This guide covers UK visa requirements for Iraqi citizens in 2026 — fees, grant rates, processing times, and how to apply. Iraqi nationals need a visa for every UK trip, paid in US Dollars at TLScontact centres in Baghdad and Erbil. The 6-month visitor visa costs $191, but the route is demanding: only 52% of visitor applications succeed. Family applications, by contrast, are strong at 93%.
UK Visas from Iraq
UK Visa Requirements for Iraqi Citizens 2026: Fees, Grant Rates & How to Apply
UK Visa Statistics & Grant Rates for Iraqi Citizens 2026
A 6-month UK visitor visa from Iraq costs $191, the Student visa $791, the Skilled Worker visa $1,162, and the Spouse visa $2,927. Fees are paid in US Dollars at TLScontact Baghdad or Erbil. Iraqi citizens face a 52% visitor grant rate, so thorough documentation is essential, but family applications succeed 93% of the time.
Iraqi nationals submitted 22,557 UK visa applications in the year ending June 2026, the great majority for visits. The pattern is a sharp contrast: the visitor route is one of the harder ones globally at 52%, while family applications reach 93%, work 88%, and study 84%. Strong preparation is the difference between approval and refusal on the visitor route.
UK visa grant rates for Iraq (year ending June 2026)
| Visa Category | Applications | Grant Rate | Refused |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor | 18,120 | 52% | 8,749 |
| Family | 2,574 | 93% | 191 |
| Work | 165 | 88% | 20 |
| Study | 746 | 84% | 118 |
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending June 2026.
Two Very Different Routes
Iraq's numbers split sharply. The visitor route is genuinely difficult at 52%, reflecting immigration-risk scrutiny, so applicants must evidence finances and ties to Iraq carefully. The family route succeeds 93% of the time, serving the established Iraqi community in Britain and including the fee-free refugee family reunion route. Our grant rate analysis sets these figures in context against other nationalities.
Complete UK Visa Fee Table for Iraqi Citizens 2026
UK visa fees from Iraq are charged in US Dollars under the 8 April 2026 schedule, paid during the online application. The Immigration Health Surcharge applies separately to work, study, and family visas at £1,035 per year — £776 for students — always in pounds sterling.
UK visa fees from Iraq in US Dollars (2026)
| Visa Type | Fee (USD) | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6-month Visitor | $191 | 52% |
| 2-year Visitor | $718 | 52% |
| 5-year Visitor | $1,281 | 52% |
| 10-year Visitor | $1,600 | 52% |
| Student | $791 | 84% |
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,162 | 88% |
| Health and Care Worker | $459 | 88% |
| Spouse / Partner | $2,927 | 93% |
| Priority service | $709 | — |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule; grant rates year ending June 2026.
UK Visa Cost from Iraq at a Glance
For most travellers the price is $191 — the 6-month visitor visa. Against that single fee, the 2-year visa at $718 breaks even at around four trips, and one successful, well-documented application then covers years of visits instead of re-running a 52% risk each time. On sponsored routes the surcharge in pounds is usually the bigger line: a three-year Skilled Worker visa adds £3,105 on top of the $1,162 fee.
UK Visitor Visa for Iraqi Citizens 2026
The six-month visitor visa covers tourism, family visits, business, and short courses, with each visit capped at 180 days and long-term options at $718, $1,281, and $1,600 for 2, 5, or 10 years. Those visiting relatives should review the evidence from your UK host, and anyone refused can consult our guides to refusal reasons and reapplying after a refusal.
- Bank statements: 6+ months showing steady income, not sudden deposits.
- Employer letter: confirming role, salary, and approved leave.
- Ties to Iraq: property, business, or family showing return intent.
- Travel history: previous visas demonstrating compliance.
- Clear itinerary: accommodation and purpose of visit set out plainly.
UK Family Visa from Iraq: 93% Grant Rate 2026
With a large Iraqi community in Britain, family migration is both common and reliable — at 93%, far above the visitor rate. The UK Spouse visa costs $2,927 and lets Iraqi nationals join a British or settled partner under Appendix FM, provided the sponsor earns at least £29,000, leading to ILR after five years.
UK family visa fees from Iraq (2026)
| Family Visa Type | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Spouse / Partner / Child | $2,927 |
| Fiancé(e) visa | $2,927 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | $5,155 |
| Refugee Family Reunion | Free |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as charged in US Dollars.
Refugee Family Reunion: The Fee-Free Route
Refugee Family Reunion is significant for Iraq and carries no fee. It allows partners and children under 18 to join a relative who holds protection status in the UK, and it accounts for much of Iraq's high family grant rate. Unlike the Spouse visa, there is no income requirement for the sponsor on this route.
UK Student Visa for Iraqi Citizens 2026
The UK Student visa tends to succeed more often than the visitor route — 84% against 52% — because the CAS provides verified institutional sponsorship. The UK Student visa costs $791 plus the health surcharge at £776 per year, and needs a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, the English language requirement, and maintenance funds of £1,529 per month for London or £1,171 elsewhere. Graduates can then use the Graduate Route for two years of post-study work.
UK Work Visa for Iraqi Citizens 2026
Work volumes are modest but succeed at 88%. The Skilled Worker visa costs $1,162 for up to 3 years, or $2,295 for longer, and needs a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer, a graduate-level job, and a salary of at least £41,700 or the going rate in the Home Office eligible occupations list. Healthcare roles use the lower-fee Health and Care Worker route.
UK work visa fees from Iraq (2026)
| Work Visa Type | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,162 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | $2,295 |
| Health and Care Worker | $459 |
| Global Talent (with approval) | $291 |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as charged in US Dollars.
