Iraq Travel Advisory 2026

Current U.S. State Department advisory

Level 4: Do Not Travel

The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help. Advisory as of March 1, 2026.

Official source: travel.state.gov

US vs UK: how the advice compares

🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov

Level 4· Do Not Travel

Level 4 of 4 · as of March 1, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)

Advises against all travel to parts of the country

Last updated June 19, 2026 · gov.uk advice

Latest UK update note: “FCDO no longer advises against all travel to Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq but continues to advise against all travel to parts of Federal Iraq and against all but essential travel to other parts of Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Updated information about regional tensions. Updated information about risks from Iranian strikes on Iranian-Kurdish opposition camps and new information about travel disruption in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq ('Warnings and insurance' , 'Safety and security' and 'Regional risks' pages).”

See all countries where the two governments disagree on the US vs UK comparison page.

Advisory level timeline

March 1, 2026 — current
Level 4: Do Not Travel
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for Iraq since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.

Is Iraq safe? What the official advisory says

There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated to reflect changes to U.S. embassy operations.

Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and the U.S. government’s limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq. Do not travel to Iraq for any reason. Leave now if you are there.

Advisory Summary

On March 2, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees to leave Iraq due to security concerns.

U.S. citizens in Iraq face high risks, including violence and kidnapping. Terrorist and insurgent groups regularly attack Iraqi security forces and civilians. Anti-U.S. militias threaten U.S. citizens and international companies. Attacks using improvised explosive devices, indirect fire, and unmanned aerial vehicles occur in many areas, including major cities. The Department of State requires U.S. government personnel in Iraq to live and work under strict security due to serious threats.

Terrorism

There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Iraq. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more.

Unrest

Demonstrations, protests, and strikes occur frequently throughout the country. These events can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting traffic, transportation, and other services, and sometimes turn violent.

Armed Conflict

Do not travel near armed groups or Iraq’s northern borders due to:

Continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups
Armed conflict
Aerial bombardment

Condensed from the official State Department advisory of March 1, 2026 — read the full advisory before you travel.

Iraq travel advisory FAQ

What is the current travel advisory level for Iraq?

As of March 1, 2026, the U.S. State Department rates Iraq at Level 4: Do Not Travel. The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help.

What does Level 4 mean?

Level 4 (Do Not Travel) — The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help.

When did the Iraq travel advisory last change?

The current advisory was published on March 1, 2026. No level changes have been recorded since we began tracking in July 2026 — this page will log every future change.

Does the UK government agree with the US advisory for Iraq?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: Advises against all travel to parts of the country (last updated June 19, 2026). The US and UK use different systems — the US assigns a 1–4 level, while the UK either advises against travel (entirely or in part) or issues no overall warning.