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15 day (might be 30 days by now, see Iran entry) permit of stay for the Kurdistan region can be obtained for free at the only Turkish/Iraq border (Silopi-Zakho) for most nationalities. You will just get an entry stamp in your passport. While inside of Kurdistan you can prolong it. There is an agreement between the two countries that individuals cannot cross the border on foot. Therefore, there are a lot of taxis. However, if you wait for a while at the border and explain that you want to ''otostop'' the turkish Turkish guards may pay for your taxi (if they like you). This happened to hitchwiki member Vlad. But generally there are private cars crossing the border too and you can try to get a ride with them.
"''If you are a Westerner, you can use your perceived status as a special guest in the country to help you in some difficult circumstances. E.g. with my New Zealand passport I managed to walk across the boarder on a Turkish holiday bypassing the massive queue and breaking the rule about no foot traffic. Because of the holiday, the border was all but shut and the queue there was definitely going to be there all day and night.'' June 2019: ''[[user:uncle_sam01|Uncle_sam01]] was approached by a very friendly Turkish customs officer, who understood the whole car issue immediately and half-forced him into an Iraqi car. The Iraqis had some sort of list to which his name and details were added, probably unnecessarily. Rest of the crossing (incl. the Kurdish part) was a breeze with only a few questions. The whole taxi thing here seems a bit unnecessary.''
Last time in January 2015 -''As a woman the people of Iraqi Kurdistan have always been very welcoming, but I also used to have quite a lot of problems with sexual harassment there. I started feeling much safer in Iraqi Kurdistan since I started learning more Kurdish. People are really astonished by this and immediately try to show your the best side of their region. I have almost had no one acting indecently since then. This applies to hitchhiking as much as to any other situation.'' [[User: Irisn]]
*The female blogger from [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.de/ The Tourist] went to Iraqi Kurdistan several times from 2007 to 2015 and [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.de/search/label/Iraqi%20Kurdistan has quite some stories to tell]. == Nomadwiki & Trashwiki == {{nomadwiki}}
Iraq
,→Personal Experience
=== Entry ===
A 30 day permit for the Kurdistan region can be obtained for free at the border for all EU and most Western citizens ([https://us.gov.krd/en/services/visa-information/ official list]). You will just get an entry stamp in your passport. While inside of Kurdistan you can prolong it. Those unlucky to be on the visa on arrival list may apply for an e-visa via e-mail (see link above).
'''From Turkey'''
''If you decide to take a taxi, you might as well take it from [[Cizre]] (50 km from the border) instead of [[Silopi]] (10 km from the border) as the taxi prices are the same (20 TL). When I arrived in Iraq my Taxi driver dropped me off just after the border, he told me I would have to take another taxi to get to Zakho but the price would only be 1 TL - that was not true, the taxi was 4000 Iraqi Dinaar (about 6,5 TL). Anyway, don't take another taxi, it's just 10 kilometers to the town, you can walk or hitch it.'' --[[User:Jakobwithk|Jakobwithk]] 19:29, 12 January 2012 (CET)
''In April 2014 we got to the border by truck. There are many mini-van smuggling goods into Iraqi Kurdistan, and the policeman on the turkish side was happy to show us into one of his friends'. They did not ask for money and neither looked interested in payment, but rather in having us as passengers in their list. On the Iraqi side a policeman asked the cars if anybody was going directly to Erbil.--[[''User:Rovingsnails|Rovingsnails]]
'''From Iran'''
At the Pervez Khan boarder to the west of [[Kermanshah]] you can freely enter by foot and receive a free 30 day visa on arrival for most Western nationals. Boarder Border guards will look surprised to meet somebody who is not smuggling goods from Iran into Iraq, especially if you're not from the Middle East. Luggage will be fully checked twice, but when they notice you are there to visit their beautiful country they will give you a big smile and let you through in no time. Last verified on 22nd of October 2016.
=== Exit ===
On the way back, the Iraq side is walkable by foot, but when you reach the Turkish side they expect that you have a taxi. When they see you're clearly a backpacker type, they might be more lenient and arrange for a passing truck to take you through. In short, easier to cross the Turkish side without a taxi on the way back from Iraq. You may also find mini vans (dolmuses) willing to take you for free on the Iraqi side, you can normally find them in petrol stations filling up their tanks before they head over to the more expensive Turkey. However, be warned that they offer you a free ride because they want to use you to smuggle cigarettes, tea and other goods across to Turkey. The consequences of getting caught is not known but checks are usually fairly strict because of the P.K.K conflict in the Sirnak district and checks could take upto 5 hours or more. These mini-vans are usually happy to take you upto Silopi or Cizre at least for free.
