Iraq visa types, eligibility and everything you need before you travel.
One place for Iraq visa requirements, eligibility by nationality, processing times, fees and entry rules. We are an independent application assistance service, not a government website.
Iraq visa overview
Most foreign nationals need an approved visa before entering the Republic of Iraq. What you must provide, how long the review takes and how long you may stay all depend on your nationality, your passport type, the visa category you choose and current official review rules.
This page brings those rules together in plain language so you can check your situation before you book flights. When you are ready, the online form takes about ten minutes.
At a glance
- Decisions from 6 hours for Group A nationalities
- Every document checked by a specialist before submission
- All-inclusive pricing, shown before you pay
- Email updates from submission to decision
Who requires an Iraq visa
As a rule, everyone who is not an Iraqi citizen needs visa approval before arrival. Whether you can complete that approval online depends on two things:
Nationality rules
Document lists, permitted stay and available categories change from one passport nationality to the next.
Online eligibility
Many travellers can submit an online request. Others must apply through an embassy, a consulate or another approved route — we tell you which applies to you.
Iraq visa requirements
Requirements differ by nationality and category, but nearly every applicant prepares the same core set:
- 1A passport valid for at least six months from your intended entry date
- 2A clear colour scan of the passport bio-data page with every detail readable
- 3A recent passport-style photograph on a plain background
- 4Your travel plan: arrival date, entry point and address in Iraq
- 5Any extra supporting document your visa category calls for
Accuracy matters
Every detail you submit must match your passport exactly. A single mismatched name or date is the most common cause of delay and extra review.
Start application01Passport
- Valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date
- Two consecutive blank pages for entry stamps
- Colour scan of the bio-data page, all four corners visible
- Machine-readable zone fully legible, no glare or shadow
02Photograph
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Plain white or light grey background
- Full face, eyes open, no head covering across the face
- JPEG or PNG, minimum 600 × 600 px, under 5 MB
03Supporting documents
- Confirmed accommodation or host address in Iraq
- Return or onward flight reservation
- Business visas: invitation letter on company letterhead with registration number
- Pilgrimage groups: itinerary and group leader contact details
04Arrival details
- Entry point: Baghdad, Basra, Najaf or Erbil
- Kurdistan Region entry uses a separate authorisation — tell us your airport
- Planned arrival and departure dates
- Traveller contact number reachable on arrival
Purpose of travel
Eligible
- Tourism, sightseeing and cultural travel
- Ziyarat pilgrimage to Najaf and Karbala
- Business meetings, contracts and site visits
- Visiting family and friends
Not eligible
- Paid employment inside Iraq
- Long-term study or residency
- Journalism or filming without media accreditation
Top refusal reasons
- — Passport scan cropped or reflecting flash
- — Name spelled differently to the passport chip
- — Photo with a patterned or coloured background
- — Invitation letter without a company stamp
- — Travel dates outside the visa validity window
Iraq visa processing time
Timelines depend on your nationality group, the option you choose, the quality of your documents, public holidays and official review factors.
Group A nationalities
6 – 72 hours
Most decisions arrive within three days.
Group B nationalities
8 – 18 business days
Additional official review is standard.
Because timelines vary, apply well ahead of departure rather than in the final week.
Iraq visa fees and payment
Fees depend on nationality, visa option and application route. The total you see always includes both the application fee and our service fee, and it is shown in full before you pay — no charges appear later.
See detailed pricingCommon Iraq visa situations
Travellers arrive at this page from very different starting points. These are the cases we handle most often.
Travelling within days
Priority handling moves your file to the front of the review queue on the same working day.
A previous application was declined
We review the refusal reason, correct the weak points and resubmit with a stronger document set.
No sponsor or host in Iraq
Several nationalities can apply without a local sponsor. We confirm this before you pay.
Pilgrimage travel (Ziyarat)
Najaf and Karbala journeys, including group files for five or more pilgrims, are handled by an Arabic-speaking case officer.
Still unsure? Read the visa FAQ or contact our team.
How to apply for an Iraq visa
- 01
Select your nationality and visa category.
- 02
Check eligibility and the document list for that category.
- 03
Complete the online form — it takes about ten minutes.
- 04
Upload your passport scan and photograph.
- 05
Review the total fee, then pay securely.
- 06
Submit and follow the decision by email.
Choose your nationality
Pick your passport nationality to continue with country-specific instructions, timelines and available options.