Grenze zwischen Irak und Türkei | Customs and Immigration

Iraq

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3 days ago
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400.0 masl
Contributor:
twoandahalfseats

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Went from Iraq to Turkey with a car.
As the Iraq entry border didn’t give us the right paperwork for entering it took a bit of running around to get the approval to leave. We asked someone for help and he helped us all the way. Everybody was friendly and they just needed to get the formalities right.
Also Iraq wanted 10USD for leaving. Maybe because we didn’t have the right papers?

Turkey was also long as they check paperwork on multiple station again and again. They also check the car more than once. We also got selected to get the car x-rayed which included a 1 hour wait to get a turn. Then they will ask you for your green card insurance on a few stations.
After all they didn’t really question too much why we went through north Iraq (never ever call it Kurdistan on the Turkish side). We just said it’s not as cold as the mountain area at the Iran/Turkey border and that wes good enough.
Jerrycans are not allowed but our 20L was half full and the guy said it’s ok. But be carful We also had some extra jerrycans in the car but they didn’t find them even with X-ray. I guess they are looking for cigarettes, drugs and humans.
Overall about 4.5 h to cross this border.

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Iraq to turkey
45000 IQD for exit from Kurdistan
10$ or 25000 IQD for entry to turkey
1400 Lire for insurance. Be cereful about some people in second check point for insurance.
When you enter to iraqi border you must take name list (2000 for 2) after that you most to go ( sandogh) for get the 45000iqd.

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Iraq to Turkey.
Iraq exit:
Surprisingly quick, about one hour. Keep 43.000 Dinar for exit tax! Otherwise you have to change again!

Turkey
We could use a line, which bypassed all the Iraqi and Turkish cars!
Entry tax is 200 Turkish Lira, which is 7 USD! As we only had USD, he said 10 USD, and gave us change of 220 Lira on a 20 USD bill, which means we paid effectively 12.50 USD!
Customs: we had to wait for X-ray!
And: we had to completely unpack the car for the X-ray!
40 l diesel on our roof rack was not a problem; they said it is ok!
Last but not least: only give your documents to officials from immigration or customs.
My wife made the mistake to give our documents to somebody else!
He bothered my wife for one hour while I was at the x-ray, and came back with our insurance.
He said 40 USD! 600 TL was written on the policy, which is 20 USD. He got angry and told me that he didn't need our money. I gave him 20 USD and left!
Better to have Turkish Lira, and just pay the amounts in Lira!
There are also money changers at the border, but I saw them too late!
I also forgot to change our last Iraqi Dinar into Turkish Lira.
You will not be able to do this later in Turkey!

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Easy bordercrossing. Prepare two passenger lists (one for each side). We got a visa in Ankara for the whole Irak. German passports. So no need for the kurdish visa. No CdP needed. Good rate to change $. You need 35 $ for the vehicle. Attention for big rigs: you can‘t leave (or enter) Zako town from south. Need to go west / direction Derabun.

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We passed the border in 2h15m. It was very relaxed.
We passed all Lines without waiting.

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Turkiye -> Kurdistan

Maybe we got lucky! Arrived 2pm on a Monday expecting big queues but it was very quiet and simple.
Leaving Turkiye took 15 minutes, passport stamp then car logged out. No fees. Needed copy of passenger list which we downloded from online and printed (you will need 2 of these)
Kurdistan - first part a guy just checks your passport then you park and walk in to the immigration building. We were made to do the evisa there, VOA was not an option but it was simple and took 10 minutes (you will need internet and our Turkiye SIM was still working). A customs guy checked our vehicle quickly, took vehicle papers and passports then we followed in vehicle a few hundred metres to the customs area. They directed to different windows, filling out different paperwork, paid 35 USD (got receipt), no carnet needed. Took 1 hour for Kurdistan side. Everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful and there were a few UN migration workers at the border who spoke English.

