Key facts
- COVERAGE
- Iraq
- NETWORKS
- Korek Telecom
- PLAN TYPE
- Data only
- IP ADDRESS LOCATION
- Netherlands
- DELIVERY
- QR code by email
How it works
- 1Choose a plan and pay.
- 2Scan the QR code we email you. You can install it before you fly.
- 3When you land in Iraq, turn on data roaming for the Spidot line.
Questions about the Iraq eSIM
Which networks does it use?
Do I get a local phone number?
Can I use it outside Iraq?
How do I install it?
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Does a Iraq eSIM work in the Kurdistan Region?
Will data work during Arbaeen in Karbala?
Can I use my phone at checkpoints?
What should I do if the internet is cut during exams?
Should I choose a plan with calls for a business trip?
Iraq eSIM guide: mobile data for Baghdad, the Kurdistan Region and pilgrim cities
People travel to Iraq for many reasons: business in Baghdad, Basra or Erbil, pilgrimage to Najaf and Karbala, family visits, aid and development work, and a small but growing number of independent trips to historic sites such as Babylon and the citadel of Erbil. Whatever the purpose, a working phone is important. Visitors use mobile data to stay in touch with hosts and colleagues, share their location, navigate between appointments and keep up with local news.
This guide explains how a Iraq eSIM from Spidot compares with roaming and a local SIM, how much data different trips use, what to do on arrival at the main airports, and how coverage tends to differ between cities, roads and rural areas. It is practical connectivity advice only; for safety and entry requirements, follow your government's current travel advice for Iraq and the guidance of your host or employer.
Your options for mobile data in Iraq
Visitors usually choose between roaming on their home SIM, buying a local SIM, or installing a travel eSIM before departure. Each has advantages, and many business travellers use more than one.
Roaming on your home SIM
Some home providers offer roaming in Iraq, but it is often expensive and not every provider has agreements with local networks. Check whether your plan includes Iraq at all, and at what rate, before you rely on it.
A local SIM
Local SIM cards are sold in mobile shops in cities and require registration with an identity document, usually your passport. A local SIM gives you an Iraqi number, which can be useful for long stays, local deliveries and contacting businesses that prefer phone calls. Buying one means finding a shop after arrival, and the registration process may take time.
A Spidot eSIM
With a travel eSIM you buy a plan online, receive a QR code by email and install it at home, so you have data when you land without needing to find a shop first. Plans for Iraq start from $8.90. Your own SIM stays active for calls and texts. Plans are data-only unless you choose Data + calls. Many people in Iraq communicate through WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram, so a data plan covers a great deal of everyday contact.
How much data a trip to Iraq uses
Business and family trips to Iraq often involve a lot of messaging, voice and video calls, and less streaming than a holiday. The figures below are rough estimates for planning, not exact measurements.
- Messaging with photos and voice notes: often 50 to 200 MB a day.
- Voice calls over messaging apps: roughly 1 MB a minute or less.
- Video calls: roughly 500 MB to 1 GB an hour.
- Maps and navigation: roughly 5 to 10 MB an hour of active use.
- Email with attachments and document sharing: varies, but can add up quickly for work trips.
- Streaming video: often 1 to 3 GB an hour in HD.
Choosing a plan
For a short business trip with messaging, email and occasional calls, a mid-sized fixed data plan is often enough. If you make frequent video calls or work from a laptop through your phone's hotspot, an unlimited plan priced by the day may suit you better; speed may slow after heavy use. People who travel to Iraq several times a year can use a no-expiry plan so unused data carries over. See the prices page for current options.
Install the eSIM before you travel
Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi so you have data from the moment you land. Make sure your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked; dialling *#06# shows an EID on most eSIM phones. Then follow the install guide for iPhone, Samsung or Pixel.
- Label the new line Iraq or Travel.
- Set the Spidot line for mobile data and keep your home SIM for calls and texts.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM if you want to avoid your provider's charges.
- Save your host's or hotel's contact details, address and a map pin offline.
- Download offline maps of the cities you will visit and an offline Arabic language pack; add Kurdish if your translation app offers it.
- Keep copies of your passport, visa and invitation letters on the phone and on paper.
