Market Entry
Iraq Market Entry Guide
A practical starting point for foreign companies and investors
StateOfIraq
Entering Iraq’s market starts with understanding where to register, which approvals your business needs, and how banking, tax, and visa rules apply to your activities.
This guide introduces the main steps for establishing a business presence or developing an investment project. Requirements depend on your business structure, industry, project location, and whether you operate in federal Iraq or the Kurdistan Region.
Sources reviewed on 10 September 2026.
The National Investment Commission publishes an official Investor Guide, including a 2024 edition. It provides a starting point alongside the Ministry of Trade’s registration requirements and the applicable investment laws. Official Investor Guide
1 Start with the right government authority
Company registration and investment licensing serve different purposes. Registration establishes your business’s legal presence; an investment licence relates to an eligible investment project and its associated incentives.
| Your objective | Main starting point |
| Establish a company or register a foreign-company branch in federal Iraq | Ministry of Trade — Companies Registration Department |
| Apply for an investment licence and project incentives | National Investment Commission or the relevant Provincial Investment Commission |
| Arrange corporate tax registration and compliance in federal Iraq | Ministry of Finance — General Commission for Taxes |
| Register a business in the Kurdistan Region | KRG Ministry of Trade and Industry — General Directorate of Companies Registration |
| Explore investment licensing in the Kurdistan Region | Kurdistan Board of Investment |
An investment licence does not replace company registration. The NIC’s One Stop Shop coordinates investment applications with the relevant government bodies. NIC guidance, Tax authority, KRG registration authority
2 Choose your business structure and register
Before preparing an application, confirm whether your activities require an Iraqi-incorporated company or qualify for registration as a foreign-company branch. The NIC guide describes incorporation and foreign-company registration routes, but the Registrar’s applicable requirements should determine your filing.
For an Iraqi-incorporated company, the general preparation process includes choosing the company type, reserving a trade name, preparing incorporation documents, arranging the required capital deposit, and identifying a business address in Iraq. Ownership eligibility and any sector approvals should be checked before committing to a structure. NIC Investor Guide
For foreign-company branches, the Ministry of Trade publishes a document checklist under Branches of Foreign Companies Regulation No. 2 of 2017. It includes:
- The parent company’s incorporation documents and valid registration certificate.
- Latest final accounts, with the associated directors’ and auditor’s reports.
- Powers of attorney for the branch manager and deputy.
- Authorisation for the person submitting the application.
- Directors’ names, nationalities, and authorised signatory information.
- The Registrar’s application forms and undertakings.
Confirm the required authentication, translation, branch eligibility, and any additional approvals with the Registrar before submitting. Ministry of Trade branch-registration checklist
3 Check whether your project needs an investment licence
For projects seeking benefits under the federal Investment Law, begin with the NIC or the relevant Provincial Investment Commission.
The NIC’s One Stop Shop lists supporting documents including a project summary, economic feasibility study, evidence of financial capacity from an accredited bank, implementation timetable, company documents, and identification and authorisation documents. Previous project experience may also be requested.
The responsible commission coordinates the relevant approvals. Your project’s activity and location determine which additional authorities must participate. NIC One Stop Shop
4 Arrange corporate banking
Which banks can foreign companies approach
Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) publishes a specific account-opening checklist for foreign companies. Its requirements include authenticated parent-company documents, a board resolution identifying authorised signatories, an Iraqi branch or representative-office licence, signatories’ identification, and the company’s latest annual report. This provides a documented route for approaching the bank. TBI foreign-company account requirements
National Bank of Iraq (NBI) publishes a corporate current-account product with Iraqi-dinar and US-dollar options and remittance services. Its public product page does not establish eligibility for every foreign-company structure; prospective applicants should request confirmation from its corporate banking team. NBI corporate current account
Published banking services do not guarantee account approval or confirm that every type of foreign applicant is currently being accepted.
Before selecting a bank, request written confirmation of:
- Eligibility for your company structure, ownership, nationality, and industry.
- Required registration and beneficial-ownership documents.
- Whether a capital-deposit account is available before incorporation is complete.
- Available currencies and international payment routes.
- Trade-finance services, including letters of credit and guarantees.
- Minimum balances, charges, and the expected onboarding process.
5 Understand taxes and investment exemptions
Are new foreign companies automatically tax exempt
No. Foreign ownership or new registration alone does not establish entitlement to an initial tax exemption.