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Iraq -> Turkey
The price per vehicle increased in June 2023 to 43.000 IQD (you need to pay in cash, but they are very helpful to find anybody who can change in a good rate). If you have motorbikes on your car, you need to pay the same fee for each (in case you declared them when you entered Iraq).

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We came from Iraq/Kurdistan!
This border is straight forward and you can't really miss something.
We're not 100% sure, why passengers are getting out of their car, but we didn't. We were together all the time, from start to the end, as we thought, they might tell us, if someone needs to get whereever they want, but at the end, we always have been with our car, got all the stamp sand didn't pay anything on top.

We didn't have any bigger car inspection (just a 1-minute-check) at the beginning.
Overall Kurdistan and Turkey took us r.a. 45 min, but the waiting on the bridge is a pain and took add. 4hours (we were there at 6:50am).

Tipps:
1) Exit fee (Kurdish site) WAS 38000, but now is: 43000 IRQ (raised it one week before and I double checked)

3) For the decontamination we should have paid $10, but we said, we haven't $10, so after a couple of minutes waiting, they sent us away, without paying, even though they told us, that they take any currency. We wanted to give them some dollars, some denar and rial, but then they denied.

3) The german green card usually won't cover Turkey (or better, the asian part of Turkey), but it worked at this border, so no insurance needed.

4) Make a few copies of the Passenger List: they always ask for it

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new rules you need to apply Evisa before you cross the border no more VOA. Check website : http:visit. gov. krd/applications/news

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Less than 1/2 hour to leave Turkey on my bike, and 2 hours on the Kurdish side to cross.
You need the passenger list for leaving Turkey, google "Habur yolcu salonu" and download a Word file called 'giriscikis.docx'.
Kurdish immigration now wants €70 or €80, or IQD 100'000 - the price is actually quoted on IQD, so the change in the exchange rate is the reason for the higher price in $$ or €€.
For the customs proceedings, you have to drive to a large orange colour compound about 500 m away. There you get your TIP and have to pay some customs fee or maybe a road tax. This one is actually quoted in US$, so $30 it is. There is a bank that offers a resonable rate if you need to change. (Bank rate 1 US$ = IDQ 1375, Bazaar rate now maybe IDQ 1450)
At immigration no-one spoke English, but I found two customs officers who spoke English fluently.

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iraq-turkey
we needed passenger list on turkey side, didn't get anything from Iraq, so we wrote our own list. just our names and number plate. worked for us.

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We crossed the border from Turkey to Iraq. On the Turkey side you need a document they call it "lista" we don't know if you can find this document at the border for free, we found a guy that was selling them he asked 20€ we paid 10€ for 2.
Before crossing you can download it from google just type "Habur yolcu salonu" download the pdf so you don't have to pay those people. On the Kurdish side super friendly. We crossed the border in 2 hours

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At the moment, the crossing with one's own vehicle from Turkey to Kurdistan is possible. However, the crossing from Kurdistan to Federal Iraq is not possible.

We explain in detail:
We are Belgian and travel with a Mercedes Sprinter. We wanted to reach the African continent by crossing Turkey, Iraq and Jordan to arrive in Egypt.
In Turkey, we went twice to the Iraqi embassy in Ankara (to make sure we understood correctly). Both times, the ambassador himself explained to us that in our case, it was not necessary to have a visa to cross the whole Iraq. Apparently, all we had to do is to ask for a visa for the whole Iraq at the border (near Zakho) and everything would be easy. This was obviously NOT the case at all.

At the border, we tried to negotiate for 4 hours with an officer (very nice and understanding by the way) in order to explain that we didn't want a visa only for Kurdistan but for the whole Iraq, as the ambassador had previously explained to us. Well, that was simply not possible. It wasn't a question of unwillingness, they just didn't have the means to do it. Only the visa for Kurdistan can be issued there. And for good reason, if you enter here, you MUST leave here. This leaves no alternative for travellers like us.
It is also important to understand that even if you have a visa for the whole Iraq, which you bought in your own country, entering through here necessarily means leaving through here.

