Information For Iraq Visa

You must obtain your Visa from the country of your residence before you proceed to Iraq. If you are going to go to Iraq from Amman, Jordan, then please make sure that you have multiple visas for Jordan otherwise you will have a problem when you return from Iraq.

At the Iraqi border, you will have to take an Aid test and you will have to pay US$50 cash for it. Some groups include this in their cost.

We highly recommend that you join a group for going to Iraq for Ziyarat.

The United States has a Presidential decree that no American citizen is permitted to go into Iraq, if they do so and the government comes to learn of it they may be denied entry into the United States. Therefore, Zuwars are cautioned that the groups they are joining do not get the Iraqi visa stamped in the passport; it should be obtained on a piece of paper, which does not present a problem.

Even the Canadian Government will not be able to help Canadians if they get stuck in Iraq. So it is important to join a respectable and well-known group.

Items To Take With On Your Iraq Trip

List Of Items

01) One bottle of Shampoo and soap.
02) One can dusting powder.
03) One toothbrush and toothpaste.
04) One hairbrush or comb.
05) One travelling money pouch for safekeeping your valuables.
06) Four shirts, two pants, two pyjamas and some undergarments for men.
07) Four sets of Shalwaar Kurta or long dress and some undergarments for women.
08) One Janamaaz (Mussalla).
09) One travelling alarm clock.
10) One pair of rubber slippers and one pair of very comfortable shoes for daily wear.
11) You should take enough prescription medicine to last you during the entire trip and you should carry them in your hand luggage. Also please make sure to take some Tylenol and cough drops like ‘Bradasol’ for sore throat.

12) A First Aid Kit.

13) If you wear prescription glasses then it is highly recommended to carry (with you) an extra pair.
14) Packages of soup, dry snacks, tea, coffee, coffee mate, cookies, chevda, Ghanthia, chewing gum, candies, and chocolates etc. To buy these from Iraq is difficult.
15) There is a lot of poverty in Iraq so if you can then take some clothes and medicine to give them away to the needy. You might want also to take some candies and chocolates for the children near the Haram.

Hotels

The quality of hotels in Iraq is not a very high standard. Most of the Hotels in Karbala’ and Najaf are poorly equipped and do not have English style bathrooms in all the rooms, so if you are disabled please make sure you carry (with you) a portable toilet.

Currencies

There is exchange control in Iraq and Zuwars are advised not to cash their currency in stores but to ask their group organizer to exchange their money for them through the Tour Operator. We recommend you carry US Dollars bills (with you) in a mix denomination. Have some dollar bills to give away as ‘Baqshees”.

The exchange rate varies from month to month. You will not be able to reconvert the Iraqi Dinar to US Dollars.

Weather

During the months of December, January, February and March are very cold and you will require thermal undergarments, winter coat and winter gloves.

March, April, September and October are pleasant months.

May, June, July and August are very hot months.