Apply and travel with the passport that gives you the easiest entry route, and use that same passport for your entire trip. Iraqi border authorities judge your eligibility solely by the citizenship of the passport you present. Privileges or exemptions tied to one nationality do not apply to your other document.
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Iraqi dual nationals. If you hold a valid Iraqi passport, enter Iraq as an Iraqi citizen without a visa. If your Iraqi passport is expired or lost, obtain a six-month transit laissez-passer from an Iraqi embassy before departure. If you choose to travel on your foreign passport, foreign visitor rules apply. Guidance from the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq states that travellers born in Iraq who hold foreign passports do not need an entry visa. However, commercial airlines often require a visa before boarding. You can obtain an advance consular visa with waived fees by presenting proof of Iraqi heritage, such as a parent's Iraqi nationality certificate.
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Dual foreign nationals. If neither passport is Iraqi, pick the document that qualifies for the simpler entry path, such as the Iraqi Electronic Visa Portal. An electronic visa is valid for 30 days and attaches directly to your passport number and nationality. You must show that exact passport at airline check-in and border control.
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Destination and border rules. Your destination determines your visa type. Federal Iraqi eVisas cover entry through federal ports like Baghdad or Basra. Visas for the Kurdistan Region apply only within that region, as noted by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Depart Iraq using the same passport you used upon arrival. Your document must remain valid for at least six months. When returning home, follow your home country rules requiring citizens to enter on their national passport.
Checked on 2026-10-07.