Arriving at Iraq's main airports
The main international airports are Baghdad, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Basra and Najaf. Erbil and Sulaymaniyah serve the Kurdistan Region, which has its own arrival procedures, and Najaf is the main gateway for pilgrims heading to the shrine cities.
- Turn off flight mode after landing.
- Turn on data roaming for the Spidot line; the data roaming guide shows where the setting is.
- Give the phone a minute to find a network, and restart it once if nothing happens.
- Message your host, driver or hotel to say you have landed before leaving the terminal.
Leaving the airport
Security procedures at Iraqi airports can be thorough, and access roads may have checkpoints. Many business visitors are met by a driver arranged by their host or hotel. Agree the meeting arrangements in advance and keep the driver's number saved, as finding each other is much easier when you can share your location.
Coverage in cities, on the road and in rural areas
Coverage is generally strongest in cities and along main roads, and weaker in rural, desert and mountainous areas. Your eSIM uses local partner networks; for this plan they are Korek Telecom. The phone chooses automatically, but in Iraq different networks can be stronger in different regions.
Baghdad, Basra and the south
Baghdad and Basra are large cities with dense networks in central areas. Signal can weaken inside large concrete buildings and in basements. Further south, the Mesopotamian Marshes are low-lying and sparsely populated, so expect gaps in coverage on boat trips through the reed beds.
Najaf, Karbala and pilgrimage seasons
Najaf and Karbala receive very large numbers of pilgrims, especially during religious occasions such as Arbaeen, when millions of people walk between the two cities. At those times networks can be extremely busy and data may be slow or intermittent even where the signal is strong. Agree meeting points in advance, share your location while you have a connection, and do not rely on being able to call someone in a crowd.
The Kurdistan Region
Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok are well connected in their centres. The region is mountainous, and roads into the valleys and towards the borders, around places such as Amadiya, Rawanduz and the Hamilton Road, pass through areas where signal comes and goes. Download offline maps before driving into the mountains.
Internet interruptions and staying connected
In some years, internet access in Iraq has been restricted for a few hours at a time during national school exam periods, and access can also be limited during unrest. These interruptions affect local networks and therefore travel eSIMs that use them. They are usually announced in local media.
- Keep important documents, maps, tickets and contacts available offline.
- Agree fallback plans with your host or colleagues for times when data is unavailable.
- Keep your home SIM active so you can still make ordinary calls and send texts where roaming is available.
- Charge your phone and carry a power bank; power cuts can affect Wi-Fi in homes and some hotels.
Getting around and practical tips
Travel between cities is mostly by road, either with a driver or in shared taxis, and there are domestic flights between some cities. Checkpoints are common on main roads and at city entrances, so keep your passport and any permits with you. Ride-hailing apps operate in some larger cities, and availability changes, so ask your host which services are used locally.
- Currency: the Iraqi dinar. Iraq is largely a cash economy, and US dollars are also widely used for larger amounts.
- Cards are accepted in some international hotels and larger shops, but do not rely on them. Carry enough cash for your stay.
- Summer temperatures are extreme in much of the country. Heat drains and can damage phone batteries, so keep your phone out of direct sun.
- Ask before photographing people, government buildings, security forces and checkpoints.
- Friday is the main weekend day, and many offices and shops have reduced hours.
Hotspot use and Wi-Fi
If you need a laptop for work, you can share your eSIM's data with it using Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Mobile Hotspot (Android). Pause cloud sync and automatic updates while tethered to save data. Hotels in the main cities usually offer Wi-Fi, but quality varies.
- Use mobile data rather than public Wi-Fi for banking and sensitive work.
- Check the network name with staff before connecting.
- Turn off auto-join for open networks.
- Follow your employer's security guidance, which may include using a VPN for work systems.
Combining Iraq with neighbouring countries
Travellers to Iraq often pass through or continue to neighbouring countries, such as Jordan, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, and many flights connect through hubs in the Gulf, such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. A Iraq plan is designed for use in Iraq, so the simplest approach is one eSIM per country. You can install several before you leave and switch the active data line as you travel.
Keeping track of your data
You can check how much data is left at any time and add more data to the same eSIM. Top up while you have a connection rather than waiting until you run out. If data stops working, check that data roaming is on for the Spidot line, try selecting a different network manually in your phone's settings, and restart the phone. For other problems, email support@spidot.com with the email address you used to order.