Turkey Trip from Iraq 2027: Visa Rules by Age, Flights, Costs and Family Itineraries

A trip to Turkey from Iraq in 2027 starts with the visa question. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iraqi citizens with ordinary passports aged 15 to 50 need a visa, while those under 15 and over 50 are visa-exempt for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Iraqis aged 15–50 who hold a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit can get a single-entry e-visa valid for one month online at evisa.gov.tr; everyone else applies at the Turkish embassy in Baghdad or a consulate. Flights to Istanbul from Baghdad, Erbil and Basra take about two and a half to three hours. Our private Istanbul packages start from $699 per person, and a car with driver for a family costs from $220 for eight hours.

This page was written first in Arabic for families who search "السفر الى تركيا من العراق". It covers visas by age, flights from Iraqi cities, money, the best months, what Iraqi families like to see beyond Istanbul (Trabzon, Uzungöl, Sapanca, Bursa), and three ready-made plans. Information was checked on 23 October 2026; visa rules change, so confirm on the ministry's site before you apply.

Turkey trip from Iraq at a glance

Visa rules for Iraqi citizens

The ministry's visa table splits Iraqi travellers into three groups, and in a family trip each person can fall into a different one.

1. Children under 15 and adults over 50 with ordinary passports need no visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180 days. Grandparents and young children can travel on their passports alone.
2. Adults aged 15 to 50 with a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit can apply online for a single-entry e-visa, valid for one month, at evisa.gov.tr, provided they meet the conditions shown during the application. The fee is shown at the end of the online form.
3. Everyone else aged 15 to 50 needs a sticker visa from the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad or the consulates-general in Erbil, Mosul, Basra and Kirkuk, through the appointment system those missions use.

For a sticker visa, apply at least four weeks before travel, longer before Eid and the summer holidays. Applicants are usually asked for a passport valid well beyond the trip, photos, a bank statement, proof of employment or study, a return booking and a hotel reservation. A confirmed booking with us (hotel, transfers and tours) can be printed and added to the file, and we send it in Arabic and English on request.

Note one detail that catches families out: a child who turns 15 before the trip needs a visa, even if the rest of the children do not.

Flights from Baghdad, Erbil, Basra and Najaf

Turkish Airlines flies to Istanbul Airport from Baghdad, Erbil, Basra, Najaf and Sulaymaniyah, and Pegasus to Sabiha Gökçen from several of the same cities. Iraqi Airways operates Baghdad–Istanbul, and its network was restored in stages during 2026 after interruptions. Flights take about 2.5 to 3 hours. Schedules to and from Iraq changed several times in 2026, so check the airline's own site a few days before departure.

Which airport matters for your plans. Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side, about 45–60 minutes from Taksim and Sultanahmet; Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side, convenient for Sapanca and Bursa but further from the old city. We meet you at either with a sign in Arabic. Our airport transfer by Mercedes Vito costs from $60 per vehicle for up to six people with luggage, which suits most families.

If you are heading straight to the Black Sea, there are also connections to Trabzon via Istanbul; the domestic flight takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Money, phones and daily costs

Bring US dollars in cash. Iraqi dinars are rarely accepted by exchange offices in Turkey, and the rate you get, when you get one, is poor. Exchange dollars into Turkish lira at the exchange offices (döviz) in Sultanahmet, Aksaray, Taksim and Laleli, which usually give better rates than airports and hotels. Cards issued outside Turkey work in shops, restaurants and malls, but check with your bank before travelling that yours works abroad.

For a SIM card, the airport shops of Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom sell tourist packages with data; they cost less in town, but it is convenient to land with a connection. Rough daily costs for a family in Istanbul, outside the hotel: $80–150 for food, transport and entrance tickets, depending on how often you eat in restaurants and take taxis.

Food is simple for Iraqi families. Meat in Turkey is halal, there are restaurants in every district serving grills, rice and stews familiar to Iraqi tastes, and Aksaray and Fatih have Arab restaurants. Mosques are everywhere, and the call to prayer is heard across the city.

The best time to travel from Iraq

Iraqi families travel most in summer, from mid-June to the end of August, when Baghdad and Basra pass 45 °C and Istanbul stays around 28 °C. The Black Sea region is cooler still, which explains the popularity of Trabzon and Uzungöl in July and August. Prices for hotels in Istanbul and especially in Uzungöl peak in those weeks, so book three months ahead.

The holidays are the other peak. Eid al-Fitr 2027 is expected around 9–11 March and Eid al-Adha 2027 around 16–19 May; the exact dates depend on the moon sighting. Eid al-Adha also brings Turkish families onto the roads, so hotels in Sapanca and Bursa fill quickly. For lower prices and pleasant weather, April, May outside Eid, September and October are the best months. In winter, from December to February, Uludağ above Bursa offers snow, which is a draw for families from southern Iraq.

Beyond Istanbul: Trabzon, Uzungöl, Sapanca and Bursa

Trabzon and Uzungöl. On the eastern Black Sea, green mountains, tea terraces and cool air. Uzungöl is a lake village 99 km from Trabzon with a mosque on the water; plateaus such as Ayder and Sultan Murat add more mountain scenery. Our Uzungöl day trip from Trabzon starts from $80. For a combined trip, see the Istanbul and Trabzon package.

Sapanca and Maşukiye. About two hours east of Istanbul: a lake, forest bungalows, waterfalls, ATV and zipline, and trout restaurants along the river. It is the most requested day trip among our Arab guests. The Sapanca day trip from Istanbul costs from $70 with lunch.

Bursa and Uludağ. The first Ottoman capital, about two and a half hours from Istanbul, with the Grand Mosque, silk market, İskender kebab and the cable car up to Uludağ, snow-covered in winter. Our Bursa day trip with the cable car and lunch starts from $90; read more in Bursa day trip from Istanbul.

Three plans for Iraqi families

Five days, Istanbul only. Day 1 arrival and the Bosphorus shore in the evening. Day 2 the Old City: Sultanahmet Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar. Day 3 a Bosphorus cruise and the Asian side. Day 4 Sapanca day trip. Day 5 shopping at a mall and departure. Single days can be booked from our Istanbul tours. Our Istanbul packages build this plan with hotel, transfers and guide, and the 4-day private package starts from $699 per person.

Seven days, Istanbul and Bursa. Four nights in Istanbul, a night in Bursa with Uludağ, back to Istanbul for two nights. Good for spring and winter.

Ten days, Istanbul and the Black Sea. Four nights in Istanbul, a flight to Trabzon, three nights in Trabzon or Uzungöl with plateau trips, back to Istanbul for two nights. The classic summer trip for Iraqi families. See our multi-city packages for combinations with Cappadocia as well.

For large families, a private Mercedes Vito with driver for up to six people costs from $220 per vehicle for eight hours, with fuel and parking included; details on our private car with driver page.

An Arabic-speaking guide and our services

We are a licensed agency in Istanbul and plan trips for Arab families every week: hotel in the district you prefer (Taksim, Şişli, Sultanahmet or the Asian side), airport pick-up, a car with driver, and an Arabic-speaking guide for the days you want one. Payment is by card in US dollars; you can reserve now and pay later.

Many Iraqi visitors also come for treatment: hair transplants, dental work and rhinoplasty. Our medical packages combine a partner clinic with hotel, transfers and an interpreter, so the rest of the family can see the city while one person is in treatment.

Write to us on WhatsApp in Arabic with your dates, the number of adults and children, and the cities you want; we reply with a plan and a price. You can also browse the Istanbul tours, our Istanbul packages and the multi-city packages before you message.

Frequently Asked Questions