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Work permits for foreigners in Iraq

Short answer: In Iraq outside the Kurdistan Region, a foreign worker's permit is valid for one year and is renewed every year. The renewal is filed in the last month before the permit expires (Instructions No. 1 of 2026, Art. 5, issued under Art. 33 of Labour Law No. 37 of 2015; Iraqi Gazette No. 4863). The employer pays a work fee of IQD 2,000,000 once per foreign worker entering Iraq (Law No. 18 of 2023, Art. 106(First)).

Unofficial translation of Art. 5: "First: The work permit is granted by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs or his delegate and is valid for one year, renewable, on a form prepared by the Labour and Vocational Training Department. Second: The permit is renewed annually once the conditions in these Instructions are met. Third: The foreign worker files a renewal request through the employer within the last month before it expires." (Iraqi Gazette No. 4863, 30/3/2026, p. 8)

What employers need to know

  1. Term: one year, renewed annually (Instructions 1/2026, Art. 5).
  2. Renewal timing: in the last month before expiry (Art. 5). Put it in the HR calendar.
  3. Work fee: IQD 2,000,000, collected by the Retirement and Social Security Fund. It is paid once per foreign worker entering Iraq, not on each renewal (Law 18/2023, Art. 106(First)).
  4. Social security: for a foreign worker, the employer pays the 8% state share on top of its own 12% (or 25% for private/mixed-sector employers whose profits come from selling Iraqi oil and hydrocarbons). The worker contributes 5% (Law 18/2023, Art. 14(Second)).
  5. Legal basis of the Instructions: Art. 33 of Labour Law No. 37 of 2015.

How we help

We prepare permit and renewal files, track renewal dates, and coordinate them with the social-security file and the company or branch registration. We serve companies from our Baghdad office. See: Social security for companies · Company registration · Labour law · Work permits 2026 article

Kurdistan Region: work permits there follow a separate procedure at the Region's Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. See the Erbil page.

FAQ

How long is a foreign work permit valid? One year, renewed annually (Instructions 1/2026, Art. 5). When do I file the renewal? In the last month before expiry (Art. 5). Is the IQD 2,000,000 fee repeated on renewal? No. It is paid once per foreign worker entering Iraq (Law 18/2023, Art. 106(First)). Who pays the state social-security share for foreign workers? The employer (Art. 14(Second)(c)).

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.