Iraq embassy in Ankara tightens passport rules

NEWSROOM — Iraq’s Embassy in Ankara announced Wednesday it will begin implementing new procedures requiring the national unified identity card as the sole document for issuing electronic passports, effective Jan. 22, 2026, ending the use of electronic registry printouts.

In a statement, the embassy said the decision comes “in implementation of the directives of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior addressed to the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Ankara,” adding that it will stop issuing electronic passports based on electronic registry images. “As of Wednesday, 2026/01/22, the issuance of the electronic passport will be exclusively on the basis of the national (unified) identity card,” the statement said, describing the move as part of efforts to organize procedures and verify data “in accordance with the controls approved by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior.”

The embassy called on citizens to “adhere to the new instructions” and to visit the consular section “exclusively for citizens who possess the national (unified) identity card,” while affirming its commitment to “providing the best consular services to Iraqi citizens residing in the Republic of Türkiye.”

The unified national identity card in Iraq is an electronic biometric identification document issued by the Ministry of Interior that replaced older paper-based civil status, nationality and residence cards and serves as the primary official ID for Iraqi citizens. It was first launched nationally in 2016 and is required for a range of official transactions such as obtaining passports, opening bank accounts and registering to vote, and over time the government has expanded its issuance and integration into civil systems to streamline services and centralize personal data.