Put your safety first. If it is safe to ask, calmly request an explanation of the charge and an official receipt. Do not offer a bribe. A request for money alone does not establish whether a fee is official.
At a checkpoint, do not argue or put yourself in danger to challenge a demand. Canada's travel advisory warns that militias sometimes demand bribes at unofficial checkpoints, where violence and arbitrary arrest are risks. It advises caution and following instructions when documents are requested.
Once safe, note the location, time, amount and any identifying details you can remember. Contact your embassy or consulate for advice, especially if threatened or detained. If detained, ask the authorities to notify your embassy and ask for a lawyer. Consular help can be limited. Tell your mission whether the incident was in federal Iraq or the Kurdistan Region and ask which office covers you. We could not verify a specific reporting channel for both jurisdictions.
Sources: Canada's Iraq travel advisory, UK Iraq safety advice and Canada arrest and detention advice.
Checked on 2026-11-05.