Iraq flag

Iraq — Complete Emigration Guide 2026

46,118,793 people · Capital: Baghdad · Western Asia

Updated H2 2026 · Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis

Safety
26/100 (limited)
Cost of Living
€465/mo
Healthcare
39/100 (limited)
Career
19/100 (limited)
English Level
Very Low
Visa Pathways
11

Overview

Population
46,118,793
Capital
Baghdad
Currency
IQD ع.د
Language
Arabic, Aramaic +1
Timezone
UTC+03:00
GDP per Capita
$6,074
Unemployment
15.3%

Iraq is located in Western Asia, with a population of 46,118,793. Its currency is the Iraqi dinar. Our database tracks 11 visa pathways for Iraq, each linked to a named source.

See also: Iraq country profile

Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis. See our methodology and data sources.

Visa Pathways (11)

Sponsored Employment (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Residency permits for foreign workers€26

Spouse & Partner (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Naturalization of the wife of the Iraqi€160 mo
To get Nationality for the husband of the Iraqi woman€1

General Residence (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Multi- Visa€263 mo

Naturalisation & Citizenship (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Granting Nationality to non- Iraqi€160 mo

Diplomatic & Official (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Official / Service Visa1 mo
Political Visa€261 mo

Tourism & Short Stay (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Urgent Visa€261 mo
Visit or Tourism Visa€261 mo

Transit (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Non- stop Transit Visa€263d
Transit Visa€267d
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Cost of Living

ItemIraqW. Europe AvgDiff
Rent (1BR)€280€1,200-77%
Rent (3BR)€420€2,000-79%
Groceries€95€350-73%
Transport€25€80-69%
Utilities€65€150-57%
Dining (meal)€4€15-73%
Baseline monthly cost (1BR rent + groceries + transport + utilities)
€465/mo

Salary & Employment

Average Salary
€603
EUR/month gross
Minimum Wage
€232
EUR/month gross
Unemployment
15.3%
SectorMedian (gross, €/yr)
Construction€9,000
Education€8,500
Engineering€15,000
Finance€14,000
Healthcare€12,000
Hospitality€6,500
IT€18,000
Retail€5,500

Shortage Occupations

  • Software Developers (IT)
  • Nurses (Healthcare)
  • Civil Engineers (Engineering)
W
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Tax

Tax System
Progressive
Top Income Rate
15%
Effective Rate @€90k
15%
VAT
15%
Net Monthly @€90k
€6,400

Healthcare

Healthcare Index
39/100
System Type
mixed
Spending per Capita
$333
Life Expectancy
72.4 years
Emergency Number
122
S
Health insurance for Iraq
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Education

Total Universities
96
UniversityQS RankEnglish ProgsTuition (Intl)
University of Baghdad12€1,500
Al-Nahrain University8€1,200
University of Technology Baghdad15€1,800
Mustansiriyah University6€1,100
University of Basra7€1,300

Practical Info

Banking

Wise: No   N26: No
Access difficulty: medium

Driving

Drives on: right

Phone & Internet

Operators: Asiacell
Internet: 10.4 Mbps

Credentials

Recognition: Case_by_case

Quality of Life

Safety
26
Climate
dry
36°C summer / 12°C winter
English Proficiency
Very Low
Score: 35/100
Expat Satisfaction
4.8/10
N
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Official sources

The visa data on this page is compiled from official government sources — 8 of the 8 pathways link directly to the government page they were verified against. Values that fail verification are removed, not guessed — see the live verification freshness index.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many visa pathways does Iraq have?

Our database tracks 11 visa pathways for Iraq across 7 categories, the largest being Spouse & Partner, Tourism & Short Stay, Diplomatic & Official. Each entry links directly to an official government source.

What is the average salary in Iraq?

The average gross salary in Iraq is EUR 603 per month. The statutory minimum wage is EUR 232 per month.

How much does rent cost in Iraq?

A one-bedroom apartment in Iraq averages EUR 280 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment averages EUR 420 per month.

What is the top income tax rate in Iraq?

The top personal income tax rate in Iraq is 15%. The standard VAT rate is 15%.

How long does it take to qualify for citizenship in Iraq?

Among the pathways we track, the To get Nationality for the husband of the Iraqi woman lists 5 years to citizenship. Timelines vary by route and personal circumstances — check the official source for your case.

Start Preparing for Iraq

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NordVPN
Access home banking and streaming from Iraq. Protect your data abroad.

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