IT IS THEREFORE COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE TO CROSS THE COUNTRY IN THIS DIRECTION WITH YOUR OWN VEHICULE.
I write "in this direction" because other travellers have done the opposite crossing (from Jordan to Turkey) without encountering such problems.
Therefore, the only solutions to reach Africa are :
-To go through Iran and then reach federal Iraq (visa complicated to obtain at the moment);
-To take the boat to Israel (very expensive but it was our choice). Do not choose to go to Lebanon, you would be stuck in the country, none of its borders being open.

If you choose to visit Kurdistan only, it is very simple. Once out of Turkey, you will fill in an online form to get your visa (e-visa) and pay the sum of $70 per person.

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Iraq -> Turkey
We arrived at 10am and crossed at around 7:30 pm. After around 9 hours. Other people some days later had the same.
The Iraqi side was not the problem. like described we had to pay 38.000 Dinar for the car, for the stamp in the CDP than we had to wait for around 3 hours that the Iraqis check our car and took the stamps for the passport.
They checked just quickly.
Than we were out of Iraq and had to wait on the border bridge for 5 hours. because the Turkish side was closed with a gate and they open it just for maybe 20 cars.
We had to wait until I was dark and it went strange on the bridge. No security staff, a lot of people smuggling cigarettes and they tried to hide it in our car!
when we were in the Turkish border. They checked quickly the car and signed the passenger list. make sure that you have one. Take the stamps for the passports for all passengers in front of the place where they check the cars go not to the passenger office where many people wait. also smugglers want to hide stuff at you.

all together it was the most crazy border cross. make sure to go early to the border and keep an eye on your car.

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I crossed this border third time on my trip. This time leaving Iraq toward turkey (and I crossed into Iraq ex Kuwait).
Totally new experience. Last time it was really crowded but this time not.
I arrived at 07:30 at the kurdish site. At the entrance gate I had to convince the guy that I don’t have any Kurdish documents as I am coming from central iraq.
Parking lot was almost completely empty this time and no guys who want to sell you the „passenger list“. After entering the immigration building they were discussing something untill they gave me the stamp after some time.

Leave the building and drive with the car to the next counter (on the other side of the roofed driving area).

Right side right Counter: give them passport and the yellow or blue document you got at the entry border. They give you a slip and you have to go to the counter on the opposite side of the street (left of the street). There I had to pay 38.000IQD. Only accepted in Dinar. One of the smugglers was friendly and helped me out to exchange money with him (for a good rate).

After that you have to go to the left counter on the right side. Here you get a slip for the exit gate. At the exit gate give them the slip and one passenger list.

As I arrived so early on the border I was the fifth car in the row on the bridge waiting for the Turkish site to open. Additionally they now have beton walls on the border bridge. Now it’s not possible anymore for the Turkish vans to play their sneaky game of trying to overtake and get into the row in front.

I arrived on the bridge at 8am. Turkish fence opened at 8:30.

On the Turkish side park at the first counter. You have to go to the window by feet. They check passenger list and passport. After that they check your car and give a signature on your passenger list (my list was handwritten).
After that you can pass the counter and proceed to the next counter. Get out again, Gomito the window, show car and insurance documents. After that you can drive to the exit gate where they might check you in the system again. Now you are free to leave. :)

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Turkey-Kurdistan. There were no helpers bugging us outside the buildings, and actually no line up of cars either. But still took three hours on the Turkish side. We’d overstayed our visa by 25 days, and ended up costing $400USD (2 people) and $85USD (2 Motos) Beware of helpers inside the official offices. They are allowed to walk freely in and out of the customs offices, and it’s impossible to tell them apart from the officials. While thinking we were dealing with a customs officer, we were surprised to find that a helper had grabbed our paperwork (off the officials desk) and was doing the rounds getting everything stamped and signed. It was helpful, but a shady way to do business. We didn’t pay him anything because of how he went about it. Very unorganized border.

