Travellers holding an ordinary Japanese passport must obtain a visa before entering federal Iraq. Visas on arrival are no longer issued at federal border points.
Follow these rules based on your destination and travel route:
- Passport validity. Your ordinary Japanese passport must remain valid for at least six months from your arrival date and contain at least one blank page.
- Federal Iraq travel. For destinations in federal Iraq such as Baghdad, Basra, or Najaf, submit your visa application before departure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan advises citizens that entry requires a visa and directs applicants to the electronic portal or the Iraqi embassy. You can apply through the official Iraqi Electronic Visa portal. Prepare your passport and a digital photograph with a white background, and pay the fee online. The electronic visa allows single or multiple entry with a stay of up to 30 days. Print the approved visa to present at border control. Keep a confirmed return or onward flight ticket, as airlines can deny boarding without one. If you cannot use the portal, apply through the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Tokyo.
- Kurdistan Region travel. If your visit remains entirely within the Kurdistan Region, regional entry procedures apply. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that visas issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government are not recognized as formal Iraqi visas by the federal government. Travelling outside the Kurdistan Region on a regional visa constitutes unlawful stay. To visit federal territory, you must hold a valid federal Iraqi visa.
- Consular assistance. Japanese citizens who need consular help or procedural clarification can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Tokyo by phone at 03-5790-5311. For technical queries regarding the electronic visa, call the Residency Affairs Directorate helpline at +964 772 111 1434. Entry guidelines are also monitored by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Checked on 2026-11-04.