Iraq
Warnings and insurance
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Federal Iraq
FCDO advises against all travel to:
- The parts of Anbar province which are west of, but not including Ramadi City
- Diyala province except for Baqubah City
- Kirkuk province
- Ninawa province
- Salah al-Din province
- Jurf al-Sakr town in Babil province
- Sadr City, part of Baghdad province
- Within 5km of areas that border Iran in Wasit, Maysan and Basra provinces
- Within 5km of Iraq’s borders with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
- The remainder of Al-Muthanna province
- Al-Qadasiyah province
- The remainder of Anbar province
- Babil province (except Jurf al-Sakr town)
- Baghdad province (except Sadr City)
- The remainder of Basra province, including Highways 1 and 8 and the Safwan-Kuwait border crossing
- Dhi Qar Province
- Karbala Province
- The remainder of Maysan province
- The remainder of Najaf province
- The remainder of Wasit province
- Baqubah City in Diyala province
- The road sections of Highway 34 between Baghdad and Baqubah, and Highway 2 between Baqubah and Erbil
Kurdistan Region of Iraq
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Consular support
Consular support is severely limited in areas where FCDO advises against travel.
Regional tensions
The US and Iran have announced a memorandum of understanding in relation to the conflict in the Middle East. The situation remains unpredictable and attacks could resume at short notice.
Should hostilities resume, British nationals should:
- read If you’re affected by a crisis abroad - GOV.UK. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”
- follow advice from the local authorities
- sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts
- monitor local and international media for the latest information
- stay away from areas around security or military facilities and US government facilities
- keep your departure plans under review, and ensure your travel documents are up to date
- if you are advised to take shelter, stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter. An interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible may provide additional protection. The greatest risk is from falling debris caused by intercepts, and you are safest inside a secure structure
Before the 8 April ceasefire, the Iranian regime had stated its intention to target locations associated with the US and Israel. This included US or Israeli-linked organisations, businesses, facilities and institutions. Iran has previously targeted civilian infrastructure across the region such as ports, hotels, roads, bridges, energy facilities, oil production sites, water systems, and airports.
If you are in Iraq
Due to the ongoing security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw some of our staff from Iraq. Our embassy continues to operate.
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel despite FCDO advice, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
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