Kurdistan side was welcoming and easy. $70 for the visa and $30 for the moto. Everything was straight forward and they even gave us a welcome meal of typical Iraqi food.

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Took 2h to cross bundary. Don t pay guys to fill form to declare passengers identity, it’s Free with officials iraqi guys

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Went from Turkey to Iraq and back after few days, on July 2022.
I have the passport of an EU country, but my campervan is registered in another EU country. No issue with that.
The problem of this border crossing point, besides being understaffed and overcrowded, is the amount of annoying guys (apparently cross-border workers) that ask for a lift, pushing the drivers to harsh manouvers to avoid hitting them. This is particularly true on the Turkey-to-Iraq direction.
On the Iraq-to-Turkey direction, on the bridge between the two custom areas, I had a different issue. A person asked for some water, which I had, claiming that they had been stuck there for several hours (indeed there was a long queue of minibuses there). I did share some water and biscuits, but then more "friends" arrived, and claimed water, and other food that I didn't have. I needed to ask help to other foreign travelers to tackle the situation.
This mess went on for a while on the Turkish side as well.
All in all, be prepared for anything to happen on this border. My advice is: while you are waiting, don't talk to anybody, don't watch anybody, don't answer to anybody's questions. Keep in your car with AC on and windows closed, if you can.
NOTE: if you plan to visit all Iraq (not only Kurdistan) you may apply for an Iraqi visa in advance at the embassy in your country. Then you save some time at the border, and you don't have any issues at the Iraqi checkpoints.

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Exiting from Iraq you have to pay 38.000 dinar for a motorbike

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Turkey/Iraq: took 2,5 hours. Visa is 70 dollar import car 30 dollar. At the Covid check you can change USD to IQD for the visa. Dont pay for a passenger lists from aggresive scammers. You can make one yourself. You need 2! Include license plate, name, passport number, date of birth, direction and a signature. Even our handwritten version was okay.

Iraq Turkey: took us 15 hours, Turkey was only admitting 4 cars per 30 minutes. According to locals this has been for a few days due to system problems...

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Crossed from Turkey to Iraq today. German passport with german registered car.

EXIT TURKEY
1. As you arrive at the border area pass the first gate. There you do not have to show anything. Immediately after passing there will be fixers who want you to help for money. They want you to stop under the roof on the left side. If you do that they will never stop helping you as they know that you have no clue where to go first. So don’t stop, just drive to the second gate and park your car on the left side before the gate. And hope they will not follow you to annoy you.
2. Get out and go to this second gate. First to the desk right hand to get your passport stamped, then to the left one (there is a sign „Tescil“ in the window for the second desk.) This one is for your vehicle and they check for not payed till tickets etc
3. If you do not have fines to pay you should be free to pass this gate with your car. For me, I had to pay money as something with the toll system did not work out. If you are as lucky as me and have to pay the money: Go in direction of your car and enter the building which is now on your right side. Use the second door cause you just have to cross the building = leave it thought the door which is in front of you when you enter. Then turn left. Now there will be two desks on the right side, where you can pay the fines. You get a paper which you have to show to the person from the Tescil-Desk.
4. After you passed the second gate turn right and drive on the bridge to the Kurdistan border.

