Iraq’s top court rules lifetime diplomatic passports unconstitutional

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court has struck down a law that would have allowed lifetime diplomatic passports, ruling it unconstitutional after challenges from the ministers of foreign affairs and interior.

The court said it reviewed two lawsuits against Law No. 6 of 2025, which amended the Passports Law No. 23 of 2015, and issued a joint ruling. “The court ruled that Law No. 6 of 2025 (First Amendment to the Passports Law No. 23 of 2015) is unconstitutional, as it conflicts with Articles 14, 16, 47, and 80 of the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq for the year 2005. The decision was issued unanimously and publicly announced on August 20, 2025,” the statement said.

The ruling prevents lifetime diplomatic passports, which in most countries are reserved for serving officials and expire when their posts end.

Concerns about misuse had been raised before the law was passed. In 2023, the Parliamentary Integrity Committee reported that 32,000 diplomatic passports had been issued in recent years, including 10,000 to people with no ties to the diplomatic service. Committee member Sarwa Abdul Wahid said at the time: “The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued 32,000 diplomatic passports in the past four years, and it is not reasonable to have that number of diplomatic employees.”

Parliament approved the amendment on January 13, 2025. The Federal Supreme Court has now overturned it.