Iraq
Nationwide coverage
Data across Iraq — Baghdad, Basra, and the Kurdistan region in the north. UK travel advice restricts much of the country and varies sharply by area. Check it first.
- 5G where available
- No roaming charges
- Instant eSIM delivery
- Keep your number
eSIM + QR code emailed instantly · no physical SIM
Travel advice varies sharply by region
This is the important thing to understand about Iraq. UK Foreign Office advice differs considerably between the Kurdistan Region in the north, where advice has been less restrictive, and much of the rest of the country, where advice against all or all-but-essential travel has applied for years.
Check the current position for the specific governorates you plan to be in. It affects insurance validity directly. We list the plan because journalists, aid workers, energy sector staff and the Iraqi diaspora all travel here.
Asiacell and Korek coverage
Your eSIM connects to Asiacell and Korek on 4G. Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok are covered, as are the main routes between the larger cities.
The western desert and remote border areas have much less. Service can be interrupted for reasons unrelated to your plan, including infrastructure and power supply issues.
Erbil and the Kurdistan region
Erbil and Sulaymaniyah have seen sustained investment and coverage there is reasonable. The mountain areas toward the Iranian and Turkish borders are patchier.
3 GB at £6.99 covers a working fortnight in the covered areas. Anyone travelling professionally will have organisational communications arrangements that should take precedence.
Good to know
Questions, answered
Is travel advice the same across Iraq?+
No, and that's the key point. Advice for the Kurdistan Region in the north has historically been less restrictive than for much of the rest of the country. Check the current FCDO position for the specific governorates you'll be in — it affects your insurance.
How reliable is the connection?+
Reasonable in the major cities, patchier in border and desert regions. Service can be interrupted by infrastructure and power issues unrelated to your plan.
How do I install it?+
After checkout we email your eSIM and a QR code. Scan it in your phone's settings, switch the line on, and you're ready — do it before you fly and it activates when you land.
Will it work on my phone?+
Most phones from the last few years support eSIM (iPhone XS and newer, recent Samsung/Pixel). Check your phone in Settings, or use our compatibility checker.
When does my plan start?+
Validity counts from first connection in the destination, not from purchase — so you can buy and install early without wasting days.
Can I keep using my normal number?+
Yes. The eSIM is data-only and runs alongside your usual SIM, so calls and texts on your main number still work.
Networks
Your eSIM hops onto the strongest of Iraq’s local networks automatically — no setup, no choosing.
Coverage
Full nationwide data across Iraq on tier-1 partner networks.