ENTER KURDISTAN

1. Immediately after crossing the bridge turn right and park your car.
2. On the right side there are containers. Go to „Desk 1“ and show your passport + covid vaccination certificate. I did not get anything from there. They just returned my documents after checking. If you are not vaccinated there are „Desk 3 & 4“ for PCR-Testing. (All containers have Englisch informations.
3. Go to „Desk 2 - Accountant“. There you have to change money for your Visa. I gave 100$ and he already split my Dinar into „this is for your visa“ and „this is the rest of the 100$“.
4. Now just pass Desk 3&4. In this direction there is a big building with doorsteps in front (still right side) where you have to stamp your passport. Get in and go to the desk with number 1 on it. It’s the very right desk. Just ignore that there is a big row at the desk with number 2 on it. You go to number 1 even if there are no other people in the row. They check your passport and ask if you came with car, then they put a plastic card in it and will send you to the desk which is left of Desk 2.
5. On this very left Desk you have to pay your visa in Iraqi Dinar. Then they fill out some Kurdish paper which takes some time and then they stamp your passport. Please check if you got two stamps. One for you and one for the car.
6. leave this building and go to the X-ray people which are left if your car. They will check your car and fill out another Kurdish paper in their building. After they finish you can pass the gate (where you have to show your stamps) and drive to the vehicle check.
7. It’s a long drive to there. After you left the first gate on the X-ray people drive straight on and drive and drive. There are some signs which say „Taksi“. Just follow them or follow another car. I had a nice chat with the X-ray-guys and therefore they spoke to some other people to let me follow them to this next checkpoint.
8. When you arrive under a big roof stop your car and go to „Desk 2“. Someone will come out and check your VIN and some other stuff which I did not understand. He then gives you another Kurdish paper.
9. Now you have to leave your car under the roof and go to the very big building in driving direction. When you enter go right, there is a desk and if you see some number plates hanging then you are on the right desk. Here they give you another Kurdish paper and you have to go back to the roof.
10. Just in front of the roof on the left side there is a container where you have to pay your vehicle whatever. It‘s 30$. Only Dollars.
And again a Kurdish letter but he keeps the one from the building before.
11. Go to Desk 4 under the roof. There he asks you some questions (Where are you going and where are you from?) and I think he exchanged a Kurdish paper again.
12. Drive to the exit gate. There is only one way. You cannot miss it. There you have to show your Kurdish papers only and finally ca pass the last gate.
Welcome to Iraqi Kurdistan

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Chaos on Turkish side and many "fixers" who try to sell you so called passenger list for a lot of money. you don't need it in fact on Turkish side. on Kurdish side you get it from the border officials.

Kurdish side very well organized and flow is clear.
First you get to sign a passenger list. Then Window 1 for COVID test/vaccine check. Window 2 to exchange money for visa and go inside the building for passport control.

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I crossed the border from Turkey to Iraq (Kurdistan), with an electric bicycle.

First a guy told me to get all my bags through the x rays, then they indicated "window" number 1 to get my vaccination certificate checked. I had only 2 vaccine injections, and they accepted my French certificate, they just checked it and said okay. Then I had to go to another building to buy my Visa on arrival. After queuing, they sent me back to "window" number to two to change my USD into Iraqi Dinar, because the visa has to be paid in Dinars. Then back to the visa building with the Dinars, I paid the fee (100 000 Dinar), and then I had to wait about 30 minutes to retrieve my passport with a 30 days stamp in it.

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Turkey to Iraq
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On the Turkish side, parked the car and got exit stamp in passport from one booth and car exit registration (tescil) from another booth. Then you can drive out. Everyone asked me for the passenger list but I kept saying I don't have it and that if they would only give me the paper I would fill it. It's just a simple A4 where you write the name and passport number of passengers. If you can find it, share with us.
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Iraqi side, they check the car. Then Covid booth, PCR test 35$ or proof of vaccination (they scan QR code). Then enter a building to get your visa, start booth no 1 then 2. Pay 100'000 dinar only Iraqi dinar. I changed money at covid booth but there is also a bank later, you might use it. Then they check the car again. Then drive and get some paperwork for your car done. They check châssis number. Then I payed 30$ I think for temporary import permit. Keep all receipt. At the end I had to shower a receipt to the last guy. Drive away and enjoy! :)

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Turkey2Irak
100k for Visa, ONLY Irak money NO us$. Chance at bank or cafe.
30 us$ for car ONLY us$ you can chance at bank.
They ask me to leave Passport at border. I did not want, it took 20min. I left with paper AND my Passport! Stay hard ;-)
Visa opening at 9:00. Took me 30min Turkey and 3h Irak side.

