Shipping to Iraq from the USA is possible in 2026: USPS mail service to Iraq isn’t suspended, and Priority Mail International accepts parcels up to 44 pounds, but it’s one of the most restricted lanes USPS serves. Priority Mail Express International reaches only Baghdad, Basrah and Mosul, USPS insurance isn’t available on Priority Mail International, and Iraq requires import permits for many goods, so confirm the recipient’s paperwork before you ship.
This guide covers which USPS and UPS services run the lane and where, realistic transit, Iraq’s permit and customs-form requirements, the long prohibited list and how to address the parcel. To price a parcel, compare live USPS and UPS rates to Iraq in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
Which carriers ship from the US to Iraq right now?
The USPS International Service Alerts page, updated October 2, 2026, doesn’t list Iraq among suspended destinations, and USPS’s Iraq country listing shows Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International and First-Class Package International Service as available. Global Express Guaranteed has been suspended since September 29, 2024. Iraq Post and Savings Company handles USPS mail in-country. UPS also offers international service to Iraq, concentrated on the main cities, and its time-in-transit tool shows whether a specific address can be served.
| Service | Where it delivers | Max weight | Insurance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Worldwide Express / Worldwide Saver | Main cities; check the address in UPS’s time-in-transit tool | Per UPS package limits | Declared value coverage available | Business documents and urgent parcels |
| USPS Priority Mail Express International | Baghdad, Basrah and Mosul only | 44 lb; Flat Rate Envelope 4 lb | Check at purchase | Faster postal option to the three cities |
| USPS Priority Mail International | Iraq Post network | 44 lb; Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes 20 lb | Not available to Iraq | Personal parcels of low value |
| USPS First-Class Package International Service | Iraq Post network | 4 lb | Not offered | Light, low-value items |
USPS also lists Registered Mail, Return Receipt and its Delivered Duty Paid option as not available to Iraq, so you can’t prepay the recipient’s charges through USPS. Erbil and the rest of the Kurdistan Region aren’t on the Priority Mail Express International list, so parcels there go by Priority Mail International or UPS.
Through ParcelPath you can buy USPS labels at up to 89% off and UPS labels at up to 85% off, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimum. ParcelPath issues USPS and UPS labels only. DHL and FedEx also serve Iraq if you book with those carriers directly.
How long does shipping to Iraq take?
USPS lists Priority Mail International at 6 to 10 business days and Priority Mail Express International at 3 to 5 business days for many major markets, but parcels to Iraq usually take longer than those general windows because of customs checks and permit verification. Parcels to Baghdad, Basrah and Mosul move fastest. Smaller towns rely on Iraq Post’s onward network, and recipients may need to collect from a post office.
UPS Worldwide Express services are the quickest and best-tracked option where UPS delivers. On every service, the biggest delays come from missing permits, a missing tax ID or vague contents descriptions, so build in extra time and confirm the recipient is ready to clear the parcel.
What permits and paperwork does Iraq require?
Iraq’s import rules put most of the work on the recipient. USPS’s country listing says that for shipments containing goods valued above 1 Iraqi dinar, effectively any goods at all, the addressee must obtain a special import license from the Import Department in Baghdad. USPS also notes that many articles need an import permit, and asks senders to confirm the addressee holds the required documents before mailing.
- Customs forms: PS Form 2976-A inside a 2976-E envelope for Priority Mail International, PS Form 2976-B for Priority Mail Express International and PS Form 2976 for First-Class Package International Service. An online label that transmits customs data electronically replaces the paper form.
- Tax ID: Iraq Post asks for the importer’s or addressee’s tax identification number on the customs declaration.
- Contact details: give sender and recipient phone numbers, mobile preferred, and email addresses on the form or label.
- Commercial exports: the International Trade Administration notes that commercial invoices and certificates of origin for Iraq go through a legalization chain ending with the Iraqi Commercial Attaché in Washington, D.C., and that Iraqi Customs doesn’t accept digital signatures.
Items that are prohibited, or restricted items sent without the right approval, are treated as wrongly admitted and handled under Iraqi law, which can mean seizure. For the wider region, our guide to shipping to the Middle East compares lanes, and the ParcelPath shipping calculator guide explains how carriers price parcels by weight and size.
What can’t you ship to Iraq?
Iraq’s prohibited list is longer than most. The USPS International Mail Manual bans these items in mail to Iraq:
- arms, including air guns, and parts of arms and munitions
- military equipment and electronic devices, such as drones, that threaten national security
- binoculars
- medicinal drugs
- butane gas lighters
- tapes and cassettes
- coins, banknotes, traveler’s checks, gold, silver, platinum, precious stones, jewelry and other valuables
- non-preserved meats and soft fruits
- perishable biological substances and radioactive materials
Radio apparatus and its accessories, and knives with blades longer than about 3 inches (76 mm), need permission from Iraqi authorities, which the addressee must obtain. Because medicines are banned outright, don’t add prescription or over-the-counter drugs to a family parcel. Lithium batteries follow carrier air-transport rules on every service.
How should you address a parcel to Iraq?
Write the recipient’s full name, the house or building number, street or alley, neighborhood (mahalla), city and governorate, then “IRAQ” as the last line. Many Iraqi addresses rely on landmarks, so a nearby landmark helps, and the recipient’s mobile number with the +964 country code is essential for delivery and customs contact. Adding the address in Arabic alongside English can help local handling.
Shipping elsewhere in the Gulf? Our guide to shipping to Bahrain covers a much more open lane. If you also ship to nearby Mediterranean countries, see our guide to shipping to Europe, including Cyprus, and our guide to shipping to Africa, including Egypt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USPS ship to Iraq in 2026?
Yes. USPS mail service to Iraq isn’t suspended, and its country listing offers Priority Mail International up to 44 pounds, First-Class Package International Service up to 4 pounds, and Priority Mail Express International to Baghdad, Basrah and Mosul only. Global Express Guaranteed has been suspended since September 2024, and insurance isn’t available on Priority Mail International to Iraq.
What is the cheapest way to ship to Iraq from the USA?
For items under 4 pounds, USPS First-Class Package International Service is usually the cheapest way to ship to Iraq. For heavier personal parcels up to 44 pounds, USPS Priority Mail International is typically the lowest-cost option, though it can’t be insured to Iraq. UPS costs more but adds door delivery and full tracking where it operates. Compare both before buying.
How long does shipping to Iraq take?
USPS lists Priority Mail International at 6 to 10 business days and Priority Mail Express International at 3 to 5 business days to many major markets, but Iraq usually runs longer because of customs and permit checks. Baghdad, Basrah and Mosul are fastest, and smaller towns may need post office pickup. UPS Worldwide Express services are the quickest where available.
Do you need an import permit to send a package to Iraq?
Often, yes. USPS’s Iraq listing says the addressee needs a special import license from the Import Department in Baghdad for shipments containing goods valued above 1 Iraqi dinar, and many articles need an import permit. Iraq Post also asks for the recipient’s tax identification number on the customs form, so confirm the recipient’s documents before you ship.
Sources
- USPS International Mail Manual: Iraq country listing
- USPS International Service Alerts
- USPS: International Shipping
- USPS: International Mail and Shipping Services
- International Trade Administration: Iraq import requirements and documentation
Part of our Middle East guide. Related: all Middle East destinations, UAE and Gulf states, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
