CENTRAL BANK: THE USE OF INTERNATIONAL CARDS CONTINUES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE IRAQ WITHOUT CHANGE.
The Central Bank of Iraq issued a clarification today, Friday (July 4, 2025), regarding the use of international cards, confirming their continued use inside and outside Iraq without change.
The bank stated in a statement received by Baghdad Today that “the National Electronic Payment Card Project is an additional local option used exclusively within Iraq and in Iraqi dinars. It does not cancel or restrict existing international cards such as Visa and Mastercard.”
The statement added, “There are no plans to cancel these cards or ban dollar transactions outside Iraq. Holders can still use them inside and outside the country as is currently the case.”
According to the statement, the bank indicated that “this project aims to reduce payment costs, enhance financial inclusion, diversify options for the public, and provide national cards for all institutions and segments within Iraq,” indicating that “international cards remain the primary means of spending in dollars or other currencies outside Iraq and for purchases via global websites.”