Do not photograph or film checkpoints. As a practical precaution, avoid photographing police, soldiers or their security operations too. Australia's official travel advice says photographing or filming checkpoints, military bases, government buildings and embassies is illegal. Canada also warns that photographing, filming or sharing images of military installations, activity or damage online could lead to severe penalties.
Keep your camera put away at checkpoints, including when travelling in a vehicle. Do not treat a phone camera as an exception. If told to stop, stop recording and follow officials' instructions.
Use these precautions in both federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. This answer does not establish a separate regional photography law or an exemption for Kurdistan. Australia advises against travel to both, and following photography precautions does not make travel safe.
Sources: Australian Government, Iraq travel advice, Government of Canada, Iraq travel advice.
Checked on 2026-10-25.