Iraq - Getting In

Travel Warning

The Department of State warns all U.S. citizens against traveling to Iraq. Conditions within the country remain unsettled and dangerous. The United States does not maintain diplomatic relations with Iraq and cannot provide normal consular protective services to U.S. citizens.

The Iraqi embassy considers Iraq safe for travel, and they are probably about 80 percent right. It's the 20 percent you have to worry about. Border crossings between Jordan and Iraq are closed; all others are open. Crossings from Turkey are backed up but are orderly and efficient.

You must be a reporter or use a foreign passport. Passports and visas are required. On February 8, 1991, U.S. passports ceased to be valid for travel to, in or through Iraq and may not be used for that purpose unless a special validation has been obtained. Without the requisite validation, use of a U.S. passport for travel to, in or through Iraq may constitute a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1544, and may be punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. An exemption to the above restriction is granted to Americans residing in Iraq as of February 8, 1991, who continue to reside there, and to American professional reporters or journalists on assignment there.

In addition, the Department of the Treasury prohibits all travel-related transactions by U.S. persons intending to visit Iraq, unless specifically licensed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The only exceptions to this licensing requirement are for journalistic activity or for U.S. government or United Nations business. The categories of individuals eligible for consideration for a special passport validation are set forth in 22 C.F.R. 51.74. Passport validation requests for Iraq should be forwarded in writing to either of the following addresses:

Iraqi Embassy

1801 P Street, NW

Washington, DC 20036

Tel.: (202) 483-7500

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services

U.S. Department of State

1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 260

Washington, DC 20522-1705

Attn: Office of Passport Policy and Advisory Services

Tel.: (202) 955-0231 or 955-0232

Fax: (202) 955-0230.

The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation according to the category under which validation is sought. Currently, the four categories of persons specified in 22 C.F.R. 51.74 as being eligible for consideration for passport validation are as follows:

[1] Professional reporters: Includes full-time members of the reporting or writing staff of a newspaper, magazine or broadcasting network whose purpose for travel is to gather information about Iraq for dissemination to the general public.

[2] American Red Cross: Applicant establishes that he or she is a representative of the American Red Cross or International Red Cross traveling pursuant to an officially sponsored Red Cross mission.

[3] Humanitarian considerations: Applicant must establish that his or her trip is justified by compelling humanitarian considerations or for family unification. At this time, "compelling humanitarian considerations" include situations where the applicant can document that an immediate family member is critically ill in Iraq. Documentation concerning family illness must include the name and address of the relative, and be from that relative's physician attesting to the nature and gravity of the illness. "Family unification" situations may include cases in which spouses or minor children are residing in Iraq, with and dependent on, an Iraqi national spouse or parent for their support.

[4] National interest: The applicant's request is otherwise found to be in the national interest.

In all requests for passport validation for travel to Iraq, the name, date and place of birth for all concerned persons must be given, as well as the U.S. passport numbers. Documentation as outlined above should accompany all requests. Additional information may be obtained by writing to the above addresses or by calling the Office of Passport Policy and Advisory Services at (202) 326-0231 or 955-0232.

U.S. Treasury Restrictions

In August 1990, President Bush issued Executive Orders 12722 and 12724, imposing economic sanctions against Iraq, including a complete trade embargo. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control administers the regulations related to these sanctions, which include restrictions on all financial transactions related to travel to Iraq. These regulations prohibit all travel-related transactions, except as specifically licensed. The only exceptions to this licensing requirement are for persons engaged in journalism or in official U.S. government or UN business. Questions concerning these restrictions should be directed to:

Chief of Licensing Section, Office of Foreign Assets Control

U.S. Department of the Treasury

Washington, DC 20220

Tel.: (202) 622-2480

Fax: (202) 622-1657

In the past year, most foreigners detained at the Kuwait-Iraq border, regardless of nationality, have been sentenced to jail terms of seven to ten years for illegally entering Iraq.

During 1992 and 1993, Iraq detained nine Westerners-three Swedes, three Britons, a U.S. national, a German and a Frenchman-on charges of illegally entering Iraq. They were released by late 1993 after much diplomatic energy. In March 1995, two Americans were held and sentenced to eight years in prison. Tom Jerrold and an ABC news crew were also detained, but were released after the UN intervened. Brent Sadler, who interviewed the two Americans in the Iraq jail, was asked for his written permission to be in the jail, even when accompanied by a Polish diplomat negotiating the release on behalf of the U.S. State Department!

There have been attacks against foreigners, and antagonism is still high in the Western world. Many Egyptians and other Arab expatriates were killed by disgruntled, unemployed Iraqi ex-soldiers. Don't forget that expats were held hostage by Hussein from mid- to late-1990 during the Mexican standoff between Iraqi and Allied forces over the Iraqi annexation of Kuwait. All travelers and foreigners in Iraq run the risk of being detained, harassed and questioned, particularly in the south near the Kuwaiti border. The Iraqi embassy referred us to Mr. Ganji at Babylon Travel, (312) 478-9000, for readers who want more details about travel to Iraq.

AIDS Test

Iraqi government officials have seemingly watched so many soap operas and pay-per-view dirty movies while out of the country that they think all Westerners are sex-crazed adulterers, fornicators and deviants.

Therefore, all visitors over age 12 and under 65 who plan to stay in Iraq for longer than five days (official visitors have 15 days) must call on the Central Public Health Laboratory in Al Tayhariyat al Fennia Square between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to either present HIV and syphilis (VDRL) certificates or arrange for a local test at a cost of ID100. HIV and VDRL certificates valid for Iraq may be obtained in the U.K. by arranging a blood test with a general practitioner. The sample should then be tested by a Public Health Laboratory Service listed on the blank certificate and attested by the Foreign Office and the Iraqi embassy in London. Failing to comply with these requirements carries a fine of ID500 or six months imprisonment. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all visitors arriving from an infected area.