Iraq – Step by Step

- Link: https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/guides/how-to-get-a-visa-for-iraq/
- Published: 2025-08-20T17:22:58+02:00
- Author: Filip Chochół

Ten wpis jest również dostępny w języku:  [⌊Switch to Polski⌉Polski](https://warsawtravelers.pl/poradniki/jak-wyrobic-wize-do-iraku/)

 Table of contents

## Hello! 👋

Just a few years ago, a trip to Iraq sounded more like a military mission or a war
correspondent’s assignment than a backpacking adventure. Today, however, it’s possible
to get a tourist visa without much trouble, and the situation in the country is 
slowly changing. After decades of wars, sanctions, and attacks, Iraq is cautiously
rebuilding its place on the travel map. Each year, more visitors arrive—not only
pilgrims heading to Karbala or Najaf, but also people like us: curious travelers
tired of predictable routes.

According to Iraq’s Ministry of Tourism (as reported by [Iraqinews.com](https://www.iraqinews.com/lifestyle/iraq-tourism-growth-2024/)),
more than **400,000 tourists** visited the country in just the first half of 2024—
that’s over three times more than in 2022. Sure, it’s still not much compared to
the rest of the region, but for a country with such a heavy past, it’s a huge step
forward.

What’s important is that Iraq isn’t just talking about opening up to tourists—it’s
actually doing something about it. Baghdad is slowly being revitalized: new hotels
are popping up, part of the Tigris riverfront has been renovated, and in 2023 the**
National Museum of Iraq** reopened after years of being closed or looted (okay, 
right now it’s temporarily shut again, but only for conservation work). Progress
may be slow, but it’s definitely happening.

Of course, Iraq is still far from being an easy destination. There’s paperwork involved,
and you need to know where you can go and where it’s better not to. And that’s exactly
why this guide might come in handy—to walk you through the process of getting an**
Iraqi visa** step by step, with up-to-date info, reliable sources, and a few first-
hand tips.

## Types of visas to Iraq – which one to choose?

Iraq doesn’t really have one single, unified visa policy—or at least not in the 
way you might expect. The reason is simple: the country is **split into two zones**
that follow completely different entry rules. There’s the **federal part**, with
Baghdad as its capital, and the **autonomous Kurdistan Region**, with Erbil as its
center. And each of them issues its own visas.

### Visa to Federal Iraq

If you’re planning to visit Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala, Najaf, or simply travel across
the country from north to south, **you’ll need a federal visa**. Until recently,
the only way to get it was at the airport, through an embassy, or with the help 
of agents. **But since March 2025, there’s finally an official [e-Visa system available](https://eservice.evisa.iq/)**—
Polish citizens included.

 * Valid throughout Iraq (including Kurdistan),
 * It is valid for 3 months from the date of issue, for a period of 30 days of stay
   in Iraq.
 * It costs approximately $160 + 5.5% of the transaction amount for the payment 
   system operator. Payable by card.

A federal visa also comes with mandatory basic health insurance. On paper, it covers
things like accidents and medical treatment, but the limits are very low—in reality,
it’s only enough for minor issues.

### Visa to the Kurdistan Region

If your trip is limited to the northern part of Iraq—places like **Erbil, Dohuk,
Sulaymaniyah, or the mountains of Kurdistan**—you don’t need a federal visa. Kurdistan
has its own visa policy and **[its own e-Visa portal](https://visit.gov.krd)**.

According to the official guidelines from the **Kurdistan Regional Government****,****
the visa fee is around 100,000 IQD** — roughly **70 USD**. That’s the total cost,
with no hidden extras when you pick it up.

 * Validity: 90 days from the date of issue (i.e., that is how long you have to 
   enter the country)
 * Length of stay: up to 30 days. This means you can enter the region within 90 
   days and stay for a month.

### Note the differences

It’s not the case that a Kurdistan visa will somehow get you through the rest of
Iraq. In the south, there are checkpoints, border-style controls, and a clear administrative
line. If you don’t have a federal visa, you can run into serious trouble. So if 
you’re planning to visit both Kurdistan and the rest of the country, it’s best to
apply straight away for the federal e-visa.

We faced the same choice while [preparing for our motorcycle trip](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/desert-horizons-2025/).
Since our plan was to ride across the whole of Iraq, we decided to go straight for
the federal visa to avoid any complications along the way.

## How to fill out the form?

Here we’ll focus only on the **federal e-visa for Iraq**. This is the one that lets
you travel freely across the whole country – from Baghdad and Karbala to Kurdistan.
The entire application process is done online, and the first steps are actually 
very straightforward.

### Logging into the federal system

First, go to the official website [eservice.evisa.iq](https://eservice.evisa.iq/)(
watch out for fake websites pretending to be the system).

Next, choose the **‘Direct e-Visa’** option, enter your nationality and email address,
tick the ‘I’m not a robot’ box, and hit ‘Submit’.

