Countries that Require a Visa for Iraq Passport Holders

• A valid international travel passport
• A completed visa application form
• The applicable visa fee
• Evidence of permission to enter the destination country
• A photocopy of your passport data page
• Financial proof — an original bank statement
• A letter of invitation, where one is required

Exact requirements vary by destination and visa type — always confirm what your destination needs before you apply.

The Republic of Iraq is situated in Western Asia. The lands that now constitute Iraq were known in ancient times as Mesopotamia (the land between rivers). That land gave rise to some of the world's earliest civilizations like Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, and Assyria. The two major rivers of Iraq are river Tigris and river Euphrates. Its capital and largest city is Baghdad. Iraqi land is very rich hence, the literal meaning of "Iraq" is "deeply rooted, well watered; fertile".

Iraq has a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot summers and short cool winters. It is best to wear modest clothing covering the upper arms, legs, shoulders, and cleavage. Winters are mild with some rain in central and southern Iraq, but cold in the north.

Iraq is 70% Mesopotamian Arab, 15% Kurds, and 5% Assyrian. It is an Islamic country. Its official languages are Arabic and Kurdish. Weekends in Iraq are Friday and Saturday as opposed to Saturday and Sunday in the west. Iraqis are a generally religious and conservative people. Men usually hold hands and kiss in greeting in the country but this is not the case for men and women.

Most Iraqi dishes are served with rice (mostly basmati) and chicken or lamb. Tomato, onion, potato, garlic, peppers, chili are common vegetables that feature in Iraqi cuisine. Fruits like dates, raisins, apricots, figs, grapes, melon, lemon, and lime are also commonplace in Iraqi cuisine.

There are quite a number of fascinating locations in Iraq. A few of them are:

• Karbala: Karbala is the spiritual home of the Shi'ia Muslims, a 100 km south of Baghdad. The monuments in this impressive mosque are some of the finest in the Islamic world. The mosque also houses to shrine of Hussein.
• The Iraq National Museum: The Iraq National Museum was finally reopened in 2015 after being closed for 12 years. The wealth of historical artefacts this Museum houses brings the ancient world of Babylon to life.
• The Ruins of Babylon: The historical site of Babylon and its legendary Hanging Gardens is located about an hour south of Baghdad. You may visit the ruins of Babylon here, a religious and political centre of great renown in ancient times.
• The Kurdish Mountains: The Kurdish Mountains are cool and beautiful places to escape the heat of the summer. You may even choose to go skiing here.

There are several fascinating facts about Iraq such as the fact that "reading of fortunes in the constellations" and "the fear of black cats" were all invented in Iraq as per archaeologist Leonard Woolley. Also, Iraq banned karate movies in 1979.

There are hundreds of hotels in Iraq ranging from budget to luxury ensuring that visitors get appropriate accommodation.