Iraq

Iraq: Visa

Student visa and residence permit steps, timing and proof of funds for Iraq.

Visa and residence permit

Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have separate entry arrangements. Federal Iraq students: after admission, the university obtains academic and security approvals from MoHESR; the Ministry of Interior's Residency Affairs Directorate issues a student entry visa, which the student has stamped at an Iraqi embassy or consulate before travel; within 15 days of arrival a second medical check and an annual residence card are required (university guides). Iraq also operates an e-visa (30 days, single or multiple entry) at evisa.iq, but the pages fetched did not say whether students may use it or which nationalities are eligible. Kurdistan Region: entry stamp rules are separate and are described only in an old Turkish consulate note; student residence procedures for the KRI could not be verified from official sources.

Visa processing time: One university states 6-10 weeks for the visa process via the Study in Iraq portal (search summary); post-arrival steps within a maximum of 15 days.Source
Proof of funds: No official financial-proof amount found.Source
Health insurance: Baghdad University page: in the full scholarship the student pays the application fee and health insurance; no national insurance rules found.Source

Application steps

Apply online on the Study in Iraq platform (studyiniraq.scrd-gate.gov.iq) or via the university's own channel; select programme and upload academic documents.
University and MoHESR review; official admission letter issued.
University coordinates academic/security approval with MoHESR; application forwarded to Residency Affairs Directorate (Ministry of Interior) for the Student Entry Visa.
Have the visa stamped at the Iraqi embassy/consulate in the home country (one university guide).
On arrival complete second medical check at an approved Ministry of Health centre and obtain the Annual Residency Card from Residency Affairs Directorate with a university representative, within 15 days.
Kurdistan Region: admission via the KRI institution; certificate equalisation at the KRG evaluation/equalisation office in Erbil (per AUIS and University of Zakho); residence steps not verified.

Documents required

Passport valid at least 6 months (Study in Iraq university page); one university requires a colour copy valid at least 2 years
Official admission letter
Certified academic certificates and transcripts (secondary certificate certified and equalised by MoHESR for federal universities)
International medical certificate (free of infectious diseases), certified by home-country Ministry of Health and the Iraqi embassy; issued within 3 months (university pages)
Non-criminal record certificate, certified
Parentage proof and signed pledge not to apply through another channel and not to seek Iraqi citizenship (Study in Iraq university page)
Two passport photos 50x50 mm, white background

Travel advisories, sanctions and payments

UK FCDO (updated 22 Jul 2026; still current at 25 Oct 2026): advises against all travel to parts of Iraq (Anbar west of Ramadi, Diyala except Baqubah City, Kirkuk, Ninawa, Salah al-Din, Jurf al-Sakr, Sadr City, border strips) and against all but essential travel to the rest of federal Iraq including Baghdad (except Sadr City), Basra remainder, Najaf, Karbala, Dhi Qar, and to the whole Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Risks cited: regional tensions, Iranian strikes and retaliatory attacks since 8 July, airspace closures, severely limited consular support, travel insurance may be invalid.

Fees: Not published on pages fetched. Full-scholarship track includes the Iraqi entry visa fee (Iraqi embassy Budapest notice); one university guide notes foreigners in cultural-exchange arrangements may be exempt from entry visa fees. Turkish consulate note mentions a 3-day to 3-month penalty and fine for entering other governorates with only a Kurdistan stamp.Source

Nationality-specific notes: turkiye: Turkish consulate general Erbil info note (dated 14.04.2014, may be outdated): an entry stamp at Habur/Ibrahim Khalil or Erbil/Sulaymaniyah airports allows entry to Duhok, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah without an Iraqi visa for up to 15 days; it is not an Iraqi visa and does not allow travel to other governorates (penalties listed). Staying longer or working in the KRI requires applying to KRG authorities within 15 days. Other governorates need an Iraqi visa from the Iraqi embassy in Ankara or consulates in Istanbul/Gaziantep. Study visas not mentioned. Embassy of Türkiye in Baghdad 16 Mar 2026 announcement: see travelAdvisories.; russia: No Russia-specific official source found.; kazakhstan: No Kazakhstan-specific official source found.; ukraine: No Ukraine-specific official source found.; azerbaijan: No Azerbaijan-specific official source found.

Our visa consulting

What to watch for in Visa

Right after the offer, check the document list and appointment calendar.
Prepare proof of funds in the format the country accepts.
Verify processing time on the official page and leave room for peak periods.
Missing or inconsistent documents are among the most common reasons for refusal.

Information on this page is compiled from official sources and was verified on the date shown. Fees, dates and visa rules change often; check official sources before applying. Empty fields have not been verified yet; ask our advisor for the current information.

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