Iraq Travel Risk Overview
Official US advisory · Level 4
Do Not Travel
This decision takes precedence over the analytical baseline composite.
Is Iraq safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Iraq scores 75/100 on our travel risk index (Extreme). The US State Department rates Iraq Level 4 (Do Not Travel, updated 29 Aug 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country (updated 22 Jul 2026); Canada says: avoid all travel. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Iraq has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 75 out of 100 (extreme risk tier); city-level files are available for 60 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for Iraq, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized Iraq assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 16, 2026
Iraq maintains a baseline composite score of 75 out of 100, indicating extreme risk, alongside a US State Department advisory level of 4. Additionally, the CDC has issued a Level 1 global Dengue health notice.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 05:44 UTC
How safe is Iraq to visit in 2026?
Iraq is currently under a US State Department Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory. That official decision takes precedence. The 75/100 extreme baseline composite remains visible only as analytical context and must not be read as permission to disregard the advisory. The full live US State Department advisory text for Iraq, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (Baghdad, Erbil, Kirkuk), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
Country score
Driven by: The US State Department and Government of Canada advise against all travel here, so the score is held at 75 or higher. Governments disagree: US Level 4, UK Level 2, Canada Level 4.
Iraq's score of 75 is higher than the scores of 91% of the 241 countries we cover.
Data file
| Source | calibrated 2026-05-09 v1.0 (knowledge-based; high uncertainty due to data scarcity) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-09 11:01:52 |
| City files | 60 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Score layers
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Official travel advice differs across governments (spread of 2 risk levels). For example, one ministry recommends normal caution (Level 2) while another recommends avoiding travel (Level 4).
Department of State
Do not travelto Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, crime, health risks, and the U.S. government’s limited ability to provide emergency services …
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO travel advice for Iraq. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.
Global Affairs Canada
Editorial change
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Entry Requirements & Local Laws
Official travel advice summary from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
🛂 Entry Requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK who choose to travel despite FCDO advice. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Iraq’s current rules for the most common types of travel. The authorities in Iraq set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Iraqi Embassy in the UK. Entry to Saudi Arabia British nationals who are trying to leave Iraq via Saudi Arabia and who are travelling on British Emergency Travel Documents, Emergency Passports, or passports with less than 6 months remaining validity, should call the helplines for British Embassy Riyadh +966 (0) 11481 9100 or British Consulate Jeddah +966 (0)126225550 for advice. See ‘Entry requirements’ for Saudi Arabia. Passport v
Summary of UK FCDO advice, updated Jul 22, 2026 · Full requirements →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Travel Advisory Level History
Historical official advisory level changes over time.
What Changed This Month in Iraq
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Oct 2, 2026 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Dengue (Watch).
- Sep 23, 2026 CDC Notice Level 2 - Global Polio (Alert).
City Risk Files in Iraq
Showing 60 destination files with city-specific safety data in Iraq, ranked by demand and population.
Baghdad
Tier ABaghdād
Erbil
Tier BArbīl
Kirkuk
Tier BKarkūk
Al Başrah
Tier BAl Başrah
Ar Ramādī
Tier BAl Anbār
Mosul
Tier BNīnawá
As Sulaymānīyah
Tier BAs Sulaymānīyah
Ar Rumaythah
Tier BAl Muthanná
‘Aynkāwah
Tier BArbīl
An Najaf
Tier BAn Najaf
Sab‘ al Būr
Tier BBaghdād
Nāḩiyat Ghammās
Tier BAl Qādisīyah
Saymayl
Tier BDahūk
An Nu‘mānīyah
Tier BWāsiţ
Jamjamāl
Tier BAs Sulaymānīyah
Khānaqīn
Tier BDiyālá
