Can I apply with a refugee travel document?

Yes, you can apply for an Iraqi visa with a refugee travel document, but you cannot use the online electronic visa portal or obtain a visa on arrival. You must apply in advance through the consular section of an Iraqi embassy or consulate.

1. Travel document and nationality status. The self-service Iraqi Electronic Visa Portal requires an ordinary national passport. Refugee travel documents, including 1951 Geneva Convention documents, alien passports, and certificates of identity, do not qualify for an online eVisa or visa on arrival. Holding a travel document issued by a Western or European country does not grant you citizenship of that country. Iraqi authorities evaluate entry rules strictly by your citizenship and document type. Foreign residence or refugee status does not grant visa exemptions.

2. Application route through an embassy. You must submit your application directly to the consular section of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq responsible for your place of residence. Provide your actual travel document with at least six months of remaining validity, two passport photographs with a white background, the completed visa application form, and official documentation of your travel purpose. Consular processing often requires security approval from Baghdad, so allow at least 15 business days for processing.

3. Destination jurisdiction and entry points. Entry rules differ by region. Consular visas issued by Iraqi embassies cover entry into Federal Iraq through federal airports such as Baghdad, Najaf, or Basra. The Kurdistan Region manages separate entry procedures. Visas issued for the Kurdistan Region are valid only inside that region, as noted by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. If you plan to travel between the Kurdistan Region and Federal Iraq, you need federal clearance.

4. Purpose of travel and airline boarding. State your purpose of travel clearly, such as tourism, family visits, religious pilgrimage, or business. You must have the approved physical visa in your travel document before you travel. Airlines deny boarding to travellers with refugee travel documents who do not have an approved visa in advance.