Get travel and medical insurance
Before travelling, the Department strongly recommends that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance which will cover all overseas medical costs, including medical repatriation/evacuation, repatriation of remains and legal costs. You should check any exclusions and, in particular, that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.
Overview
Overview
Security status
Do Not Travel.
Latest travel alert
We advise against all travel to Iraq because of the extremely dangerous security situation and very high threat of terrorist attacks. If you’re currently in Iraq, we advise you to leave immediately.
If you consider your presence in Iraq to be absolutely essential, you should have adequate and continuous professional security arrangements and ensure they are regularly reviewed.
Our advice
Ireland doesn’t have an Embassy or Consulate in Iraq so we can’t verify detailed travel advice to ensure that it’s accurate, appropriate and up to date. However, we encourage you to conduct your own research and to read these links to travel advice from other foreign ministries:
- UK: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Canada: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
- New Zealand: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Australia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- USA: Department of State
Emergency assistance
Because there is no Irish Embassy or Consulate in Iraq, we are very limited in the help we can offer you in an emergency. The best help is often close at hand so if you have problems, try talking to your local contacts, local tour guide or hotel management.
Other EU embassies
You can also try contacting the Embassies or Consulates of other EU countries for emergency consular assistance, advice and support.
Our tips for safe travels
- Purchase comprehensive travel insurance which covers all your intended activities
- Add an alert for your destination within the Travelwise App.
- Register your details with us so that we can contact you quickly in an emergency, such as a natural disaster or a family emergency
- Follow us on twitter @dfatravelwise for the latest travel updates
- Read our Topical ‘Know Before You Go’ guide
Safety and security
Safety and security
Unrest
The security situation in Iraq is extremely dangerous and there is a very high threat of terrorist attacks.
Terrorism
Terrorists and anti-government forces have carried out numerous attacks against places frequented by foreigners, such as hotels and restaurants. There have been attacks on international organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN and non-government organisations (NGOs).
Kidnapping
The threat of kidnap of foreign nationals across Iraq remains very high. People have been kidnapped at their homes, work and in transit. Kidnappers don’t discriminate between nationalities or religions. Those kidnapped include individuals who had security arrangements in place and some of those kidnapped have been killed.
Local laws and customs
Health
Health
Polio vaccination is recommended for all travellers from Ireland to countries where polio transmission is a risk. Before travelling to areas where poliomyelitis cases are still occurring, travellers should ensure that they have completed the recommended age-appropriate polio vaccine schedule and have received a booster dose, if necessary. More information is available on the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre website.
Additional information
Additional information
Entry requirements (visa/passport)
If you are unsure of the entry requirements for Iraq, including visa and other immigration information, ask your travel agent or contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Iraq.
You can also check with them how long your passport must be valid for.