Visa Requirements for Iraqi Citizens

Visa requirements for Iraqi citizens are the pre-established rules and conditions that apply to all Iraqi citizens traveling abroad. Crossing the border of different foreign countries usually requires having a travel authorization document. Set requirements determine whether or not Iraqi passport holders need a visa to enter.

Over 150 countries require Iraqi citizens to present a valid visa upon arrival. The visa-required destinations make it clear that the said travel authorization document must be issued by an Embassy. Luckily, 32 foreign territories came forward with either an Electronic Travel Authorization System that includes Iraqi passport holders or Visas on Arrival.

Iraqi citizens with a valid eVisa or Visa on Arrival can stay in different countries for various amounts of time. However, the most common options are either 30, 60, or 90 days. In the case of regular visas, the time you can spend in a selected country cannot be easily estimated and depends on many factors, such as a specific visa type, the authorities' decisions, or the purpose of your visit.

Even though the Iraqi passport is not the most powerful in terms of travel liberty when compared to other countries, Iraqi citizens can still use various visa systems. Starting with regular visas obtained at an Embassy that may be issued as both short-term and long-term permits. Embassy visas can help Iraqis who want to work, study, or live in a foreign country for a more extended period of time.

Moreover, there is also a Visa on Arrival system available that makes it possible for Iraqis to get their travel permits at any border checkpoint. Lastly, there is also an Electronic Travel Authorization System that completely eliminates visits to the Embassy. eVisas are obtainable entirely online following a quick and intuitive 3-step application process using any working device.

Read on to learn more about all of the above-listed visa systems and to find out where Iraqi citizens can go using each visa type.

Electronic visa for Iraqi citizens

Starting with the easiest visa option available, eVisas help all Iraqis travel abroad for recreational, leisure, professional, and transit-related trips. Electronic travel permits serve for short-term trips, usually for visits up to 3 months.

List of countries that offer electronic visas for Iraqi citizens

33 destinations offer an electronic visa system for Iraqi citizens. You can visit any of the above-listed countries without troubling yourself with the complicated Embassy visa application process. Get your visa in just a few business days delivered straight to your email box in the form of a PDF file.

An approved online visa serves for all short-term recreational, business, or transit trips and allows its holders to stay on the territory of any selected country for one, two, or three months. The length of the permitted stay varies and depends on the destination you plan to visit.

The Electronic Travel Authorization System, despite being easily accessible, is also very versatile in usage and works exactly like regular visas. All Iraqi citizens being valid eVisa holders, can travel from Iraq to engage in any of 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

Visa on Arrival for Iraqi passport holders is a travel authorization document that is obtainable at any border checkpoint upon arrival. VoAs are available upon filling an application form at the airport/land or sea border crossing point and require Iraq nationals to meet a few 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

28 countries have come forward with a Visa on Arrival option for Iraqi passport holders to use. When traveling from Iraq to any of the above-listed destinations, handle the necessary visa after arriving. Make sure to check what requirements the country you're visiting has imposed to ensure successful approval upon arrival.

To get a Visa on Arrival to any of these destinations, first, make sure that you meet all of the stipulated by the selected country's government requirements. Find out what documents you should prepare to validate the reason for the planned trip. Complete the necessary paperwork before the intended departure date and leave on your travel.

Once already at the border, go straight to the border checkpoint and ask the customs officials for a Visa on Arrival application form. Carefully fill out, avoiding any mistakes, misinformation, or missing details, and submit the form along with required supporting documents. If needed, cover the Visa on Arrival fee and wait for the approval.

Please note! Even though obtaining a Visa on Arrival comes with numerous benefits, such as not having to worry about your travel permit until the departure date, it also has a few cons. VoAs are often connected with long waiting lines, uncertainty since you won't have the necessary travel permit until the very last moment, and stress.

Some of the countries that offer a Visa on Arrival also made it possible for Iraqis to apply for an eVisa. If it's available, consider obtaining an electronic visa prior to the planned trip to travel prepared. Avoid long waiting lines and stressful situations! You can get your eVisa issued with no visits to the Embassy by completing a simple online application process.

Embassy visa

An Embassy visa for citizens of Iraq is a visa that is obtained after completing an application process via an Embassy. Traditional visas require applicants to provide a quite extensive list of documents validating the purpose of the stay and sometimes even undergo visa interviews with consular officers.

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

More than 200 countries allow Iraqis to enter only with a valid Embassy visa on hand. Therefore, if you plan on visiting any of the above-listed destinations, take into consideration the fact that you will need to apply for an Embassy visa beforehand.

Obtaining an Embassy visa is a bit more complex than applying for a Visa on Arrival or for electronic travel permits. Traditional visas may require going through a layered, multi-stage application process.

First, contact the Embassy of the selected country you want to visit and ask for a list of the current visa requirements. Once that's done, start gathering the required documents and make sure that you have everything that's needed to validate your visa request. Submit your application with complete paperwork and, if necessary, go through a visa interview. Lastly, cover the fees and wait for visa approval by the authorities.

Please note! It's best to start preparing for the regular visa application process at least a few weeks in advance of the planned trip. Some documents may need to be officially issued and thus, take a bit longer to be obtained. If you must apply for a traditional visa, a valid passport will most likely not be enough.

Visa-free countries

Unfortunately, currently, only a few countries welcome Iraqis without any travel authorization document. Visa exemption allows you to enter a selected foreign country visa-free, with usually only a valid passport on hand.

Check the list of visa-free countries for Iraqis.

11 countries make it possible to travel from Iraq visa-free abroad. However, almost all of the above-listed destinations require Iraqis to meet specific requirements to be eligible for visa exemption. Check the requirements before booking a flight to any of the visa-free countries.

Traveling visa-free does not require you to apply for a visa, not before the planned trip, not even upon arrival. Without any kind of visa, the electronic one, Visa on Arrival, or Embassy visa, Iraqi nationals can enter over a dozen countries.

All you need is your valid passport. Make sure that your travel document will stay valid throughout the whole duration of the trip, check if any additional requirements apply for a selected by you country, and plan your travel. Pack your bags, book accommodation, book a flight or get ready for a road trip, and start your journey!

Bogdan T
2022-09-27

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