Visa Requirements for Iraqi Citizens
Visa requirements for Iraqi nationals are predetermined rules and conditions that apply to all Iraqi nationals traveling abroad. Crossing borders into various other countries usually requires possession of a travel permit. Established requirements determine whether Iraqi passport holders require a visa to enter the country.
More than 150 countries require Iraqi nationals to present a valid visa upon entry. For destinations that require a visa, it is clarified that the travel authorization document must be issued by an embassy. Fortunately, 32 foreign territories offer either an electronic travel authorization system or a visa on arrival, including for Iraqi passport holders. Iraqi nationals with a valid e-visa or visa on arrival can stay in different countries for different lengths of time.
However, the most common options are 30, 60, or 90 days. For regular visas, estimating how long you can stay in your chosen country is not easy and depends on many factors, such as the specific visa type, the authorities' decisions, and the purpose of your visit. Although the Iraqi passport is not the strongest passport compared to other countries, Iraqi citizens still have access to a variety of visa regimes.
Let's start with a regular visa. This visa can be obtained at an embassy and can be issued as both a short-term and long-term visa. Embassy visas assist Iraqis who wish to work, study, or reside abroad for an extended period of time.
Additionally, there is a visa-on-arrival system that allows Iraqis to obtain travel permits at any border crossing. Finally, there are also electronic travel authorization systems that completely eliminate the need to visit an embassy.
E-visas are available entirely online, with a quick and intuitive three-step application process on any working device. Read below to find out more about all the above visa systems and where Iraqi nationals can travel with each visa type.
Electronic visa for Iraqi citizens
Starting from the simplest visa option available, e-visas help all Iraqis travel abroad for leisure, leisure, professional travel, and transit purposes.
Electronic Travel Authorizations are used for short-term travel, typically for three months or less.
List of countries that offer electronic visas for Iraqi citizens
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- South Sudan
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Thirty-three destinations offer electronic visa systems to Iraqi nationals.
You can visit the above countries without going through the complicated process of applying for an embassy visa.
You will receive your visa directly in your email inbox in the form of a PDF file within a few business days.
The approved online visa is suitable for short-term leisure, business or transit travel and allows its holder to stay in the territory of the selected country for 1, 2 or 3 months.
The permitted length of stay depends on the destination you wish to visit.
While the Electronic Travel Authorization System is easy to access, it is also extremely versatile and works just like a regular visa.
All Iraqi citizens with a valid e-visa may enter Iraq to participate in the following activities:
- relaxing on vacation
- taking a short getaway trip
- exploring ancient sites, touristic attractions, and meeting the locals
- learning more about the foreign cultures and customs
- going on a business trip
- attending business meetings, seminars, conferences, trade fairs
- looking for new cooperation opportunities to expand your business
- transiting through a selected country to reach another destination
Visa on Arrival
A visa on arrival for Iraqi passport holders is a travel authorization document available at border crossings upon arrival.
VoA is available after filling out an application form at an airport or land or sea border crossing, and Iraqi nationals must meet certain requirements before applying.
List of countries providing a Visa on Arrival option for Iraqi citizens
- Bhutan (available only for holders of an application for a tourist visa)
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- The Democratic Republic of Congo (only for a letter (Visa Volant) issued by the Ministry of Interior and Security holders)
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana (Iraqis must have an invitation letter written by a host or sponsor)
- Jordan (upon having an official “businessmen card” issued by Jordan or an official letter confirming the attendance to a conference or workshop; or meeting any other specific requirements.)
- Kazakhstan (holders of invitation letters)
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- The Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (a letter of approval issued by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism is required)
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
Twenty-eight countries offer visa-on-arrival options for Iraqi passport holders. If you are traveling from Iraq to any of the above destinations, please complete the necessary visa formalities upon arrival. Be sure to check what requirements the country you are visiting meets to ensure approval upon arrival.
To obtain a visa on arrival for any of these destinations, first ensure that you meet all government requirements for your chosen country.
Find out what documents you need to prepare to confirm the reason for your travel plans.
Please fill out the required documents and start your trip by your scheduled departure date. If you have already arrived at the border, go directly to the border checkpoint and ask the customs official for a visa on arrival application.
Please fill out the form carefully, avoiding mistakes, false information, and missing details, and submit the form with the required attachments.
If required, pay the visa on arrival fee and wait for approval.
please note!
Obtaining a visa on arrival has many advantages, including not having to worry about travel authorization until your departure date, but there are also some disadvantages. VoA is often associated with long lines, uncertainty and stress as necessary travel permits may only be received at the last moment. Some countries that offer visas on arrival also allow Iraqis to apply for electronic visas.
If an e-visa is available, consider applying for an e-visa before you plan to travel to prepare for your trip.
Avoid long lines and stressful situations. By completing a simple online application process, you can have your e-visa issued without visiting an embassy.
Embassy visa
An embassy visa for Iraqi nationals is a visa issued after completing the application process at the embassy.
Traditional visas require applicants to provide a fairly extensive list of documents confirming the purpose of their stay, and may also require a visa interview with a consular official.
List of countries that require Iraqis to have an Embassy visa upon entering
- Afghanistan
- Aland Islands
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Antarctica
- Argentina
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bonaire
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- The British Virgin Islands
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands
- Colombia
- The Republic of the Congo
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- The Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Latvia
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Macedonia
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- The Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Oman
- Palestinian Territory
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- The Philippines
- Pitcairn Islands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Republic of Cyprus
- Reunion
- Romania
- Russia
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- The Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- South Korea
- South Ossetia
- Spain
- Sudan
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Thailand
- Taiwan
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- United States Virgin Islands
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Wallis and Futuna
- Yemen
Iraqis are only allowed to enter more than 200 countries if they have a valid embassy visa. Therefore, if you plan to visit any of the above destinations, please note that you will need to apply for an embassy visa in advance.
Applying for an embassy visa is a little more complicated than applying for a visa on arrival or electronic travel authorization.
Traditional visas may require a multi-step application process. First, contact the embassy of the selected country you wish to visit and request a list of current visa requirements. Once this is done, start collecting the necessary documents and make sure you have everything you need to validate your visa application. Submit your application with the required documents and complete your visa interview if necessary. Finally, pay the fee and wait for your visa to be approved by the authorities.
please note!
Preparing for a regular visa application is best done several weeks before you plan to travel. Some documents may require official issuance and may take some time to receive. If you need to apply for a traditional visa, a valid passport may not be enough.
Visa-free countries
Unfortunately, only a few countries currently accept Iraqis without travel authorization documents. Visa Waiver allows you to enter selected foreign countries without a visa, usually only if you require a valid passport.
Eleven countries allow visa-free international travel from Iraq. However, almost all of the destinations listed above require Iraqis to meet certain requirements in order to be exempt from visa requirements. Check the requirements before booking a flight to a visa-free country.
To travel visa-free, you do not need to apply for a visa before you plan to travel or upon arrival. Iraqi citizens can enter more than a dozen countries without needing any type of visa, including electronic visas on arrival or embassy visas.
All you need is a valid passport. Plan your trip by making sure your travel documents are valid for the duration of your trip and checking if your chosen country has any additional requirements. Pack your bags, book your accommodation, book your flight or get ready for a road trip and start your journey.
- Dominica
- Haiti
- Iran
- Malaysia
- Micronesia
- Samoa
