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Federal Foreign Worker Entry and Work Visa

IraqWork

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

Foreign workers taking up employment in Iraq: visas or residence permits are not granted to foreign workers unless they obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, with exceptions for staff of international organisations, diplomatic missions and consulates, foreigners allowed to work under treaties to which Iraq is party, foreigners working for the Iraqi government, and foreign workers in the reconstruction of holy shrines. Foreign workers an investor brings to an investment project apply for their work visa at Iraqi embassies before departure.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The MOFA rule is cited from a 2011 Directorate of Residency letter reproduced on an embassy page; no occupation list, skill level or current federal work-visa regulation is described in the captures.

Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

Yes. Visas or residence permits are not granted to foreign workers unless they obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (exceptions: international organisations and diplomatic missions, workers covered by treaties, Iraqi government contract staff, workers on holy-shrine reconstruction). Whoever brings a foreigner for work must deposit a financial guarantee or a valid return ticket.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • MOFA page cites a 2011 Directorate of Residency letter; current force not re-verified.
  • https://mofa.gov.iq/abudhabi/?lang=en&page_id=554
    9. Based on the letter of the Directorate of Residency, foreigners section number A. C / Visa / 1822 / 2011/29559 on 6 July 2011 containing ((to not grant visas or residency permits for foreign workers unless they obtain work permits from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs)) with the exception of the following categories : – A – Employed by International Organizations, Diplomatic Missions and Consulates accredited in Iraq. B – Foreigners who the international laws, conventions and treaties allow them to work, which the Government is a party in them. C – Foreigners who work for the Iraqi government, but are required to provide the Directorate residence of a letter that supports the contract between the foreigners and Ministries, government departments with filling out Visa application in Arabic language in order to take. D – Foreign workers in the reconstruction of holy shrines in Iraq.
  • https://www.moj.gov.iq/upload/pdf/4466.pdf
    ب .على آل من استقدم أجنبياً لغرض العمالة أن يودع تأمينات مالية أو بطاقة عودة صالحة )تذآرة سفر( لضمان عودة ذلك الأجنبي .

What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

Foreign labour is permitted when needed; the number of foreign workers requested must be endorsed by a technical committee, and investors must give priority to recruiting Iraqi workers.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No occupation list, salary or qualification threshold was found in the sources consulted.

What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

Tied to the sponsor: a sponsored foreigner may not work for anyone other than the sponsor; sponsorship can be transferred to another sponsor with the approvals set in law; investment-project workers pledge not to seek employment outside the company. A foreigner may be granted entry and one-year renewable residence to join the head of family.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Family-joining provision (Law 76/2017 Art. 9) is general, not specific to workers.
  • https://www.moj.gov.iq/upload/pdf/4466.pdf
    المادة -١٢-يلتزم المكفول بأن لا يعمل لدى غير آفيله آما يلتزم الكفيل بأن لا يستخدم أجنبياً على غير مكفول أو مكفول لدى الغير .
  • https://www.moj.gov.iq/upload/pdf/4466.pdf
    المادة -١٣-يجوز تبديل آفالة الأجنبي للعمل في جمهورية العراق من آفيل إلى آخر
  • https://investpromo.gov.iq/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Investor-Guide2025.pdf
    It must be written in the affidavit that the applicant pledges not to seek employment outside the company during his work or after the completion of the project
  • https://www.moj.gov.iq/upload/pdf/4466.pdf
    المادة -٩-للمدير العام أو من يخوله منح الأجنبي سمة الدخول لأراضي جمهورية العراق والإقامة فيها لمدة سنة واحدة قابلة للتجديد في أي من الحالات الآتية : أولاً :الالتحاق برب أسرته أو ولي أمره.

How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

Residence card for up to one year, renewable for another year (request within 30 days before expiry), repeatable while the reason for residence exists. A foreigner resident at least 6 years under a government employment contract who wishes to stay after the contract may be allowed residence for 3 years at a time, renewable for the same period.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Art. 21 residence also requires providing 'useful service to the country'.
  • https://www.moj.gov.iq/upload/pdf/4466.pdf
    المادة -١٩-أولاً :على الأجنبي الذي يرغب بالبقاء في جمهورية العراق أآثر من المدة المسموح له بها في السمة الاعتيادية أن يحصل قبل انتهاء تلك المدة على بطاقة الإقامة من ضابط الإقامة مدة لا تزيد على ) (١سنة واحدة وله قبل ) (٣٠ثلاثين يوماً من تاريخ انتهائها أن يطلب تمديدها لمدة سنة أخرى ويجوز أن يتكرر ذلك عدة مرات ما دام مبرر منح الإقامة موجوداً .
  • https://www.moj.gov.iq/upload/pdf/4466.pdf
    المادة -٢١-أولاً :لمدير عام مديرية الإقامة العامة أو من يخوله ان يسمح للأجنبي الإقامة في جمهورية العراق لمدة ) (٣ثلاث سنوات لكل مرة تجدد عند الطلب للمدة ذاتها
  • https://www.moj.gov.iq/upload/pdf/4466.pdf
    د .المقيم في جمهورية العراق مدة لا تقل عن ) ( ٦سنوات بموجب عقد عمل او استخدام مع الحكومة ورغب في الاقامة بعد انتهاء مدة عقده .

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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