December 2011: ''In December 2011 I managed to get a free ride back to Turkey by a friendly taxi driver who was going there anyway. I generally got the feeling that you can easily pass the border without paying for a taxi, there are a few private cars passing by that might pick you up. I walked into the border from Iraq and all the taxi drivers told me that hitchhiking/otostopping was not possible. Just ignore them, go and get your exit stamp, shortly after there's a checkpoint where you can ask people to give you a ride'' --[[User:Jakobwithk|Jakobwithk]] 19:29, 12 January 2012 (CET) ''In February 2012 after thumbing for 5 seconds in Silopi city center I got a ride to Zakho in a private car. There were more private cars crossing the border so I have to say that from what I have seen I do not understand this overall cry about the taxis. Just do not come there with the idea of taking a taxi, and hitch you way as you always do! Be persistent, have some time, and open mind :)'' --[[User:Rozwal|rozwal]]
February 2012: ''After thumbing for 5 seconds in Silopi city center I got a ride to Zakho in a private car. There were more private cars crossing the border so I have to say that from what I have seen I do not understand this overall cry about the taxis. Just do not come there with the idea of taking a taxi, and hitch you way as you always do! Be persistent, have some time, and open mind :)'' --[[FileUser:Iraq_Border.jpgRozwal|200px|thumb|left|Border Crossing to Turkeyrozwal]]
'''Iraqi Kurdistan - Iran'''
There are two main border crossings between Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran: Piranshahr (the more popular of both) and Penjwin-Marivan. A third point exists between Tawela and Nowsud, but some locals say it is only for trucks and not specially safe - although this has not been not confirmed.
[[Penjwin-Marivan]]- the immigration office is somewhat randomly located on the right side (as you arrive) - walk towards the big gate with Iraqi/Kurdish flags and then take a right along the Duty Free shop. Once you get inside (it looks like a waiting room at the dentist's), locate the "exit" window, put your passport on top of the stack of passports there, sit down and wait for the officer to mispronounce your name. In April 2014 : ''[[User:Rovingsnails|Rovingsnails]] crossed this border without any problems. From Said Sadq a policeman stopped a bus for them, directly to Marivan (Iran).'' July 2019: ''[[user:Uncle_sam01|Uncle_sam01]] crossed fairly quickly, but finding the Kurdish immigration office was quite a scavenger hunt. The Iranian side was fairly quick and without searches. He was asked a bunch of "friendly" questions by the very-not-obvious secret police, incl. "What's your religion?" ...''
=== Hitching ===
=== Personal Experience ===
2018: blanky has found the Kurds to be extremely hospitable; [http://blankyrambles.blogspot.com/2018/05/on-my-birthday.html/ here's a whole blog post about a couple days of hitchhiking.]
August/September 2015 - "I hitched around iraqi kurdistan most of the time and never had problem getting rides. People were as expected very friendly and hospitable. The only thing making hitching less smooth were the numerous checkpoints and the Asayish (some kind of secret police). While most of the time I could pass trough the checkpoints easily I was stopped and interogated a few times. Most of the times these interrogations were just a few questions (where to, where from and why) and after 5 minutes I was back on the road. But on a few occasions I was kept for a longer amount of time . The longest of these encounters were while I tried to hitch to Amedi taking the big road in the east (trough Barzan). I was stopped halfway there and then brought to a local chief of the Peshmerga. During the whole time my poor driver had to stay as a translator, being the only krudish english speaker around. After a few hours of waiting and answering questions I was let go but was strongly advised by the official not to take this road any further but return to Erbil. According to them the Checkpoints wouldn't get any more relaxed from this point and cars would become more and more sparse anyway. Might have been just a lie to make me change course but in the end I did return to Erbil since the better part of the day was gone anyway.
During the month I stayed and hitched around iraqi Kurdistan I never felt unsave and I can only agree with what people say about the kurdish hospitality." [[User:WuKong|Wu Kong]]
June 2013 ''(Only relevant for Kurdish quarter of Iraq) I hitched in without any issues from Turkey, as there is alot of traffic at this border, and the process is straightforward to get your free visa. Alot of traffic heads to Duhok, which is pretty enough, but wait for traffic going directly to the capital, as it is a hard city to hitchhike out off, with large highways. Hitchhiking in this country is probably not quite as gushingly easy as earlier stated, although you will have someone stop out of curiosity eventually. They go to great measures to help, flagging down other drivers, putting you in taxis. All sorts. The road networks are a NIGHTMARE, and all being rebuilt. There are few definitive maps, and Google Maps is pish and out of date. Ask frequently to ensure you don't go astray, or even ashtray (if you slipped into Arabic territory). Peshmerga (bad spelling, but the elite police and army unit), keep the place very safe, and can be really friendly. I spent two nights at their roadstops, and got great hospitality. Much easier out of the big cities, and the Kurdish people deserve high praise for delightful hospitality, warmth and gentleness, a true asset'' - [[User:lukeyboy95|lukeyboy95]]
July 2014: ''I hitchhiked around Iraqi Kurdistan for about a week. I found it fantastically easy to find a ride. I hitched in from Turkey and got my free visa. When I was leaving the Kurdish border control office, a Peshmerga soldier flagged down a bus to take me all the way to Erbil (Hêwler) for free. After staying a couple nights with the deaf community in Erbil, I hitchhiked north and was offered a place to sleep in Akre by the Syrian family who gave me a ride. Afterwards, I hitched up to Amedi, where I stayed with some friends of the Kurdish border control officer I met a few days before. On my way back to Turkey, I was given a hotel room in Zakho for the night. I have nothing but good things to say about Kurdistan and the Kurdish people.'' - [[User:Sirrdc|Sirrdc]]
=== External links ===
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