Iraq

Last Updated: 2026-04-01

Official Portal: Ministry of Interior — Directorate of Nationality

Embassy Finder: Iraqi Diplomatic Missions

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	10 years of lawful residence (5 years for Arab nationals)
Language requirement	No formal language test; working knowledge of Arabic expected
Civics test	None formalized
Processing time	12—24+ months; significant bureaucratic delays
Naturalization fee	Nominal; set by the Ministry of Interior
Dual citizenship	Permitted since the 2006 Iraqi Nationality Law
Citizenship by birth in Iraq	Limited jus soli for specific categories
Citizenship by descent	Patrilineal (automatic through father); maternal descent recognized under the 2006 law
Governing law	Iraqi Nationality Law No. 26 of 2006

Dual Citizenship

Iraq permits dual citizenship under the 2006 Nationality Law, a significant departure from previous Baathist-era legislation that prohibited it.

Key provisions:

Article 10 of the 2006 law states that an Iraqi citizen who acquires a foreign nationality does not lose Iraqi citizenship.
Foreign nationals who acquire Iraqi citizenship are not required to renounce their prior nationality.
Dual citizens are treated as Iraqi citizens while in Iraq and must enter and exit on Iraqi documents.
Dual citizens are eligible for government positions unless the specific office requires sole Iraqi nationality (e.g., President, Prime Minister, and certain security positions under the Constitution, Article 18).
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq follows federal nationality law on dual citizenship.

Historical note: Under the 1963 and 1968 Nationality Laws, dual citizenship was prohibited and acquisition of foreign nationality resulted in automatic loss. The 2006 reform was part of the post-Saddam constitutional restructuring.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Iraq applies a limited jus soli provision:

A child born in Iraq to unknown parents is presumed Iraqi.
A child born in Iraq to a stateless father and an Iraqi mother acquires Iraqi citizenship.
A child born in Iraq to foreign parents does not automatically acquire Iraqi citizenship solely by birth on the territory.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Iraqi citizenship is primarily transmitted through the father:

A child born to an Iraqi father acquires citizenship automatically, regardless of place of birth (Article 3).
A child born to an Iraqi mother and non-Iraqi father may acquire Iraqi citizenship under the 2006 law. The child (or their guardian) must apply; it is not fully automatic as with paternal descent.
The 2006 law was a marked improvement over previous legislation, which did not recognize maternal descent at all.
There is no generational limit on descent-based citizenship, though documentation requirements increase with each generation.

By Adoption

Iraqi law, following Islamic legal tradition, does not recognize formal adoption (tabanni). Guardianship (kafalah) does not confer citizenship. A child under guardianship retains the nationality of their biological parents.

By Marriage

Marriage to an Iraqi citizen does not confer automatic citizenship, but provides a preferential pathway:

A foreign woman married to an Iraqi man may apply for Iraqi citizenship after 3 years of marriage while residing in Iraq.
A foreign man married to an Iraqi woman may apply after 5 years of marriage while residing in Iraq.
Both must apply through the Directorate of Nationality at the Ministry of Interior.
The gender disparity in waiting periods reflects the patrilineal orientation of the law.

By Naturalization

Requirement	Details
Residence	10 years of lawful continuous residence (5 years for Arab nationals)
Age	At least 18 years old
Character	Good conduct; no conviction for a felony or dishonorable crime
Financial	Lawful means of livelihood
Health	Free of communicable diseases
Renunciation	Not required — dual citizenship is permitted
Approval	Granted by the Minister of Interior

Naturalization is discretionary. The Minister of Interior may refuse any application without stating reasons.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary renunciation: An Iraqi citizen may apply to renounce citizenship through the Directorate of Nationality. Renunciation is granted if:

The applicant has acquired or been assured another nationality.
The applicant has no pending criminal cases or unfulfilled financial obligations to the state.
The renunciation does not occur during wartime.

Involuntary loss:

Ground	Details
Fraud	Citizenship obtained through false information or fraudulent documents may be revoked
State security	Citizenship may be revoked for acts threatening the independence, sovereignty, or national security of Iraq
Absence	Extended unauthorized absence from Iraq (historically enforced under Baathist legislation; less relevant under current law)

Historical note: The former Baathist regime used denaturalization as a weapon, particularly against Kurdish, Turkmen, and Shia populations. The 2006 law includes provisions for restoring citizenship to those denaturalized under previous regimes (Article 17).

Restoration of Nationality

The 2006 law provides robust restoration provisions:

Any Iraqi citizen who lost citizenship under previous legislation (particularly the Baathist-era denaturalization campaigns) has the right to apply for restoration (Article 17).
This applies to persons denaturalized for political, ethnic, or sectarian reasons, including Faili Kurds and others expelled during the Arabization campaigns.
No residency requirement for restoration.
Descendants of persons whose citizenship was revoked may also apply.
Application is made to the Directorate of Nationality at the Ministry of Interior.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Iraq is a party to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons but is not a party to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

A child of unknown parentage found in Iraq is presumed to be an Iraqi citizen (foundling provision, Article 3).
The legacy of Baathist-era denaturalization campaigns created a significant stateless population, particularly among Faili Kurds. The 2006 law’s restoration provisions address some of these cases.
Bidoon (stateless) populations exist in Iraq, particularly in areas near the Kuwait and Saudi borders, though the problem is less severe than in some neighboring Gulf states.

Document Checklist

Iraqi Civil Status Identity Card (Hawiyya) or Iraqi National Card

Iraqi Nationality Certificate (Shahadat al-Jinsiyya al-Iraqiyya)

Birth certificate (if available)

Father’s nationality certificate (for descent-based claims)

Mother’s nationality certificate (for maternal descent claims under 2006 law)

Marriage certificate (for spousal pathway)

Valid passport (Iraqi or foreign)

Proof of residence in Iraq (for naturalization)

Criminal record clearance

Medical fitness certificate

Two recent passport-sized photographs

Application form (from Directorate of Nationality)

Sources

Iraqi Nationality Law No. 26 of 2006 — Primary nationality legislation. Available through UNHCR Refworld: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4b1e364c2.html
Constitution of Iraq (2005) — Article 18 on nationality: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iraq_2005
Ministry of Interior — Directorate of Nationality — Application procedures: https://moi.gov.iq/
UNHCR — Iraq — Nationality and statelessness guidance: https://www.unhcr.org/iraq.html
Minority Rights Group International — Documentation on denaturalization of Faili Kurds and other groups: https://minorityrights.org/country/iraq/

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