Karbalā’
Tier BKarbalā’
Ba‘qūbah
Tier BDiyālá
Ash Shaţrah
Tier BDhī Qār
Al Fallūjah
Tier BAl Anbār
Zākhū
Tier BDahūk
Abū Ghurayb
Tier BBaghdād
Nāḩiyat al Iskandarīyah
Tier BBābil
Madīnat al Ḩabbānīyah
Tier BAl Anbār
Tall Banāt
Tier BNīnawá
Kūhbil
Tier BNīnawá
Al Ḩillah
Tier BBābil
Al ‘Amārah
Tier BMaysān
Sawrān
Tier BArbīl
Abī al Khaşīb
Tier BAl Başrah
Salmān Bāk
Tier BBaghdād
Umm Qaşr
Tier BAl Başrah
Al Fāw
Tier BAl Başrah
Al Hindīyah
Tier BKarbalā’
Al Ḩayy
Tier BWāsiţ
Qalādizay
Tier BAs Sulaymānīyah
Buhriz
Tier BDiyālá
Kifrī
Tier BDiyālá
Shaqlāwah
Tier BArbīl
Aḑ Ḑulū‘īyah
Tier BŞalāḩ ad Dīn
Al Kūt
Tier BWāsiţ
‘Aqrah
Tier BNīnawá
Al Miqdādīyah
Tier BDiyālá
‘Anah
Tier BAl Anbār
Sinūnī
Tier BNīnawá
Ad Dīwānīyah
Tier BAl Qādisīyah
Ash Shāmīyah
Tier BAl Qādisīyah
Rawānduz
Tier BArbīl
Imam Qasim
Tier BBābil
As Sa‘dīyah
Tier BDiyālá
Ḩadīthah
Tier BAl Anbār
Bāţūfah
Tier BDahūk
Āltūn Kawbrī
Tier BKarkūk
An Nāşirīyah
Tier BDhī Qār
Dahūk
Tier BDahūk
Sāmarrā’
Tier BŞalāḩ ad Dīn
Nāḩiyat Khān Banī Sa‘d
Tier BDiyālá
Ţūz Khūrmātū
Tier BŞalāḩ ad Dīn
Ad Dujayl
Tier BŞalāḩ ad Dīn
Aş Şuwayrah
Tier BWāsiţ
All towns in Iraq (16 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in Iraq
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
Level 4 · Do Not Travel
Iraq - Level 4: Do Not Travel
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Track Iraq’s advisory
Get one email if the US State Department travel-advisory level for Iraq changes. No account, unsubscribe anytime.
Traveller notes from government advice
LGBT+ travellers
In July 2024, the Iraqi Parliament updated its Anti-Prostitution and Homosexuality Law which criminalises same-sex relationships, any promotion of same-sex relationships or behaviours, and bans people from changing gender. Under the amendment, same-sex relationships are now illegal and sexual acts could lead to a prison sentence between 10 to 15 years. If the Iraqi authorities consider your actions, clothing or other items to promote LGBT+ identities or prostitution, you could be imprisoned for up to seven years and fined between 10 to 15 million Iraqi dinars.
Under the new law, it is illegal to have or perform gender changing surgery, unless you have approval from the courts. You could be imprisoned for up to three years.
There is an increased risk of violence and threats (such as blackmail and intimidation) against anyone being thought to be part of the LGBT+ community or supporting their rights. There have been attacks against…
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 22 Jul 2026. Full advice
Local laws and customs
Personal ID
It is a legal requirement to carry some form of photographic ID in Iraq. Always carry your passport or residence permit. The authorities may stop people for ID checks at checkpoints within cities and on main roads across the country. You should cooperate with officials conducting checks.
Lost and stolen passports
It is a legal requirement to publish the details of your lost or stolen passport in two local newspapers, after reporting the incident to the police. You may be refused an exit stamp until you have done so.
Ramadan
Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, do not:
drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car
play loud music or dance
swear in public
Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.
You should also:
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 22 Jul 2026. Full advice
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK who choose to travel despite FCDO advice. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Iraq’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Iraq set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Iraqi Embassy in the UK.
Entry to Saudi Arabia
British nationals who are trying to leave Iraq via Saudi Arabia and who are travelling on British Emergency Travel Documents, Emergency Passports, or passports with less than 6 months remaining validity, should call the helplines for British Embassy Riyadh +966 (0) 11481 9100 or British Consulate Jeddah +966 (0)126225550 for…
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 22 Jul 2026. Official entry requirements
Disaster alerts
No active GDACS disaster alerts matched Iraq as of the last successful refresh.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent national headlines were returned for Iraq. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
Automated safety monitor
Recent safety-relevant news for Iraq
Headlines are an early-warning monitor, not risk assessments. Verify material developments with official authorities and the linked publisher.
