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Byevisa » Iraq Travel Visa

A visa is required. We cannot assist in processing this document, but we provide instructions on how to apply.

All About the Visa for Iraq

Travelling to Iraq can be dangerous due to the current political instability, so it’s important you are fully aware of the risks before you decide to travel to the country. If you have your heart set on exploring the attractions and culture of this Middle Eastern country, you will find all the information you need in regard to the entry policies on this page.

Most nationalities require a standard visa from an embassy or consulate to visit Iraq. However, some countries are eligible for a Visa on Arrival (VoA). In March 2021, 30 more nationalities joined the list of countries that are eligible for an Iraq VoA, so there are now 43 countries in total that can travel to Iraq without needing to arrange their travel documents beforehand.

You should also be aware of the fact that, if you are thinking of visiting the autonomous region of Kurdistan, the entry stamp you get upon entering this territory is not valid for the rest of Iraq. On the other hand, a visa for Iraq is valid for visiting Kurdistan.

On this page, we will explore the entry policies for Iraq for each nationality and what you need to do step-by-step to be able to visit.

What Is the Difference Between an Iraq Visa and the Visa on Arrival (VoA)?

As we mentioned, most nationalities will need to get a standard visa, which allows the visitor to stay in the country for a period of 30 days and is valid for 90 days. The travel document must be acquired from your nearest embassy or consulate before you travel to the country.

On the other hand, a Visa on Arrival (VoA) allows the visitor to stay in the country for up to 90 days and is valid for a period of 180 days. This document can be acquired at specific entry points, currently in the country’s major airports. Up until March 2021, only a handful of countries could use this system, but with the new bid from the government to attract tourists, many more nationalities including Japanese, Australians, and countries of the European Union, can now get a VoA (see below for the full list).

Iraq Visa Application Form and Process

The processes for getting a standard tourist visa and a VoA are, of course, quite different, since the former needs to be obtained before you can travel to the country.

Standard Visa

You can apply for a standard visa at your nearest consulate or embassy, by submitting all the required forms and documents. This is the process you need to follow in order to be granted the travel permit:

  • Complete and sign the application form.
  • Submit all required documents at the embassy.
  • Pay for the fee.
  • Receive your travel document.

The document will be stamped directly into your passport.

Visa on Arrival

This document can’t be issued at every entry point into a country, so it’s important you check where you can receive the document. The VoA can be issued at Al Najaf International Airport or Basra International Airport.

If you are eligible for a VoA, but you are entering from a different port of entry from the ones mentioned above, you may obtain your visa at the embassy beforehand free of charge.

Travel to Iraq Visa Requirements and Eligibility

What kind of document you need to be able to enter Iraq will depend on your nationality. Look for your nationality in the lists below to find out if you need a standard permit or if you are eligible for a VoA.

Countries that are eligible for a VoA:

Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Belgium
Bulgaria
China
Croatia
Republic of Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece

Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
New Zealand
Oman
Poland

Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
United States
United Kingdom

Countries that require an embassy visa to enter Iraq:

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Congo Republic
DR Congo
Costa Rica
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Cuba
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada

Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Macao
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea (DPRK)
North Macedonia
Norway
Pakistan

Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Portugal
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Sudan
Suriname
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Holy See (Vatican)
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

If you are Iraqi but have a foreign passport, you may enter freely so long as you can prove your origins. Likewise, if you have a diplomatic or service passport from one of these nationalities, you won’t need a visa to enter:

  • China (30 days)
  • Iran (30 days)
  • Kuwait (30 days)
  • Lebanon (6 months for diplomatic passports, 3 months for service passports)
  • Serbia (90 days)
  • Turkey (45 days)

Iraqi Visa Application Form and Documents

In order to get a travel document issued, you will need to provide the following personal and passport details in the application form:

  • Your full name.
  • Your religion (if applicable).
  • Your gender.
  • Your nationality.
  • Your date of birth.
  • Your country of birth.
  • Your country of residence.
  • Your occupation.
  • Your passport number.
  • Your passport issue date.
  • Your passport expiry date.
  • Your email address.
  • Your phone number.

