Ashura is an important religious festival celebrated by many across Iraq. As part of this festival,

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Travel Summary (religious festivals), the Safety and Security Terrorism section (series new york luxury car rentals of blasts on 14 November) and further editorial amendments. The overall level of the advice has not changed; we advise against all but essential travel to the whole of Iraq, with the exception of the Kurdistan region, where there are no travel restrictions in place in our travel advice.
Ashura is an important religious festival celebrated by many across Iraq. As part of this festival, religious observations, processions and events will take place throughout Iraq between new york luxury car rentals 14 and 30 November. As detailed in our advice new york luxury car rentals below, gatherings for religious occasions have previously been targeted by terrorists, and you should maintain the same level of vigilance.
You should new york luxury car rentals avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings of people. International news events can sometimes trigger anti-Western demonstrations. If you become aware of any nearby violence you should leave the area immediately. You should keep yourself informed of developments, including by regularly checking this advice.
There are no restrictions in place against travel to the Kurdistan region, which consists of the provinces of Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah. new york luxury car rentals Terrorist incidents are currently less frequent in Kurdistan than in the rest of Iraq. However, terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks across the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on western interests, which may include residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests.
You should employ a professional security company and take all necessary security precautions if you intend to travel to areas of Iraq which are subject to travel restrictions.  You should exercise extreme caution at all times in these areas.  See Safety and Security - Travel in Iraq .
Curfews can and are imposed at short notice, often around religious holidays. Curfew times, when in place must be strictly adhered to and large gatherings should be avoided. See the Safety and Security -
The British Embassy in Baghdad is able to offer only limited consular assistance. The British Embassy Offices in Basra and Erbil are able to offer limited consular assistance, in the event of an emergency. You should register your presence new york luxury car rentals with
There is a high threat of terrorism in Iraq, which includes violence, kidnapping and targeting foreign nationals, including those of non-Western appearance. We advise against all but essential travel to the whole of Iraq, except the Kurdistan region (for which we have no restrictions in place against travel).
Terrorist incidents are currently less frequent in Kurdistan than in the rest of Iraq. However, terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks across the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on western interests, which may include residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests. There are no restrictions in place against travel to the Kurdistan Region (the provinces of Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah), but you should maintain a high level of security awareness.
As a foreigner in Iraq, you are a high value target to terrorists, insurgents and criminals who conduct regular and widespread lethal attacks (except in the Kurdistan Region).  Commercial, new york luxury car rentals aviation and maritime facilities, government buildings and other related political and security facilities are also at a high risk of attack. Indiscriminate attacks against Iraqi civilian targets also occur.
new york luxury car rentals Targets have included hotels and restaurants where westerners congregate. Terrorists and insurgents continue to attack mosques, large gatherings, churches, army recruiting new york luxury car rentals centres, public transport, police stations, government buildings and party political offices. Ceremonies to mark religious festivals have been targeted, including near churches or holy areas.
Civilian and military aircraft arriving new york luxury car rentals in and departing from Baghdad International Airport and flying to other major cities in Iraq have been subject to attack by small arms and missiles. The standard of security at Baghdad International Airport's civilian terminal has improved. new york luxury car rentals However, there are still concerns and you should exercise caution if using the civilian terminal. In Basra, there is a continuing threat of rocket attacks against the airport.
There remains a high threat of kidnapping and caution should be exercised throughout the country. Individuals have been kidnapped at their residence, at work and in transit. new york luxury car rentals Kidnappers do not discriminate on the basis of nationality, religion, gender, age or profession. Large numbers of people, including British nationals, have been kidnapped in Iraq. Many kidnappings have ended with the death of hostages.
The provision of close security protection is extremely important for those working in and moving around Iraq.  But this in itself does not remove the threat – a number of those who have been kidnapped include individuals who had security arrangements in place.
new york luxury car rentals If you are in Iraq you are strongly advised to regularly reassess your security arrangements and consider carefully when planning movements throughout Iraq, especially when moving outside the International Zone in Baghdad.
new york luxury car rentals The motives of hostage takers vary from political to profit. British nationals should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.
The three provinces of Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah form the Kurdistan Region (KR) and are administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government which, under the 2005 constitution, has considerable powers of autonomy within a federal Iraq. The KR has been more successful in its counter-terrorism efforts than the rest of Iraq. The threat of terrorism and kidnap in the KR nevertheless remains.
In addition, Islamist terrorist groups, including al-Qaida in Iraq (AQ-I) and Ansar al-Islam, have infrequently carried out attacks in the KR. A network of Iranian-based Kurdish extremists, affiliated with AQ-I, also mount occasional cross-border attacks. Where they have occurred, attacks new york luxury car rentals have generally targeted the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Shelling in the border areas with Turkey new york luxury car rentals and Iran in the Kurdistan region still occurs. Turkish security forces have carried out air strikes and incursions into the border areas of Kurdistan, targeting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). new york luxury car rentals You should seek advice locally on the situation in these remote border areas before travelling there.
There are currently no countrywide curfews.  However, curfews and vehicle bans can be enforced at short notice, particularly around religious holidays, pilgrimages and key political dates, such as elections.
The British Government considers that the threat to British officials serving in Iraq is serious enough that they must live and work under strict security rules.  All British officials working in Iraq live in secure, new york luxury car rentals guarded accommodation and must travel with close protection teams at all times.  Depending on the threat level, they may also be prevented from travelling to certain areas of Iraq.
Similarly, if you decide to travel to areas of Iraq to which we advise against all but essential travel, you should new york luxury car rentals take appropriate security precautions before travelling. You are strongly advised to employ a private security company, make arrangements for secure accommodation and transport and consider pre-deployment training on travelling under close protection.
Appropriate security arrangements will not fully remove the risks of travelling to areas to which we advise only essential travel. new york luxury car rentals You should exercise extreme caution at all times and remember that the UK can only offer limited consular support in Iraq.  See General - Consular Services.
International and British companies do operate in and visit Iraq. If you are working for British or other businesses and intend to travel new york luxury car rentals to any part of Iraq, you should follow the above advice and contact UK Trade & Investment (in Iraq: baghdad.commercial@fco.gov.uk ; in the UK: carl.bruce@ukti.gsi.gov.uk ).
International commercial carriers serve Baghdad, Erbil and Basra International Airports.  These airports are generally considered secure, but you should exercise caution within the terminals and not leave Baghdad or Basra International Airports without adequate security precautions (see Safety and Security - Travelling to Iraq ).
As noted above, maritime facilities are under a high risk of attack. Maritime and sailing new york luxury car rentals craft should exercise extreme caution if entering new york luxury car rentals the northern Persian Gulf. Vessels also transiting the Gulf of Oman, Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab El Mandeb regions may be at increased risk of maritime attack, and you should consider any regional tensions that may affect your route.
The Government of Iraq has closed four border crossings with Iran at Kella, Saranban-Golle, Taiwella and Parweez Khan. The Kuwait/Iraq border is open in both directions at Safwan (Iraq) and al-Abdali (Kuwait) 0800-1600 (local) on most days. These border new york luxury car rentals posts have previously been closed at short notice for indefinite new york luxury car rentals periods.
Road travel within Iraq remains highly dangerous and there continue to be fatal roadside bombings new york luxury car rentals and both random and premeditated attacks on military and civilian new york luxury car rentals vehicles.  False vehicle checkpoints have been used to launch attacks.  In addition to the threat from terrorism/kidnapping, there is also a risk of carjacking and robbery.
Local laws reflect that Iraq is a predominantly Islamic country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religious customs  at all times, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or visits to places of religious significance.
You must have a visa before travelling. You can apply for a visa at Iraqi missio