How do I check Kurdistan visa eligibility for my nationality?

Question

Accepted Answer

You check Kurdistan visa eligibility by matching your passport citizenship against the official entry rules of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The Kurdistan Region operates a separate entry system from federal Iraq. Visas issued for the Kurdistan Region are valid only in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok. They do not grant entry into federal Iraq.

### Steps to check your eligibility

1. Check your passport citizenship. Entry rules depend entirely on the country that issued your passport. Foreign residence permits, third country visas, and your birthplace do not change your nationality eligibility.
2. Review regional entry categories. As confirmed by the [UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq/entry-requirements), the Kurdistan Regional Government operates an electronic visa process and issues visas on arrival for eligible travellers. Both types of visas remain valid for travel in the Kurdistan Region only.
3. Consult an official embassy if uncertain. The authorities set and enforce entry rules. If your nationality cannot use the regional online portal or receive a visa on arrival, contact an Iraqi diplomatic post or embassy to verify the required visa route for your passport.
4. Prepare travel documents. Your passport must have at least six months of remaining validity from your arrival date and contain at least one blank page.

### Movement between regions and entry points

Entry rules differ depending on your route and destination:

1. Travel from Kurdistan to federal Iraq. You cannot enter federal territory with only a Kurdistan visa. Internal checkpoints on roads and at airport departure gates inspect documents and turn back travellers who lack a federal visa. If your itinerary includes Baghdad, Basra, or Mosul, you must obtain a federal visa through the official [Iraqi Electronic Visa Portal](https://evisa.iq/en) or an Iraqi diplomatic post such as the [Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington, D.C.](https://www.iraqiembassy.us/page/visas-to-iraq).
2. Travel from federal Iraq to Kurdistan. A federal Iraq visa covers the entire country. Travellers who enter through federal airports in Baghdad, Basra, or Najaf on an approved federal visa can travel north into the Kurdistan Region without an extra regional permit.
3. Regional entry points. Erbil International Airport, Sulaymaniyah International Airport, and the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing admit travellers to the Kurdistan Region only under regional rules.

Checked on 2026-10-08.