Residency is tied to the investment license period. Permits are issued for up to one year, renewable annually, as long as the investment license remains valid.
👪 Dependants
No
The investment law grants residency rights to the foreign investor and non-Iraqi workers employed in the investment project. Provisions for family members (spouse, children) are not explicitly detailed in the federal law and would follow general Iraqi immigration rules.
🛂 Citizenship Path
No direct pathway
The investment license itself is the basis for residency. There is no separate path from this program to permanent residency or citizenship; if the license lapses, residency rights lapse with it.
Iraq's Investment Residency grants foreign investors the right to reside in Iraq under Investment Law No. 13 of 2006 (as amended by Law No. 2 of 2010 and Law No. 50 of 2015). Any foreign national who obtains an investment license from the National Investment Commission (NIC) receives residency rights along with facilitated entry and exit. The program targets investors across sectors including housing, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, and services — oil and gas extraction and banking/insurance are excluded.
The NIC operates a One Stop Shop (OSS) in Baghdad and through Regional/Governorate Investment Commission offices to process license applications, allocate land, and facilitate investor residency.
Requirements
Foreign national of any nationality
A proposed investment project in an eligible sector (excludes oil and gas extraction, banking, and insurance)
Bank financial competency certificate demonstrating the ability to finance the project
Economic feasibility study and technical implementation plan for the project
No statutory minimum investment amount — the threshold is set case-by-case by the Council of Ministers relative to the project's scope and sector
No specific educational or professional qualifications required
Valid passport with at least 6 months validity
Required Documents
Completed NIC application form
Bank financial competency certificate
Documentation of previously completed projects (domestic and international)
Economic feasibility study and technical implementation plan
Project implementation timeline
Valid passport and passport photographs
Medical examination report (for the residency permit application)
Duration & Renewal
Residency permits are issued for up to one year and are renewable annually for as long as the investment license remains valid. The investment license is the basis for residency: if it lapses, residency rights lapse with it. There is no separate path from this program to permanent residency or citizenship.
Family Members
The federal investment law specifically grants residency to the investor and to non-Iraqi workers employed in the investment project. It contains no explicit provisions for accompanying family members (spouse, children), who would need to follow standard Iraqi immigration procedures. Note: the Kurdistan Region's separate 2025 investor visa pathways explicitly extend eligibility to the investor's spouse, children under 18, and parents.
Tax Implications
Licensed investment projects are exempt from all taxes and fees for 10 years from the date commercial operations commence, extending to 15 years when Iraqi investors hold more than 50% ownership. Imported equipment and assets are exempt from taxes and customs duties during the construction phase. After the exemption period, the standard 15% corporate income tax rate applies.
Application Process
Submit to the NIC: File the investment license application at the NIC's One Stop Shop in Baghdad or at a Regional/Governorate Investment Commission office, including the financing plan, feasibility study, technical details, and project timeline.
Review: The OSS reviews the application within 10 days and refers it to the relevant ministry within 15 days. The NIC must issue a decision within 45 days of filing.
License issuance: Upon approval, the investor receives an investment license, which entitles them to residency rights under Article 12, Section 2 of the law.
Residency permit: The investor enters Iraq on a standard business or visit visa (around USD 40 for a regular visa) and must register with the General Directorate of Residency within 10 days of arrival. Visas and residency reservations can be initiated through the official Iraq eVisa portal (evisa.iq). Once the investment license is granted, the investor applies for a residency permit (Iqama).
Ongoing obligations: Notify the NIC upon operational launch; maintain audited financial records; ensure at least 50% of the workforce is Iraqi nationals; and use acquired property solely for the intended investment purpose.
Comparison: Kurdistan Region
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq operates a separate investment regime administered by the Kurdistan Board of Investment. In 2025 it announced new investor visa tracks, including a work residence permit for those purchasing a residential unit valued at a minimum of USD 50,000. This is a distinct regional scheme — the federal program sets no minimum investment amount.