The federal tax authority’s corporate-return guidance specifies a 15% rate for ordinary activities, with a 35% rate for activities covered by Law No. 19 of 2010. Confirm which treatment applies to your business and contracts. General Commission for Taxes corporate-return guidance
For eligible projects licensed under the amended federal Investment Law, Article 15 provides a ten-year exemption from taxes and fees, starting from commencement of commercial operation for each project stage. Customs treatment is addressed separately, including conditions under Article 17.
The law also provides for a possible extension to fifteen years where Iraqi participation exceeds 50%, subject to the applicable provisions and commission decision. This is not an automatic benefit for every joint venture.
Before including incentives in a financial model, obtain confirmation of the project’s eligibility, covered income and activities, exemption start date, and customs treatment. Amended Investment Law Articles 15 to 17
6 Identify industry and operating approvals
There is no single approval process covering every business activity. Investment licensing can involve several sector authorities and the body responsible for the project’s land. The NIC’s legal guide identifies participating bodies such as the oil, electricity, environment, and municipal authorities, depending on the project. NIC legal guide
Before launch, ask the responsible authority to confirm:
- Sector licences and professional registrations.
- Land-use, construction, municipal, and environmental approvals.
- Import permissions, customs procedures, and product standards.
- Employment, social-security, immigration, and work-permit obligations.
- Additional conditions for public tenders or government contracts.
Use this as a planning checklist; the applicable requirements must be established for your specific activity.
7 Planning to operate in the Kurdistan Region
The Kurdistan Region has its own company-registration administration and investment framework.
The KRG’s Business Registration System supports applications from local and foreign businesses. Foreign-branch registration is handled through the relevant company-registration directorate. KRG Business Registration System, Foreign-branch registration service
The Kurdistan Board of Investment summarises a ten-year project income-tax exemption under its investment framework, beginning when production or service delivery starts. Eligibility and approvals must be assessed under that framework. KRG investment-law summary
If your business will operate in both the Kurdistan Region and federal Iraq, confirm registration, licensing, and tax obligations for both locations before commencing operations.
8 Visas business visits and residence
Foreign investors and company representatives should confirm their entry requirements before travelling. The appropriate route depends on nationality, passport type, purpose of travel, and whether the destination is federal Iraq or the Kurdistan Region.How to apply for a visa to federal Iraq
Start with the Iraqi government’s visa requirements checker, which provides information by country and passport type. Iraqi consular guidance directs applicants to the Ministry of Interior’s e-Visa application portal. Official Iraqi consular guidance For a business visit:- Check eligibility using the passport you will travel with.
- Confirm the visa category appropriate to your planned meetings, investment discussions, or project activities.
- Prepare the documents requested for that category. Ask whether an invitation from your Iraqi host, company letter, or government approval is required.
- Complete the application and payment through the official process.
- Check the approved visa’s entry deadline, number of entries, and permitted stay before travelling.
How long is the visa valid
Visa validity and permitted stay are different. Validity determines when a visa can be used; permitted stay determines how long the visitor may remain after entry.| Destination or route | Published guidance |
| Federal Iraq — visit e-Visa | Current UK government guidance for British citizens describes a visa valid for 60 days. This should not be presented as a universal 60-day stay entitlement for every nationality or visa category. Check the issued visa’s conditions. |
| Kurdistan Region — portal-issued visitor visa | The KRG portal states 90 days to use the visa from issuance, with a 30-day stay from entry. |
| Longer stays employment or project assignments | Confirm the appropriate residence and work arrangements separately before the visitor permission expires. |
Nationality specific requirements for federal Iraq
Iraqi consular guidance directs passport holders from the United States, United Kingdom, EU countries, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea to apply for an e-Visa before travel. The notice includes older visa-on-arrival information, so travellers should confirm their current route through the government portal rather than rely on that older wording. Iraqi consular notice For British citizens, current UK government guidance explicitly states that visit visas are no longer available on arrival in federal Iraq and that an e-Visa application must be made at least 24 hours before travel. Allow additional time for review; this is not a guaranteed approval period. UK government entry requirements For other nationalities and special travel documents, use the official Iraqi requirements checker. Eligibility should be checked individually for each travelling employee or investor.Nationality specific requirements for the Kurdistan Region
The KRG portal separates applicants into two groups:- Country List A: eligible applicants can apply directly online; the portal also describes a visa-on-arrival option.
- Country List B: applicants require a guarantor or sponsor, with the application submitted through the sponsored process.