Tourism?
Baghdad – June 2025
As of March 1st, 2025, Iraq has officially transitioned to a mandatory electronic visa (e‑Visa) system for most nationalities. This move, announced by the Ministry of Interior, replaces all paper visas and the long-standing "Visa-on-Arrival" system. The government states that this step is part of a broader modernization effort aimed at enhancing border security, digitizing travel procedures, and positioning Iraq as a more accessible destination for tourists and investors.
🎯 A Digital Shift with Security Goals
The new e‑Visa policy is designed to:
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Improve traveler screening and data tracking.
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Eliminate manual processing at borders.
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Create a centralized database for visitor records.
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Support Iraq’s growing tourism sector, particularly after Baghdad’s selection as the 2025 Arab Capital of Tourism.
💵 Application Fees and Mandatory Health Insurance
The total cost of obtaining an Iraqi e‑Visa now reaches approximately $158 USD (or 206,000 IQD), which includes a mandatory travel health insurance policy. All payments are made online, and travelers must apply in advance before entering Iraq.
While the government argues this ensures safer travel, some travel agencies and individual travelers have expressed concern that the added costs and steps may discourage spontaneous or budget-conscious visitors.
⚠️ User Frustration and Technical Challenges
Despite the shift to digital processing, numerous users have reported issues with the official e‑Visa platform, such as:
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No clear "Tourism" option when selecting the purpose of travel.
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Technical glitches with verification codes (OTP).
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Difficulty in uploading documents or resetting passwords.
One traveler on Reddit wrote:
"The Iraq e‑Visa site doesn’t even offer ‘Tourism’ as a category. I had to use ‘Other’ and still pay $100 to a private agent just to get through the airport."
🧾 Local Sponsorship Requirement and Informal Fees
An unexpected requirement for some travelers is the need for a local sponsor or agent to meet them at the airport and stamp their insurance documents, raising concerns about informal payments and the emergence of unregulated intermediaries offering “guaranteed entry” services for additional fees.
📉 Will This Hurt Tourism Growth?
With Iraq working hard to rebrand itself as a safe and exciting destination—particularly for religious and heritage tourism—critics argue that unless the platform is improved and the process simplified, this policy could backfire. There are fears it might reduce the growing wave of travelers visiting Babylon, Ur, Baghdad, and Najaf.