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IRAQ-TURKEY
You need to keep 3000 Dinar for the „passenger list“ before leaving Iraq.
Exit of Iraq was well organized, the passport we had left at the border was returned.
Entry to Turkey chaotic as always. They wanted to see PCR test or vaccination certificate, car insurance and the normal documents. No money needed on that side.
Because of the „turkish chaos“ it took us 3 hours in total.

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TR - IRAQ:
First of all: BRING CASH DOLLARS!
We (german passport, car registered in Bulgaria) did not have that „passenger list“ but were let through without it. They checked our car insurance when leaving Turkey. Didn’t notice that we accidentally handed them the expired greencard
Iraqi side was well organized, but hard to find the different buildings. We were guided through by a Kurd with a UK registered car. Had to do PCR test (35$), then buy visa (70$). They wanted to see chassis number of the car (good to know where it is before you get to the border…) and engine. The fee for temporary import of a car is 30$. All fees are payed in cash $.
We had to leave a passport as a guarantee for the car at the border and got a „replacement document“. The Kurd from UK that was with us tried to convince the officers to let him and us the passport, but despite being local, he was unsuccessful. We were told that the „passport replacement paper“ is accepted everywhere in Kurdistan like a passport, but that’s not true. You can’t get a local simcard with it for instance. So try your best to keep your passport when solo traveling! Second passport is useless as for simcard registration they need your visa stamp.
Iraq is a Mastercard country. If you only have Visacard, stock up with cash $ before you go as you can’t get any money out of ATMs with visacard.
No ATM around the border, come well-prepared!

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Border crossing process entering irak Kurdistan mainly as described in previous posts. Corona pcr test not required! Recommendation to discuss gently if passport has to stay at customs if entering by car or bike. Do not give attention to info that entering by bike is not possible.

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Kurdistan -> Turkey
Crossed on Tuesday 16 June and Wednesday 17 June. Couple with Dutch passports and Dutch car.

Because of the travel ban in Kurdistan, we needed a special paper to drive to the border crossing and leave the country. After you enter the border area, don't forget to stop at the first salon, to get your passport stamped out.

Then drive to the first small windows. A friendly man told us where to pay 10.000 dinar for stamping the car out (you actually have to walk to the same window where you pay 10.000 dinar when you enter Kurdistan). The car had been longer than the planned 1 month in Kurdistan because of the lockdown. But there was no fine or something. Back to the window with the right paper and after a talk with the police right before the bridge, we could cross. So, everything went smooth, because only truck traffic at that time.

When crossing the bridge, the Turkish people looked in the car and asked for our passenger list. We just wrote our names and passport numbers on a piece of paper. They signed that and that was it. Only looked in the back of the car, the fridge and the box on the roof swiftly.

We had to go to the special medical tent. We thought only for a temperature check. But it turned out we had to be in quarantine for 6 hours. This was a rule for all foreigners. Only Turkish citizens could enter the country without the 6 hour quarantine.

There were these emergency tents with stretchers in it. They gave us food and water. They did a coronatest (we never got the results, they didn't call us). When we finished the 6 hour quarantine, it was to late to buy the car insurance. So we had to spend the night in the emergency tent.

The Turkish part of the border is under construction, so it was messy. We found the office for the car insurance (Umat sigorta) near the medical tent. Bought it there in the morning for 250 Lira for 3 months.

Then go to the Polis on the totally other side of the border area for a passport stamp. Had to tell the man that people from the Netherlands don't need a visa anymore.

Back to another window to get passport, passenger list and insurance checked and we could go to the end. It all took a few hours. Everyone was friendly, but because of the building works it was sometimes unclear where to go.

Just before Silopi there is a big checkpoint. They will check your passport and visa stamp.

