canivisit.com
Beta — verify with official sources⌘K
Home/from/ae/to/iq
🇦🇪UAE
🏳IQAE-IQ

Do UAE passport holders need a visa to visit IQ?

UAE ordinary passport holders need an eVisa to enter Iraq (federal Iraq) for tourism. Apply online before travel via the official portal evisa.iq. Visa on arrival was suspended on 1 March 2025, so no border visa is available for short tourist visits. As of 31 May 2026, holders of an ordinary United Arab Emirates passport require a visa to visit federal Iraq for tourism, obtained as an electronic visa (eVisa) before departure. Iraq suspended its visa-on-arrival facility for affected nationalities from 1 March 2025 and now directs travelers to its official eVisa platform (evisa.iq). UAE and other GCC nationals are not visa-exempt for federal Iraq; the Iraqi embassy in Abu Dhabi lists no waiver for them, and Wikipedia's reference table for Emirati citizens records Iraq as eVisa with a 30-day stay. The federal tourist eVisa is single-entry, allows a stay of up to 30 days, and costs approximately US$158-160 including the service and mandatory health insurance components. Processing is typically a few business days; apply at least a week ahead. Note that the Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok) operates a separate entry system and still offers visa on arrival / its own eVisa to GCC nationals, but that permit alone does not authorize travel into federal Iraq. For a federal Iraq tourist trip, the conservative and correct route is to secure the federal eVisa online before flying.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
UAE (Golden Visa)Living in UAE as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Electronic visa (eVisa) - tourist/visit, applied online before travel
Maximum stay
Up to 30 days
per entry
Entries
Single entry
from issue date
Visa fee
Approximately US$158-160 (eVisa + mandatory health insurance)
consular fee only
Processing time
Typically 3-7 business days (often 6-72 hours); apply at least 1 week ahead
standard track
Validity
Enter within validity window (commonly up to 90 days from issue); 30-day maximum stay
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm passport validity and trip details
Ensure your UAE ordinary passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay and has a blank page. Have your travel dates, Iraqi address/hotel, and a clear reason for the visit ready.
· 6 months validity· Federal Iraq trip
/02
Open the official eVisa portal
Go to the Government of Iraq eVisa platform at evisa.iq. Avoid third-party sites that charge inflated fees; only the official portal issues the federal eVisa.
· evisa.iq· Official only
/03
Complete the online application
Create an account, select the tourist/visit eVisa, and fill in personal, passport, and travel information accurately.
· Tourist visa· Single entry
/04
Upload documents
Upload a passport bio-page scan, a recent passport-style photo, and any supporting documents (onward ticket, accommodation, financial means) as requested.
· Passport scan· Photo
/05
Pay the fee and submit
Pay the eVisa fee plus mandatory health insurance (about US$158-160 total) by card and submit the application.
· ~US$158-160· Card payment
/06
Receive eVisa and travel
Wait for approval (commonly a few business days), download/print the approved eVisa, and present it with your passport on arrival in Iraq.
· Print approval· Show on arrival
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
UAE ordinary passport valid 6+ months beyond stay
required
At least one blank passport page
required
Approved Iraq federal eVisa (printed copy)
required
Recent passport-style photograph
required
Confirmed return or onward ticket
required
Proof of accommodation / Iraqi address
recommended
Proof of sufficient funds
recommended
Mandatory health insurance (bundled with eVisa)
required
Clear, convincing reason for the visit
recommended
Note: Kurdistan Region uses a separate entry permit
info
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Federal Iraq eVisa fee~US$130-150Government/service charge for the tourist eVisa via evisa.iq
Mandatory health insurance~US$10-25Bundled into the eVisa total at checkout
Approximate total~US$158-160Combined eVisa plus insurance; figures vary slightly
Total estimateUS$158 — US$160incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Standard eVisa processing
3-7 business days
Online via evisa.iq; many approvals issue within 6-72 hours but apply at least a week ahead
Embassy visa (Iraqi Embassy, Abu Dhabi)
Varies (allow 1-3 weeks)
Alternative for cases not eligible for eVisa or requiring other visa categories
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Visa on arrival suspended (March 2025)
Iraq suspended its visa-on-arrival facility from 1 March 2025, requiring affected travelers to obtain an eVisa before departure.
High
/02
No GCC/UAE visa exemption for federal Iraq
The Iraqi embassy in Abu Dhabi lists no visa waiver for UAE or GCC nationals; standard visa rules apply.
High
/03
Official reference confirms eVisa
Wikipedia's visa-requirements table for Emirati citizens records Iraq as eVisa with a 30-day stay, consistent with the official portal.
Medium
/04
Kurdistan Region is separate
The Kurdistan Region runs its own entry system; a Kurdistan permit alone does not authorize travel into federal Iraq.
Medium
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30 · major
United Arab Emirates to Iraq route verified
Confirmed eVisa requirement for UAE ordinary passport holders to federal Iraq. Visa on arrival suspended from 1 March 2025; eVisa (single entry, up to 30 days, ~US$158-160) applied online via evisa.iq. Verified against Iraqi embassy Abu Dhabi, Iraq eVisa portal, and Wikipedia visa-policy references.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can UAE citizens get a visa on arrival in Iraq?—
No. Iraq suspended visa on arrival for affected nationalities from 1 March 2025. UAE ordinary passport holders must obtain an eVisa online before traveling to federal Iraq.
Are GCC or UAE nationals visa-exempt for Iraq?+
How much does the Iraq eVisa cost?+
How long can I stay and is it single or multiple entry?+
How long does processing take?+
Does the eVisa cover the Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah)?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the UAE passport

🇦🇪⇄
Compare the UAE passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇦🇪◐
UAE visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇦🇪▤
UAE passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
See something wrong on this page?
Policies change. If something looks off, tell us — we review every report within 48 hours.