By Air
Baghdad International Airport (BGW) is by far the main entry point for most visitors. It handles over 8 million passengers a year and has regular connections to the Gulf, Turkey, the Levant, and Egypt. Airlines flying into Baghdad include Emirates, flydubai, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Pegasus, Oman Air, Gulf Air, EgyptAir, and Iraqi Airways. In late 2025, Aegean Airlines launched the first direct European service, from Athens.
Erbil International Airport (EBL) is the main gateway for the Kurdistan Region, with direct flights to Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Vienna, Frankfurt, and several other European cities. If Kurdistan is your destination, flying into Erbil is the easier and more pleasant option.
Basra International Airport (BSR) handles some regional traffic and serves southern Iraq.
Visas
Since March 2025, citizens of most Western countries (including the US, UK, EU member states, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea) are required to obtain an e-visa before arrival. You apply through the official portal at evisa.iq. The process takes 24–48 hours and costs roughly 145 euros, which includes a mandatory health insurance fee. Bring the approval document when you travel.
Citizens arriving at Erbil Airport for the Kurdistan Region only can still get a visa on arrival, or apply for the e-visa in advance.
Check current requirements before travel, as policy has changed several times in recent years.
Overland
The main overland crossings into Iraq are from Jordan (via the Trebil / Karameh border post, a long desert crossing), from Turkey (via the Ibrahim Khalil / Habur crossing into Kurdistan), and from Iran (several crossings, popular with pilgrims heading to Karbala and Najaf). The Kuwait border is open. The Syrian border remains effectively closed.
Shared taxis and buses run between Amman and Baghdad, though the drive takes around 12–15 hours. The Kurdistan crossings from Turkey are busy and generally straightforward.