What should I do if I was charged twice for an Iraq visa?

Question

Accepted Answer

If your bank card shows two charges for an Iraq visa, do not submit another payment or open a new application. Check your bank statement first to determine whether you have two settled debits or a temporary pre-authorization hold.

### Steps to resolve a duplicate visa charge

1. Check whether both charges settled. Open your banking app or account statement. Check if both transactions are settled debits or if one transaction is an unsettled pre-authorization hold. Temporary authorization holds drop off automatically within several business days if the payment gateway did not claim them.
2. Review your portal account. Log into your account on the official [Iraqi Electronic Visa Portal](https://evisa.iq/en). Check your dashboard to see whether the system created one application reference code or two distinct applications. Search your email folders for confirmation messages.
3. Save your transaction records. As a practical suggestion, take a screenshot of your portal account screen showing your application status. Save your bank statement showing both transaction dates, billed amounts, and card payment reference numbers.
4. Contact the residency department. If both charges settled for a single application, contact the Directorate of Residency Affairs through the portal contact form or call +964 772 111 1434 during official business hours. Provide your full name, passport number, application reference code, and both payment receipts.
5. Dispute the duplicate charge with your bank. If both debits cleared on your bank account for one application and the portal cannot resolve the duplicate charge, contact your card issuer. Submit your bank statement and visa application proof to request a dispute for duplicate billing.
6. Verify jurisdiction and third-party fees. The federal portal covers travel to Federal Iraq, while the Kurdistan Regional Government manages a separate visa system. If you used an unauthorized third-party agency, contact that company directly to dispute commercial service fees. Foreign passport holders seeking embassy visas can review instructions from the [Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in London](https://mofa.gov.iq/london/?page_id=1428) or the [Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington](https://www.iraqiembassy.us/page/visas).

### Fees and refund terms

- Official government fees versus extra costs. The standard tourist eVisa for Federal Iraq costs $160 USD, as recorded by the [UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq/entry-requirements). Consular single-entry visas cost $50 USD in cash, or $150 USD in cash for US citizens, while applicants of verified Iraqi origin receive a fee waiver. Banks can add separate foreign exchange fees, and private agencies add commercial surcharges.
- No guaranteed refund. Official government visa fees are non-refundable once an application is submitted. Immigration authorities offer no guaranteed refund on completed applications. However, your bank removes unsettled authorization holds, and card networks permit dispute claims for duplicate billing errors.
- No verified processing deadline. The official portal provides no verified processing deadline. Never publish card security codes or passport scans on public message boards.

Checked on 2026-10-08.