We are currently unable to offer a full visa service in Iraq for travel to the United Kingdom.
The British Embassy in Baghdad and the British Embassy Office in Erbil are only permitted to accept entry clearance applications from  a limited number of categories.  These are listed below.  Iraqi nationals who are unable to meet these requirements may apply for any type of visa at regional Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Amman, Beirut and Damascus.

• Government of Iraq delegations travelling to the UK for official purposes in order to meet with UK Government or UK public-body officials.

• Government of Iraq delegations travelling to the UK to conduct meetings with an internationally accredited organisation with offices in the UK (such as the International Maritime Organisation).

• Individuals travelling to the UK on a visit or study programme fully-funded by the UK Government or the European Union.

• Those who need to travel to the UK urgently for the most exceptionally compelling compassionate reasons

• Iraqi diplomats or diplomats from other diplomatic missions present in Iraq who intend to take up a posting at a diplomatic mission in the UK or are travelling to the UK on official business

Baghdad: All applications must be submitted at the British Embassy Public Office which is located in Meadowlands (on the northern side of FOB Prosperity in the western most area of the International Zone) and accessed via Kindi District in the Red Zone.  It is open Sunday to Thursday between the hours of 10am and 12noon. The British Embassy Public Office is closed on Iraqi and UK public holidays.

Erbil: Applications are accepted by appointment only on Monday and Wednesday afternoons with a maximum of 20 appointments per week. No applications will be accepted outside of the above acceptance criteria, or without an appointment. All applications made in Erbil will need to be accompanied by a supporting letter from the KRG Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The British Mission Erbil is also closed on Iraqi and UK public holidays.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. All application forms must be signed and accompanied by a valid passport, passport photograph, fee and any supporting documentation.

Regional Visa Application Centres
All applications that do not meet the above acceptance criteria will need to be made in person at the Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Amman, Beirut or Damascus. Iraqi nationals are able to apply for all types of visas at these offices. Appointments are not necessary for the purpose of submitting applications.

Further information, including the addresses and opening hours of the Visa Application Centres, current visa fees, application forms and details of recommended supporting documentation is available online. Visit www.vfsglobal-uk-sy.com for applications made in Damascus or www.visainfoservices.com for applications made in Amman or Beirut where information is available in both English and Arabic. Highlighted in the websites are the recent changes made to the Visit Visa (in particular to the new categories of Visa Application Form introduced in November 2008) and the expansion of the Points Based System.

A minimum 21-day processing period is required for all visa applications made in Baghdad.  A processing time of approximately 10 days should be allowed for applications submitted in Erbil. Urgent applications should be made in person in Amman, Beirut or Damascus.