Iraq
IRQIraq is a federal republic in Western Asia bordered by Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The country holds the world's fifth-largest proven oil reserves, which underpin a state-dominated economy. Baghdad, the capital, has seen significant reconstruction since the height of sectarian conflict in the mid-2000s, though security conditions remain uneven; the Kurdistan Region in the north is considerably more stable and attracts modest foreign investment.
The Iraqi passport offers limited visa-free access, and dual citizenship is generally not recognised in law. Residency pathways for foreigners are narrowly defined and seldom pursued outside of employment or family contexts. US, UK, and EU travel advisories recommend heightened caution across most of the country and advise against travel to areas with ongoing insurgent or militia activity.
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- Baghdad
- Region
- middle east
- Population
- 43,533,000
- Cost-of-living
- 24 /100
Passport Rank
#103
Visa-Free
28
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Iraq passport has visa-free access to 28 destinations. See the full Iraq passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Iraq without a prior visa (9)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Iraq
Current IRCC processing times for Iraq nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 80 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | 10 weeks |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | 30 months |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Baghdad
- Currency
- Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
- Languages
- Arabic, Kurdish
- Population
- 43,533,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Hot desert in the centre and south; semi-arid in the north with cooler winters in the Kurdish highlands
- GDP per capita
- $5,410
- Life expectancy
- 72.42 yrs
- Population growth
- 2.1%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
24
Safety
19
Healthcare
22
Quality of Life
21
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 10 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baghdad | — | — | — | — | $20 |
| Erbil | — | — | — | — | $25 |
| Basra | — | — | — | — | $15 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Baghdad
Rainfall range: 0–28 mm/month · Daylight 10.1h (winter) to 14.1h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist eVisa (KRI separate)
- Business
- Work
- Investor
- Family
- Student
- Authority
- Directorate of Residence & Foreigners Affairs
- Official Portal
- moi.gov.iq
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- Yes (level n/a)
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $100
- Processing
- ~24 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#160
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Fake currency exchange at unofficial parallel-market stalls
- ⚠Checkpoint impersonation and unofficial tolls on intercity roads
- ⚠Rental deposit fraud targeting expats in new developments
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Iraq, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
General Directorate of Residency
GDROfficial appointment and transaction channel referenced by the Iraq eVisa portal for General Directorate of Residency matters. Immigration and work-linked filings should be verified with the competent Iraqi mission or authority before payment or travel.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Iraq, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
Normal Visa
ResidenceMOFA normal visa category allowing one entry within three months and residence in Iraq for up to three months, with arrival reporting to the Directorate of Residence.
Short-term / business
Multi-Entry Visa
Short-term / businessIraq multi-entry visa category for repeated travel, granted for three months, six months or one year after legal conditions are met.
Tourist eVisa
Short-term / businessOnline Iraq tourist eVisa route through the Ministry of Interior eVisa portal, currently presented as a tourism-only electronic application flow.
Transit and Non-Stop Transit Visa
Short-term / businessIraq transit framework for short stopovers and supervised non-stop transit through Iraqi territory.
Visit or Tourism Consular Visa
Short-term / businessConsular visit and tourism visa framework for Iraq, including tourism, religious visits and authorised business or investor visits.
Work (sponsored)
Work-Permit-Linked Visa or Residence Permit
Work (sponsored)Cautious employer-linked route note for foreign workers, because MOFA says worker visas and residence permits generally require a Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs work permit first.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified