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How to send money to Iraq

Find a quick, affordable service to make a money transfer to Iraq

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By

Charlie Barton

Updated

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At one point, Iraq was a war-ravaged country facing an existential threat from ISIS that threatened to take over Baghdad. Things have improved significantly since then. Iraq defeated ISIS and avoided the wave of violence that many experts predicted would follow. Oil production is up and the state has money.

Given events over the past few decades and the ongoing instability in Iraq, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that sending an international money transfer to Iraq isn’t as easy as it is for other countries. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible – in fact, there are more options at your disposal when you want to send money to Iraq than you might expect.

Banks versus money transfer companies

Although there are many money transfer providers, such as MoneyGram, who will refuse to send money transfers to Iraq, there are some services capable of handling the transaction for you. You could ask your bank whether they can send money to Iraq, but you may be hit with high fees and low exchange rates.

You can do your bank balance a huge favour by shopping around to see how much it costs to send a transfer via a specialist money transfer company such as Western Union. These providers are experts at sending money overseas and offer a much better deal when it comes to exchange rates. They also charge lower fees and if you choose a reputable company, you can be guaranteed a safe and secure transaction.

Example: Hosni Sends Money to Iraq

Hosni is studying political science in London but he still speaks to his parents back home in Baghdad every second day. When his father gets into a bit of financial trouble, Hosni offers to send him £1,000 to help pay off his debts. He does a bit of research and finds 2 money transfer companies that can handle his transaction, so he compares their services to see which one offers the best value for money.

Money transfer company 1Money transfer company 2
Exchange rate£1 = IQD1,410.044£1 = IQD1,494.367
Transfer fee£18£9
Transfer methodCash pick-upCash pick-up
Processing time1-2 daysMinutes
IQD receivedIQD1,410,044IQD1,494,367

As you can see, Hosni can save £9 in fees if he uses the second transfer company. He will also get a better rate, meaning he can send an extra IQD84,323.

* This is a fictional, but realistic, example.

How to compare transfer companies when transferring money to Iraq

  • Exchange rates. Does the company regularly offer higher or lower exchange rates than the competition? If its rates are higher, does it also charge high fees?
  • Fees. How much will you need to fork out each time you send a transfer? Does this change depend on the transfer method or pick-up option you choose?
  • Transfer methods. Can you lodge transfers online or using a mobile app? Do you need to visit a branch to place a transfer request?
  • Transfer options. Are there flexible transfer options available, for example forward contracts, to allow you to make the most of fluctuations in the market?
  • Turnaround time. How long will it take until your beneficiary can access the funds you send?
  • Minimum amount. Will you need to exceed a minimum transfer limit every time you send money overseas? If so, will it be possible for you to manage this?
  • Pick-up methods. How can your recipient access the funds you send: through their bank account or by visiting an agent location?
  • Customer service. If you ever have a problem with a transaction, will you be able to rely on round-the-clock customer support to provide the assistance you need?

How to send money to Iraq from the UK

  • Western Union. Western Union can make the money you send available for collection within minutes from its branch locations throughout Iraq.

Tips for picking up cash in Iraq

  • Only visit a transfer agent in an area that has been deemed safe by authorities
  • Ask a friend to come along to help you collect the funds safely
  • Don’t flash your cash around in public
  • Don’t carry large sums of cash around for any length of time
  • Deposit the money into a bank account as soon as possible

How to send money to Iraq

You’ll usually need to follow these steps if you want to send money to Iraq:

  • Provide your name, contact information and address
  • Provide a form of photo ID
  • Provide your recipient’s name, country of residence and contact details
  • Provide all the details of your transfer, including the amount of money you wish to send and the currency in which your beneficiary will receive the funds
  • Pay for the transaction, including any transfer fee
  • Keep hold of any transaction reference number you receive – you can use this to monitor the progress of your transaction

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6 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    ThamirDecember 31, 2018

    Hi, can I send money to Iraq online or visit your office and what is the maximum amount I can send and what is required at the receiving end? Thanks.

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JoshuaJanuary 1, 2019Staff

      Hi Thamir,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)

      Please note that we don’t represent any company we feature on our site and thus, we are not the one who performs the transfer for you.

      Regarding your question, you can send money online depending on your provider. One option is for you to check with your bank if they transfer funds to Iraq. Another option is to find international money transfer service providers to do the transfer for you. One example would be Western Union. You can go to their website to send the money or visit an agent location to send the money in person.

      Again, the maximum amount of money you can send depends on which provider you use. Thus, it would be a good idea to directly get in touch with them to obtain a more personalized advice. Your recipient typically needs to present a valid ID and the tracking number.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    LolaSeptember 13, 2018

    Can I send 10000 USD to Sulaymaniyah?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JhezelynSeptember 14, 2018Staff

      Hello Lola,

      Thank you for your comment.

      Yes, you can send money to Sulaymaniyah, which is a city in Iraqi Kurdistan. The above details can guide you on what to look out for when sending money to Iraq. According to our page, Western Union is available in their branch locations throughout Iraq. You may send through this WU money transfer company in USD currency. You may also do bank to bank transfers, just contact your bank and see your options.

      Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    KarwanAugust 28, 2017

    Do do you have agent in north iraq ? Sulaymaniyah

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      GruAugust 29, 2017Staff

      Hello Karwan, this is Gru!

      I would just want to clarify, are you interested in a particular money transfer company? As per agents in Iraq, Western Union can make the money you send available for collection within minutes from its branch locations throughout Iraq.

      You also have other options such as bank-to-bank transfers. You could check with your bank whether they can send money to Iraq and what their fees are.

      If you have need further clarification, please refer to the guide above or get in touch with us here at finder again :-)

      Have a good day!

      Reply
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