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Al-Taswia Legal Services Company

Legal services for clients in Erbil and the Kurdistan Region

Short answer: We serve clients in Erbil from our Baghdad office.

  • The Region has its own Labour Law No. 71 of 1987, published on the KRG services portal.
  • Foreign work permits are issued through the Region's Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
  • Companies and foreign branches register with the General Directorate of Companies Registration at the KRG Ministry of Trade and Industry, through an online portal.

The points below are procedures, documents and government fees as the KRG publishes them.

1) Labour law and foreign work permits in the Region

  • Applicable law: Labour Law No. 71 of 1987 (published on the KRG services portal). We do not summarise its substantive rules here; we check each file against the text in force when we work on it.
  • Foreign worker permit (KRG Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, General Directorate of Labour and Social Security). Per the official service page:
  • Conditions:
  • Recruitment through a recruitment company licensed by the Ministries of Labour and Interior.
  • A security deposit placed in a bank.
  • A work contract completed for each worker at the Labour Directorate.
  • A request for the worker to work in the Region from a party other than the recruitment company.
  • The vacancy advertised in an official newspaper.
  • Documents:
  • Residence card and passport copy.
  • Work contract and company undertaking.
  • Social-security clearance.
  • Personal guarantee and committee report.
  • The company's foreign-recruitment licence.
  • The advertisement (newspaper or job site).
  • A labour-union letter.
  • Bank deposit receipt.
  • 4 photos.
  • Time: 10 days. Fees: free, per the service page.
  • Steps:
  1. Application to the governorate Labour Directorate.
  2. Workplace visit by the foreign-labour committee.
  3. Advertisement.
  4. Review by the General Directorate.
  5. File sent to the Ministry, then to the Ministry of Interior for the visa.
  • Labour Directorates: Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Soran, Zakho and Garmiyan.

2) Company and foreign-branch registration in the Region

Authority: General Directorate of Companies Registration, Ministry of Trade and Industry.

  • General Directorate in Erbil: Iskan Jawhar Bapir Street.
  • Company directorates in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah (Hama Jaza Street) and Duhok (Mazi Street).
  • Hours: 08:00–15:00.

Foreign company branch (official service page):

  • Conditions:
  • The company must have been registered in its home country for over a year and be in good financial standing.
  • The branch manager must reside in the Region.
  • The branch needs an official mailing address in the Region.
  • Foreign documents must be certified by the KRG Department of Foreign Relations and the Ministry of Justice.
  • The service may be done through a legal representative under a power of attorney.
  • Documents: each translated into Arabic or Kurdish and certified by the Iraqi Embassy or KRG representation:
  • Home-country registration certificate.
  • Articles of incorporation.
  • Latest financial statement.
  • Board minutes approving the branch, addressed to the General Directorate, naming the manager, the manager's powers and the legal representative.
  • Manager's ID and residence card.
  • Office lease or proof of ownership.
  • Time: 3–6 days.
  • Government fees (KRG Decision No. 119 of 20/11/2017, as stated on the service page):
  • IQD 200,000 branch registration.
  • IQD 50,000 document verification.
  • IQD 25,000 advertising.
  • IQD 25,000 office inspection.
  • Steps: open an online account on the General Directorate's official website, then visit the Legal Department to certify the documents and the contract.

National company (official service page):

  • Steps:
  • Register online through the business-entity portal.
  • Receive the incorporation contract by email.
  • Visit the authorised bank.
  • Original documents are checked at the directorate.
  • Collect the registration certificate.
  • Time: 3–10 days.
  • Power of attorney: a lawyer holding a power of attorney may handle it.
  • Fixed fees under Decision 119/2017:
  • IQD 25,000 inspection.
  • IQD 50,000 registration.
  • IQD 25,000 publication.
  • IQD 50,000 document verification.
  • To appoint the authorised manager: IQD 50,000 verification, IQD 25,000 appointment and IQD 25,000 publication.

3) Real estate in Erbil

For clients in Erbil, we review title documents, leases and property-management arrangements before signature. We do not state Region-specific property rules here, because we have no official KRG source for them. We match each file to the text in force and the competent KRG authority. For federal rules, see Real estate & property.

Links: Kurdistan Region · Company registration · Work permits (federal) · Labour law · Outside Baghdad

FAQ

We serve clients in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok from our office in Baghdad. Which labour law does the Region apply? Labour Law No. 71 of 1987, as published on the KRG services portal. How old must the parent be to open a branch in the Region? Registered in its home country for over a year, per the official service page. How long does KRG branch registration take? 3–6 days, per the service page. Is there a KRG fee for a foreign work permit? The service page lists it as free.

About the author

Othman Al-Juboori: Iraqi lawyer, expert in Iraqi labour law, Member of the Iraqi Bar Association, and founder and Managing Director of Al-Taswia Legal Services Company. The firm has a team of 15 lawyers working from its Baghdad office. Author page Sources last checked: 16 October 2026.

General information, not legal advice.