- General Bronze Star vet Michael Bouchard jumps into Michigan House race after Iraq return - WPEC cbs12.com · Oct 13, 2026 18:19 UTC · via Googlenews
- General US struggles to evacuate American personnel from facilities under fire in Iraq: Officials - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos abcnews.com · Oct 11, 2026 15:41 UTC · via Googlenews
- General The UN embargo and oil-for-food program - Britannica www.britannica.com · Oct 11, 2026 05:00 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Chaotic scenes as police, youths face off at Brussels protest - Hürriyet Daily News www.hurriyetdailynews.com · Oct 9, 2026 09:16 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Security Alert: U.S. Mission Iraq – October 8, 2026 - U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Iraq (.gov) iq.usembassy.gov · Oct 8, 2026 22:08 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics PM al-Zaidi’s Image, US Flag Burned During PMF Protest in Basra - کوردستان 24 www.kurdistan24.net · Oct 7, 2026 08:49 UTC · via Googlenews
- Health A mother’s promise is helping Mustafa and Ibrahim grow up safe and healthy in Muthanna - UNICEF www.unicef.org · Oct 5, 2026 17:45 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Iraq seeks to buy crude oil tankers to handle shipments beyond Strait of Hormuz: INA - S&P Global www.spglobal.com · Oct 5, 2026 07:00 UTC · via Googlenews
This country currently has a Level 4 US advisory. Compare the high-risk-country watchlist →
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Iraq
The most weather-stable two-month window for Iraq is February–March, when typical daily temperatures run from about 8°C to 25°C and monthly rain averages 19 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include extreme heat in May–September. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Aug 9, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Diplomatic assistance
Embassies in Baghdad
Consulate of Egypt and Embassy of Brazil and 3 other embassies are mapped in Baghdad.
OpenStreetMap coverage is a location aid, not an official diplomatic directory. Before travel, save the address and emergency contact details published by your own foreign ministry.
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 104 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 122 |
| Fire | 115 |
| General emergency | 104 |
Latest AI-assisted briefing for Iraq
Official advisory decision override: Do Not Travel. Iraq maintains a Level 4 advisory due to unpredictable regional security conditions, military strikes, and ongoing threats to diplomatic and aviation infrastructure in Erbil.
Top risk drivers
-
Official Level 4 Do Not Travel Advisory
· advisory
Governments universally advise against travel to Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, due to an unpredictable security environment and active military concerns.
-
Cross-Border Drone and Missile Strikes
· political
Erbil has faced targeting of its airport, outskirts, and diplomatic facilities by Iranian drones and missiles.
-
Severe Crime and Local Safety Risks
· crime
Crime score of 80 indicates severe risk conditions within the destination context.
Recent intelligence
- Iraq Travel Advice & Safety | Smartraveller [source]
- Erbil Travel Guide | BootsnAll [source]
- Current NOTAMs for Middle East | Notamify [source]
Live intelligence cited 8 public-source snippets. Every claim above is grounded in one of them — verify any specific detail by following the snippet links on the full assessment page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iraq safe to visit right now?
Follow the current official advisory. The baseline composite is analytical context and does not weaken that decision. Composite baseline: 75/100 (Extreme risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Iraq?
The current US State Department advisory level for Iraq is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
Is it safe to visit Iraq in October 2026?
For October 2026, the baseline composite for Iraq is 75/100 (Extreme risk). Live data — advisories every 6 hours, disaster alerts every 30 minutes, health notices every 12 hours, news every hour — is shown in the Live conditions section above. For a personalized risk briefing for your specific trip and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked above.
How are these country-level travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 from government advisories (US State Dept), crime indices, Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional editorial knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum across nine categories — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (advisories, news, disaster alerts, health notices) is layered on top of the baseline at request time.
Where can I find city-specific safety information for Iraq?
City-specific files for Iraq are listed in the City Risk Files section above. Each city page covers the same nine categories at city scope, plus city-specific scam patterns, transport-hub safety notes, medical-access detail, and (where available) neighborhood-level guidance. Use the header search to find a specific city directly.
When was this page last reviewed?
The baseline scores for Iraq were last reviewed on May 9, 2026. Live intelligence (advisory, disaster alerts, health notices, news) refreshes automatically on the cadences described above.
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Iraq?
February–March is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Iraq is February–March, when typical daily temperatures run from about 8°C to 25°C and monthly rain averages 19 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Iraq?
extreme heat: May–September.
Community Safety Sentiment
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.