To enter through Erbil International Airport, you need a valid passport and a visa for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, unless exempt. Regional visas permit travel only in the Kurdistan Region and do not permit entry into federal Iraq.
Document checks and boarding
Before departure, airline staff inspect your passport and entry visa. Airlines require proof of onward or return travel. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office notes that airlines can deny boarding without a return or onward ticket.
Immigration and customs
After landing at Erbil Airport, take the escalator or elevator up one floor to immigration. The airport maintains separate queues for Iraqi citizens and international visitors. Remove hats and sunglasses, avoid phone use in line, and present your passport and arrival card. Border authorities make the final admission decision. Entry is not guaranteed.
After passport control, collect your luggage from the carousel and proceed to customs. The Erbil International Airport baggage guide directs travellers to report valuables to customs police. You must declare local currency over 200,000 Iraqi dinars and foreign currency or valuables over 10,000 US dollars.
Airside and landside transit
For flight connections, confirm transit arrangements with your airline. Passengers with through-checked bags can remain airside in the international transit area. If your bags do not transfer automatically or you booked separate flights, you must clear immigration landside, collect your bags, and check in again.
For visa rules, contact an Iraqi embassy or email the Kurdistan Regional Government Department of Foreign Relations at dfr@krg.org. See the Erbil International Airport immigration guide for arrival procedures.
Checked on 2026-11-04.