Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit IQ?

UK ordinary passport holders need an eVisa to visit Iraq for tourism. Iraq suspended its visa-on-arrival policy on 1 March 2025, so you must apply online via the official evisa.iq portal before you travel (at least 24 hours ahead). As of 31 May 2026, British citizens holding an ordinary passport require a visa to enter federal Iraq for tourism. The previous visa-on-arrival facility was suspended for most nationalities, including UK travellers, on 1 March 2025. Travellers must now obtain an electronic visa (eVisa) in advance through the official Government of Iraq portal at evisa.iq, submitting their application at least 24 hours before departure. The tourist eVisa costs approximately USD 160 and is typically valid for 60 days with a stay of up to 60 days (a 90-day-validity / 30-day-stay option may also be offered). Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the arrival date and contain at least one blank page, and travellers should hold a confirmed return or onward ticket, as airlines may deny boarding without one. Note that the autonomous Kurdistan Region (KRG) operates a separate entry system: UK citizens (List A) can still obtain a Kurdistan visa via the KRG portal (visit.gov.krd) or on arrival at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports, but such permits are valid only for the Kurdistan Region and not the rest of Iraq. This guidance applies to short tourist/visit stays; journalists, NGO workers and certain other categories cannot use the eVisa and must apply through an Iraqi embassy. Always check the latest GOV.UK travel advice before booking, as security conditions and entry rules in Iraq can change at short notice.