In addition to these personal details, you will be asked the following:

  • The type of travel permit you’re applying for (i.e. work, business, tourism…)
  • Address and phone number of where you are staying in the country.
  • The last 3 countries you have lived/worked in (if applicable).

In addition to the form, you will need to provide the following documents:

  • Colour copy of your passport’s biometric page and previous visas.
  • Your original passport.
  • 2 passport-sized photos with a white background.
    • The Iraq visa photo must be no older than 6 months, with a white or plain background, measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
  • If your country of residence and citizenship are different, you must also provide a residency permit.
  • Return flight tickets or confirmation of onward travel.
  • Accommodation bookings with full address.
  • Bank statement as evidence you can cover the cost of the trip.

VoA

To be issued a VoA, you must also present several documents upon arrival at the airport:

  • A completed and signed application form.
  • Your passport.
  • Return flight tickets.

In addition to all the information listed in this section, all travellers applying for an entry permit must have a passport with 6 months validity from when they intend to depart the country, as well as 2 blank pages for entry and exit stamps.

Iraqi Visa Status Check

After you have submitted your application, you will be contacted by the embassy once your document is approved or, in the unlikely case, it is rejected.

If a few weeks have passed, and you haven’t heard anything, you can call the embassy or consulate to check the status of your application. They should be able to provide further information on what stage of the process it is at, and if you need to provide any additional documents.

How Much Is the Iraq Visa Fee?

The fees for a tourist visa are between 30.00 USD and 150.00 USD, depending on your nationality. For instance, Singapore passport holders will need to pay 40.00 USD, while Pakistan passport holders will need to pay 119.00 USD. Countries that are eligible for a VoA will need to pay between 75.00- 80.00 USD.

Keep in mind that if you are applying through an agency, you will need to pay a processing fee on top of the rates listed above. This fee will vary from agency to agency, and from country to country.

More Questions and Information About Iraq Visas

Do you have any further questions about the application process? Below we have provided some answers to frequently asked questions to further assist you.

The travel document for tourists is valid for 90 days from the moment it is issued. However, it allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 days during the 90-day period, so make sure you do not stay any longer than 30 days, unless you have been granted an extension.
Processing times can vary a little depending on the country you are applying from, so it’s best to check with your nearest embassy. As a general rule, you should apply around 3-4 weeks before your departure date.
On the government's official website, you will find all the policies and terms in regards to entering Iraq. However, we have condensed all the relevant information on this page, so you can have everything you need to know in one place.
No, there is no need to print your entry permit, as it will be stamped directly into your passport. Simply take your passport with you when you travel and show the visa at border controls. The entry permit will also be electronically linked to your passport.
The travel document generally takes around 2 weeks to be processed. It’s a good idea to allow for some extra time in case of delays. On the other hand, the entry permit is valid for 90 days from the moment it is issued, so it’s important to keep this in mind as well and not get the document too far in advance.
In the event your application is denied, you should contact the embassy that processed it to find out why and if you can reapply. To avoid this happening, fill out the form carefully with all the information required and make sure you provide all the supporting documents necessary.
It is essential you check when your passport is due to expire before you apply. You’re only eligible to travel to Iraq if your passport has more than 6 months of validity remaining from the date you plan to exit the country. So if your passport is due to expire, be sure to renew it first.
If you hold dual citizenship, in most cases the entry requirements will be the same, so it doesn’t matter which passport you apply with (check the Eligibility section on this page). The most important thing is that you apply with the passport you plan to enter the country with, and you use the same passport throughout your trip.
If you have an American passport, you will need to get a visa from the embassy before you travel to Iraq. For those living in the USA, you can apply at the Iraqi Embassy in Washington.
If you are travelling on an Indian passport, you will only be able to enter the country for business purposes. The Iraq Embassy does not issue tourist visas for Indian citizens.
If you have a British passport, you will need to get a visa from the embassy before you travel to Iraq. For those living in the UK, you can apply at the Iraqi Embassy in London or the Iraqi Consulate in Manchester.
As we mentioned above, the travel document will be stamped into your passport. Here is a sample, so you can see what it will look like: Iraq visa sample
In this section, we add links to any pages that you might find helpful when planning your travels.
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