Travellers holding an ordinary passport from Kuwait must obtain a visa before entering federal Iraq. Kuwaiti citizens do not have visa-free entry.
Follow these rules based on your destination and travel route:
- Passport validity. Your ordinary Kuwaiti passport must remain valid for at least six months from your date of arrival and contain at least one blank page.
- Federal Iraq travel. For travel to federal destinations such as Baghdad, Basra, or Najaf, submit an application before departure. You can apply through the official Iraqi Electronic Visa portal. The portal requires a valid passport and a digital photo with a white background. Visa fees are paid online through the secure system. The electronic visa is valid for 30 days for single or multiple entry. Print the approved visa to present at border control, whether arriving by air or overland through the Safwan border crossing. If you cannot use the online portal, you must apply directly through the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Kuwait. The consular section requires an application form with two photographs, proof of ability to cover living costs, and payment of the visa fee, which is 40 USD for an individual regular visa or 100 USD for a multiple-entry visa under official consular accounting receipt 37a. Always keep a confirmed return ticket, as transport operators can deny boarding without one.
- Kurdistan Region travel. If your visit remains entirely within the Kurdistan Region, regional entry procedures apply. Visas issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government allow travel only inside the Kurdistan Region. They do not permit onward travel into federal Iraq. Internal checkpoints inspect documents and turn back travellers who lack a federal visa. If your itinerary includes destinations in both regions, you must obtain a valid federal Iraqi visa before entering federal territory.
- Consular assistance. Kuwaiti citizens and residents who need procedural clarification or consular help can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Kuwait. For technical questions about an electronic visa application, the Residency Affairs Directorate helpline is available at +964 772 111 1434. Entry requirements are also monitored by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Checked on 2026-11-04.