ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree on Thursday, officially waiving Turkish visa fee for Iraqis below 15 and above 50 years old, the country’s presidency announced in a statement.

"Visa exemption will be granted to the citizens of the Republic of Iraq who are under 15 years of age and over 50 years of age for touristic travels and transits to Turkey with a maximum stay period of 90 days within every 180 days,” read a statement from the official Turkish presidency gazette. 

The statement added that the decree will take effect starting September 1. 

Turkish visa fees range between $130-$200. The price changes depending on the duration of stay.

The agreement to lift visa fee for civilians under the age of 15 and over the age of 50 was signed in early July, following a visit  by an Iraqi foreign ministry delegation.

Crossing into Turkey by land is possible through Duhok province’s Ibrahim Khalil and Erbil’s Set border crossing.

International flights are available on a daily basis between the Turkish cities and Erbil. Turkey, however, has imposed a flight ban to and from Sulaimani international airport since April 2023. 

Turkey is one of the key destinations for Iraqi and Kurdish tourists. Each year, tens of thousands of Iraqis visit the neighboring country for tourism.