Is It Safe to Travel to Iraq in 2026?
Iraq - Level 4: Do Not Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⛔ Do Not Travel
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to Iraq or parts of Iraq due to serious safety concerns. Key factors: terrorism, kidnapping, civil_unrest, other.
Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. Located within the Middle East, it is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and Kuwait to the southeast, Jordan to the southwest, and Syria to the west.
Is It Safe to Travel to Iraq in 2026?
Iraq is currently rated Level 4 — Do Not Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, and civil unrest. U.S. citizens in Iraq face high risks, including violence and kidnapping. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- terrorism
- kidnapping
- civil_unrest
- other
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, and civil unrest., U.S. citizens in Iraq face high risks, including violence and kidnapping., Ordered departure for non-emergency U.S. government employees due to security concerns..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face extreme risks from terrorism and kidnapping, with U.S. citizens specifically targeted by armed groups and anti-U.S. militias.
Business travelers encounter severe operational risks due to the high likelihood of violence, kidnapping, and limited consular support in emergencies.
Families with children face extreme risks from violence and kidnapping, as well as limited healthcare access and safety concerns in public spaces.
Remote workers will struggle with extreme security risks and lack of reliable infrastructure, making it unsafe to work in Iraq.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Iraq.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Iraq
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel1 region
▶Iraq
Do not travel to Iraq for any reason.
Iraq has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Iraq has an overall threat severity of 9.9 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 8.0/10, terrorism risk 9.0/10, and kidnapping risk 7.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 30/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Language
Arabic / Kurdish
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: 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.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Iraq
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Iraq?
▶Is it safe to travel to Iraq right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Iraq?
▶What vaccines do I need for Iraq?
▶Is Iraq safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Iraq?
More Iraq Data
Not Free — 30/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.