You’ll then receive an OTP code at the email address you entered (sometimes it lands
in the spam folder). Just type it in to move on to the next step.

 [ ⌊Iraq Visa Portal Login screen with user name and password fields and “I’m not a robot” reCAPTCHA⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/iraq-visa-manual-001.jpg)

### Acceptance of the terms and conditions of the e-visa system

The next step is reviewing the **terms and conditions for entering Iraq**. The document
looks very official, but it basically comes down to a few key rules: your passport
must be valid for at least six months, entry and exit are only allowed through official
border crossings, and you must carry your visa with you along with the entry stamp
in your passport.

You’ll also see a list of visa types — from tourist to transit or special visas —
but for travelers like us the one that really **matters is the tourist e-visa (ordinary
visa)**, which allows you to stay up to 30 days.

At the bottom of the page, just tick the box saying **‘I agree to the terms and 
conditions’** and click **OK** to move on.

 [ ⌊Iraq Visa Portal Terms and Conditions page showing Terms & Conditions text and an “Ok” button⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/iraq-visa-manual-002.jpeg)

### Fill in your details

Once you log in to the eVisa system, you’ll see a form where you need to enter your
basic personal details.

First, you’ll need to choose the visa type – for travelers like us, that’s ‘**Ordinary**’.
The system makes things easier by letting you upload a scan of your passport (which
you’ll have to attach later anyway). Most of the fields will then fill in automatically,
and you just need to double-check if everything matches your passport. If something
looks off, correct it manually. You’ll also be asked to provide your email address
and phone number.

 [ ⌊Iraq Visa Portal Details of person application information form with beneficiary fields and input boxes⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/iraq-visa-manual-003.jpeg)

Pay special attention to the passport section. Make sure the number, passport type(
for most people that’s ‘**Normal**’), place of issue (in our case simply ‘_Poland_’),
and the expiry date are all correct.

 [ ⌊Iraq visa portal form fields for a person, showing passport number, type, place of issue, and expiry date⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/iraq-visa-manual-005.jpeg)

The next section is ‘**Current address inside Iraq**’ – here you just enter the 
address of the hotel where you’ll be staying. If you’ve booked more than one place,
simply put the first one.

![Iraq visa portal details form showing fields for governorate and accommodation
type with current address inside Iraq](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/
width=1024,height=230,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=
none/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/iraq-visa-manual-004.jpeg)

In the ‘**Personal attachment’** section you’ll need to upload the required files:
a scan of your passport and a passport-style photo. The system specifies the format—
the photo should be 800×600 pixels, with your face fitting the standard size of 
5.1 x 5.1 cm.

 [ ⌊Iraq Visa Portal Details of person page showing a Personal Attachment section with a Passport upload table⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/iraq-visa-manual-006.jpeg)

### Electronic payment

At the end it’s just formalities. After clicking **Next**, you’ll get a confirmation
email with your application number. On the screen you’ll also see a **Pay now** 
button, which takes you to the online payment page.

Here’s a small tip – it’s best to pay with a multi-currency or travel card. If you
use a regular debit or credit card in your local currency, your bank may charge 
extra fees and use a poor exchange rate.

Once you’ve filled out the payment form and confirmed the transaction, you’ll see
around **$165** vanish from your account 😅. After that, it’s just a matter of waiting–
in practice, the visa approval usually arrives the next day, although officially
the system allows up to **72 hours**.

## What should you keep in mind when entering Iraq?

When entering Iraq, it’s worth remembering that getting a federal visa automatically
comes with basic insurance. The policy is issued by a local company, Hamraa Insurance,
and technically covers emergencies – but the coverage limits are, let’s say, underwhelming.
In reality, you might wonder if it would even cover something as serious as repatriating
a body back home (harsh, but worth keeping in mind).

That’s why it’s smart to treat this package more as a formality than real protection.
If you want any actual peace of mind, you’ll need proper travel insurance that includes
a war-zone clause. And here’s the catch – in Poland, very few insurers are willing
to issue such coverage at all, and if they do, the price is often way off the charts(
Generali, for example, asks for sums that will make your head spin).

The second thing to keep in mind is your passport. It needs to be valid for at least
six months, but the stamps inside matter too. If you’ve got any trace of an Israeli
visa, you might run into problems when entering federal Iraq – anything from extra
questioning to being denied entry altogether. In the Kurdistan Region officials 
tend to be a bit more relaxed about it, but it’s still not something you want to
gamble with.

Another potential trap is drones and filming. Don’t even think about bringing a 
drone into Iraq without the proper permits – airport security can confiscate it 
on arrival, and flying without paperwork is a fast track to trouble with the police.
On top of that, there’s a strict ban on photographing government buildings and military
sites – and it’s really not worth testing how serious they are about it.

And most importantly – the situation in Iraq can change from one day to the next,
so it’s always worth checking the latest travel advisories and official updates 
before you go.