UK Visa Requirements & Documents for Iraqi Citizens
Iraqi citizens must provide thorough documentation, particularly for the visitor route where the 52% grant rate leaves little room for gaps. The core requirements apply across all visa types, with financial evidence and ties to Iraq carrying the most weight.
- Valid Iraqi passport: at least 6 months beyond the intended stay.
- Completed online application: via gov.uk with the fee paid in USD.
- Bank statements: the last 6 months, showing sufficient funds.
- Employment evidence: a letter confirming role, salary, and leave.
- Travel history: previous compliant international travel.
- Accommodation details: bookings or a UK host's invitation.
- Ties to Iraq: property, business, or family demonstrating return intent.
Our supporting documents checklist covers each route in detail, the application form guide walks through completing the online form correctly, and the Home Office's own guide to supporting documents sets out what caseworkers expect to see.
How to Apply: TLScontact Baghdad & Erbil
UK visa applications from Iraq go through TLScontact centres in Baghdad and Erbil — Baghdad serves central and southern Iraq, Erbil the Kurdistan Region and the north. The process mirrors that of neighbours: Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, and the Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE all use the same online system at gov.uk.
- Complete the online application on gov.uk and select Iraq.
- Pay the visa fee in US Dollars during the application.
- Book your appointment at TLScontact Baghdad or Erbil.
- Attend and give biometrics — fingerprints and a photograph.
- Submit supporting documents at the centre.
- Access your eVisa through your UKVI account once approved.
UK Visa Processing Time from Iraq
Standard decisions take around 3 weeks from biometrics for visitor, student, and work visas, and up to 12 weeks for settlement and family cases; the priority visa service can shorten non-settlement decisions where offered. Our guide to processing times after biometrics explains the timelines once you have attended your appointment.
Sources: fees from the Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as charged in US Dollars at visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk; grant rates and application volumes from the Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending June 2026. Figures verified 29 August 2026 against the 8 April 2026 fee schedule.
Frequently Asked
Questions about UK Visas for Iraqi Citizens
Yes, but Iraqi citizens must obtain a visa first, as Iraq is on the UK's visa-national list with no ETA option. The Standard Visitor visa costs $191 for six months and covers tourism, family visits, and business. The visitor grant rate is 52%, below the global average, so strong financial evidence, employment proof, and clear ties to Iraq are essential to demonstrate an intention to return.
In the year ending June 2026, the Iraqi visitor visa grant rate was 52% — of 18,120 visitor decisions, 8,749 were refused, nearly half. Family visas performed far better at 93%, with study at 84% and work at 88%. The strong family figure reflects the established Iraqi community in Britain and the refugee family reunion route.
UK visa fees from Iraq in 2026 are: 6-month Visitor $191, 2-year Visitor $718, Student $791, Skilled Worker $1,162 for up to 3 years, and Spouse $2,927. Fees are paid in US Dollars at TLScontact Baghdad or Erbil. Work, study, and family visas also require the Immigration Health Surcharge, paid separately in pounds at £1,035 per year, or £776 for students.
UK visa applications from Iraq are processed through TLScontact centres in Baghdad and Erbil. After completing the online application at gov.uk and paying in US Dollars, you book a biometrics appointment at your nearest centre. Baghdad serves central and southern Iraq, while Erbil serves the Kurdistan Region and the north. At the appointment you give fingerprints and a photograph and submit your documents.
Standard processing from Iraq is around 3 weeks for visitor, student, and work visas, and up to 12 weeks for settlement and family visas. The priority service returns a decision in about 5 working days for non-settlement visas where available, and super priority the next working day. These timelines run from your biometrics appointment at TLScontact, not from the online submission.
Yes, and it is the most reliable route at 93%. The Spouse visa costs $2,927 and lets you join a British or settled partner, provided the UK sponsor earns at least £29,000. Separately, the fee-free Refugee Family Reunion route allows partners and children under 18 to join a relative who holds protection status in the UK, which accounts for much of Iraq's high family grant rate.
The 52% grant rate reflects the weight caseworkers place on financial evidence and return intent. Most refusals cite unclear finances — sudden deposits, missing statements — or weak ties to Iraq. A steady income trail, an employer letter, property or family commitments, and any previous compliant travel materially improve the odds. Our refusal-reasons guide covers the specific wording caseworkers use and how to answer it.
Yes. The TLScontact centre in Erbil serves the Kurdistan Region and northern Iraq, so applicants from Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok do not need to travel to Baghdad. The application itself is completed online at gov.uk first, with the fee paid in US Dollars; the Erbil appointment covers biometrics and document submission only.
تأشيرة الزيارة لستة أشهر تكلف 191 دولاراً أمريكياً، وتأشيرة الطالب 791 دولاراً، وتأشيرة العمل الماهر (حتى 3 سنوات) 1,162 دولاراً، وتأشيرة الزوج 2,927 دولاراً. تُدفع الرسوم بالدولار الأمريكي عند التقديم الإلكتروني، وتُضاف رسوم الخدمة الصحية (IHS) بالجنيه الإسترليني لتأشيرات العمل والدراسة والعائلة.
يُقدَّم الطلب إلكترونياً عبر gov.uk، ثم تُعطى البصمات في مركز TLScontact في بغداد أو أربيل. مركز بغداد يخدم وسط وجنوب العراق، ومركز أربيل يخدم إقليم كردستان والمناطق الشمالية. المعالجة القياسية تستغرق نحو 3 أسابيع من موعد البصمات لتأشيرات الزيارة والدراسة والعمل.