Iraq Travel Alerts and Warnings

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and travel: The situation around the world is changing dramatically. Various governments have changed their travel warnings to restrict travel during this time. To understand how this may impact cover under your policy, please go to our FAQs and select your country of residence.

For the latest travel warnings and alerts around the world, read about lockdowns and border restrictions.

Several government travel advisories have placed Iraq under a "Do Not Travel" warning.

Shrine of Imam Hussain ibn Ali, in Karbala, Iraq Photo © Getty Images/Jasmin Merdan

Warning: this destination is considered very high risk and many governments advise their citizens not to travel to large parts of the country.

Commercial airlines cancelling or diverting flights in Middle East - January 8, 2020

On Jan 7, Iran launched missle attacks on US military bases in Iraq, leading some major airlines to cancel and reroute flights to avoid the airspace above Iraq and Iran. The US Federal Avaiation Agency has restricted commercial US flights "from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, and the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman."

This situation may change, as Iran has announced this morning that they will not seek escalation. Travelers should stay in touch with their airline regarding cancelled or rerouted flights, and follow news reports for updates.

Situation following U.S. airstrike in Baghdad - January 3, 2020

The US State Department is urging American citizens to leave Iraq immediately, following the airstrike which killed Qasem Soleimani, one of Iran's most senior miltiary commanders.

Check your government's advice for travel to Iraq. Several foreign governments have clearly advised on their websites do not travel to Iraq or reconsider all unnecessary travel including Iraqi Kurdistan.

Travel to this destination against government advice has implications for your travel insurance and you should read and understand your policy documents thoroughly if you are considering travel to this destination. If you are a World Nomads policy holder and unsure as to how it will affect you, please contact our 24/7 Worldwide Emergency Assistance. as for some travellers, even the warning of "reconsider your need to travel" is enough for it to impact your travel insurance.

If you go anyway and get into trouble, it may be impossible for your insurer to provide emergency assistance, and consular officials from your own country may be severely limited in the assistance they can give. We care about your personal safety and wellbeing, please heed all government issued travel warnings.

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  • Jan Bakker said

    Hi,

    why is there no distinction between Kurdistan (for example Erbil) and the rest of the country? FCO does not advise against travel in this region:

    "The FCO does not advise against travel to the Kurdistan Region (the provinces of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah and Dohuk)."

    I am looking for travel insurance for this region (preferably through Worldnomads).

    Best

    Jan

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