Iraq: chain via Green Zone Baghdad
The Republic of Iraq (Jumhuriyat Al-Iraq) has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention 1961. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iraq (Wizarat Al-Kharijiya, Baghdad, Green Zone International Zone) still operates the three-stage Tasdiq chain: source-country MFA + Embassy of the Republic of Iraq + MOFA Baghdad Authentication Department, before acceptance by Da'irat Al-Ahwal Al-Madaniya (Civil Status Directorate, Ministry of Interior), Catasta (Land Registry, Tapu/Tabu), Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA), Ministry of Health (Kimadia), Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), and Court of First Instance.
Embassy of Iraq Bangkok at 47 Soi Ekkamai 5 (Sukhumvit 63), Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, accepts submissions 09:00–12:00 Sun–Thu. Fee THB 2,500–4,500/document, turnaround 10–14 working days. KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government, Erbil) has a separate procedure: documents intended for use in Kurdistan require KRG MOFA Apostille-equivalent (Salahaddin Building, Erbil) before MOFA Baghdad legalisation.
Popular documents + Personal Status
Marriage: Personal Status Law 188/1959 (revised 2019) requires marriage at Mahkamat Al-Ahwal Al-Shakhsiya (Personal Status Court). Thai documents: Single Status + Birth Certificate + HIV result, full chain + Arabic Sworn Translation. A Muslim man may marry a Christian or Jewish woman; a non-Muslim man cannot marry a Muslim woman (art.17).
Work Permit: MOLSA issues Ijazat Amal — requires Diploma + Police Clearance + Medical, full chain + Arabic. Residence issued by Mudiriyat Al-Iqama (Directorate of Residence), valid 1 year.
Education + MOHESR: diploma recognition via the Department of Recognition and Equivalency — Bachelor 30 days, Master 45 days, PhD 60 days. Fee IQD 250,000 (~THB 6,000).
POA + Property: Land Law 53/1976 restricts foreign ownership — agricultural land prohibited; residential and commercial allowed in Baghdad/Basra/Erbil via Catasta + POA notarisation.
Steps + NYC pricing
(1) Thai→English + MFA Thailand THB 200/400 per page, 2–3 days.
(2) Embassy of Iraq Bangkok THB 2,500–4,500 per document, 10–14 days.
(3) DHL Bangkok→Baghdad BGW THB 4,500–6,500 per parcel, 5–8 days + Green Zone customs 2–3 days.
(4) MOFA Baghdad Tasdiq IQD 50,000–150,000 per document (~THB 1,300–4,000) + partner THB 3,500, 7–10 days.
(5) Arabic Sworn Translation Baghdad IQD 30,000–100,000 per page (~THB 800–2,700), Iraqi MOJ-registered.
(6) Notary Iraq attestation IQD 25,000–75,000 per document (~THB 650–2,000).
End-to-end 5-document set: THB 11,000–18,000, 22–32 working days.
Iraq-specific risks
1) KRG vs Federal Iraq: Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok) has its own government — documents used in KRG require KRG Apostille (Salahaddin Building) and per the 2017 MOU may not need MOFA Baghdad; documents for Federal Iraq (Baghdad/Basra/Mosul) always require MOFA Baghdad. Verify destination before starting chain.
2) Security situation: parts of Anbar, Nineveh, and Diyala still have ISIS remnants — DHL only delivers to Baghdad/Erbil/Basra/Najaf/Sulaymaniyah; other areas require overland courier (Hawala-style), adding 5–7 days.
3) Residual sanctions: certain PMU-affiliated Iraqi entities remain on the OFAC SDN list — NYC screens before accepting work; Baghdad-side payments use Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) or Citibank Baghdad (USD via CBI).
4) Arabic vs Kurdish: KRG government uses Kurdish (Sorani in Erbil/Sulaymaniyah, Kurmanji in Duhok) + Arabic; documents used in Erbil should be translated into both Kurdish and Arabic, +30% fee.
5) Fri–Sat weekend: Iraqi government (Federal + KRG) closed Fri–Sat; Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr (3 days), Eid al-Adha (4 days), Ashura, Arba'een (40 days after Ashura) add ~30 closed days/year. NYC checks Islamic and national calendars before booking.