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Turkey to Iraq 15 Feb. 2020
Dutch couple in Dutch plates Defender

We arrived on a Saturday at 10:30 local time. There were 15 cars in front of us. Took a half hour to reach the first Turkish "gate". We had to fill out a form you can get in the office next to it. We didn't know, so we arrived at the gate without this passenger list. (Before we reached the gate some semi aggressive locals came up to us and shouted we needed to fill out this paper. We ignored it because we thought it was a scam and didn't want to give civilians our passport numbers etc. Now we know: just walk to the office yourself and get the form.)

The officer at the first gate just made a passenger list for us and was just very interested about where we were from. We showed our passports and they had a quick look in the back to check if it really was just us and that the passenger list was correct.

Some more waiting before the second Turkish gate. We got stamped out of the country. More waiting before the third Turkish gate. Had to show vehicle registration card and hand over the passenger list. Everything was okay. Total of 1 hour and ten minutes for the Turkish side.

We drove over to the other side of the river. Had to wait some time before we could get into the Iraqi Kurdistan part. We had to park the car in front of the passport office. In the office you first have to go to window 1 where they only scan your passport. Then go to window 2. We've got the foreigner treatment and were forced to go first. Friendly man spoke some English. Asked where we were going. Stamped our passports, took headshots and fingerprint. Also scanned vehicle registration card. (You don't need the Carnet the Passage. They also didn't ask for it.) All in all was quick and we got the free 30 day visa.

Then the car check began. Started with filling out a paper and they looked in the car for two seconds. (Pointed to our storage boxes. We just said: kamp. And that was fine.)

Everyone was really friendly. Smiling and welcoming us to Kurdistan.

We drove on to the next building where a lot of shoving around paperwork began (everything was for the car). We never knew what to show, but they always pointed out the document they needed. When someone was done, they just pointed us to the next office where we had to go to. At one window we suddenly had to pay 10.000 dinar. We weren't prepared for that. Before we could ask if we could pay with Lira or Dollar a truck driver already paid for us. He didn't want the money back (around 7/8 euro).

In the end you get a form which you have to keep with you for the rest of your time in Iraq, so you can show it again when you exit the country.

At the last gate, someone kept asking for something. We didn't understand and he couldn't translate. So in the end he just waived us through. Iraqi side took us one hour and a half. We were never asked about a vehicle insurance and don't have it. So, no clue if you can actually buy it at the border.

Total border crossing: 2 hours and 40 minutes. It was a nice experience, everyone was really friendly. When asked about where we were going, telling we we're going to Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal etc they were all understanding that Kurdistan was part of a bigger trip.

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I exited iraq here.
Pretty straight forward.
I had to pay 10000dinar for leaving iraq but i think everyone has to pay this. Nobody looked into the van.

On the turkey side i had to go to the police station to get stamped in. They checked my phone, gallery, whatsapp and facebook. Then they entered me in the customs computer. They ask for the insurance.
At the first station where they check the van you have to take your luggage to an xray machine but with me they just had a fast look inside. I didn't have to open the cabinets.

The whole thing took 2,5 hours. So pretty easy.

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Went from Iraq to Turkey with a car.
As the Iraq entry border didn’t give us the right paperwork for entering it took a bit of running around to get the approval to leave. We asked someone for help and he helped us all the way. Everybody was friendly and they just needed to get the formalities right.
Also Iraq wanted 10USD for leaving. Maybe because we didn’t have the right papers?

Turkey was also long as they check paperwork on multiple station again and again. They also check the car more than once. We also got selected to get the car x-rayed which included a 1 hour wait to get a turn. Then they will ask you for your green card insurance on a few stations.
After all they didn’t really question too much why we went through north Iraq (never ever call it Kurdistan on the Turkish side). We just said it’s not as cold as the mountain area at the Iran/Turkey border and that wes good enough.
Jerrycans are not allowed but our 20L was half full and the guy said it’s ok. But be carful We also had some extra jerrycans in the car but they didn’t find them even with X-ray. I guess they are looking for cigarettes, drugs and humans.
Overall about 4.5 h to cross this border.

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