Iraqi Kurdistan: Electronic Visa Portal Launched

The Kurdistan Regional Government launched an electronic visa portal that allows foreign nationals to apply for an electronic visa (e-visa) valid for 90 days from the date of issuance for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, education, business or work. The e-visa cannot be used for travel into Federal Iraq and costs IQD 100,000 (approximately USD 70). Applicants’ passports must be valid for a minimum of six months at the time of application and contain at least one blank page. Individuals carrying a passport or travel document stating that their place of birth is Iraq are not required to apply for the e-visa. Nationals from countries on Country List A can obtain an e-visa in advance or on arrival and their application will be processed immediately. If obtaining the visa-on-arrival, they must pay the fee using a Visa or Mastercard credit card at the airport, as cash payments are no longer accepted. Nationals of countries listed on Country List B must have their guarantor apply for the e-visa on their behalf. The guarantor is a sponsor registered with the Ministry of Interior, such as a law firm or a manpower company, who supports the application process by providing a unique verification code and arranging payment for the visa on the applicant’s behalf. Once the application is completed online, the guarantor will receive a notification on its status within five business days and if approved, the e-Visa will be issued accordingly.  Foreign visitors traveling to Iraqi Kurdistan at the invitation of oil and gas companies or as government contractors must obtain a pre-approval from the relevant ministry (typically the Ministry of Natural Resources) before they submit their visa application in-person with the Ministry of Interior.