This guide covers UK visa requirements for Iraqi citizens in 2026, including 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 $190, but the route is demanding — only 55% of visitor applications succeed. Family applications, by contrast, are strong at 91%, reflecting the large Iraqi community in Britain and the refugee family reunion route.
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026. Fees from the Home Office visa fee calculator, 8 April 2026 schedule.
Iraq remains a visa-national country, so every traveller needs a visa — there is no ETA option. Fees rose under the 8 April 2026 schedule, with the 6-month visitor visa now $190. The visitor route stays difficult at a 55% grant rate, so documentation matters, while family applications succeed 91% of the time. Successful applicants now receive a digital eVisa rather than a passport sticker.
UK Visa Fees and Statistics for Iraqi Citizens 2026
Iraqi nationals submitted 24,067 UK visa applications in the year ending March 2026, the great majority for visits. The pattern is a sharp contrast: the visitor route is one of the harder ones globally at 55%, while family applications reach 91%, work 86%, and study 77%. Strong preparation is the difference between approval and refusal on the visitor route.
A 6-month UK visitor visa from Iraq costs $190, the Student visa $783, the Skilled Worker visa $1,149, and the Spouse visa $2,896. Fees are paid in US Dollars at TLScontact Baghdad or Erbil. Iraqi citizens face a 55% visitor grant rate, so thorough documentation is essential, but family applications succeed 91% of the time.
| Visa Category | Applications | Grant Rate | Refused |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor | 20,340 | 55% | 9,320 |
| Family | 2,739 | 91% | 213 |
| Work | 216 | 86% | 30 |
| Study | 772 | 77% | 182 |
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026.
Iraq's numbers split sharply. The visitor route is genuinely difficult at 55%, reflecting immigration-risk scrutiny, so applicants must evidence finances and ties to Iraq carefully. The family route succeeds 91% 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, paid during the online application. The 8 April 2026 schedule raised most fees — the 6-month visitor visa rose from $177 to $190. The Immigration Health Surcharge applies separately to work, study, and family visas at £1,035 per year (£776 for students), always in pounds sterling.
| Visa Type | Fee (USD) | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6-month Visitor | $190 | 55% |
| 2-year Visitor | $713 | 55% |
| 5-year Visitor | $1,272 | 55% |
| 10-year Visitor | $1,589 | 55% |
| Student | $783 | 77% |
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,149 | 86% |
| Health and Care Worker | $455 | 86% |
| Spouse / Partner | $2,896 | 91% |
| Priority service | $702 | — |
UK Visitor Visa for Iraqi Citizens 2026
The 6-month UK visitor visa from Iraq costs $190, with long-term options at $713 (2 years), $1,272 (5 years), and $1,589 (10 years). At 55%, the visitor grant rate is well below the global average, so comprehensive financial evidence and clear ties to Iraq are essential. Each visit is capped at 180 days.
The Standard Visitor visa covers tourism, family visits, business, and short courses. Given the 55% rate, Iraqi applicants should focus on documentation: regular income, employment, and reasons to return. 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.
- Provide 6+ months of bank statements showing steady income.
- Include an employer letter confirming role, salary, and leave.
- Show property, business, or family ties to Iraq.
- Add any previous travel history demonstrating compliance.
- Give a clear itinerary, accommodation, and purpose of visit.
UK Family Visa from Iraq: 91% Grant Rate 2026
Iraqi family visa applications succeed 91% of the time — far above the visitor rate. The Spouse visa costs $2,896 and requires the UK sponsor to earn at least £29,000. The fee-free Refugee Family Reunion route is also significant for Iraq, reflecting protection granted to family members already settled in the UK.
With a large Iraqi community in Britain, family migration is both common and reliable. The UK Spouse visa lets Iraqi nationals join a British or settled partner under Appendix FM, leading to settlement after five years. Refugee Family Reunion, which carries no fee, allows partners and children under 18 to join a relative with protection status in the UK.
| Family Visa Type | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Spouse / Partner / Child | $2,896 |
| Fiancé(e) visa | $2,896 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | $5,101 |
| Refugee Family Reunion | Free |
UK Student Visa for Iraqi Citizens 2026
The UK Student visa from Iraq costs $783, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year of study. A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor is required, along with proof of English and maintenance funds. The Iraqi student grant rate is 77%.
The UK Student visa tends to succeed more often than the visitor route because the CAS provides verified institutional sponsorship. Students must meet the English language requirement and show maintenance funds of £1,483 per month for London or £1,136 elsewhere. Graduates can then use the Graduate Route for two years of post-study work.
UK Work Visa for Iraqi Citizens 2026
The Skilled Worker visa from Iraq costs $1,149 for up to 3 years, or $2,270 for longer. Applicants need a graduate-level job, a £41,700 minimum salary, and a sponsoring UK employer. The Iraqi work grant rate is 86%. Health and Care Worker visas have a reduced $455 fee.
Work volumes are modest but succeed at 86%. The Skilled Worker visa needs a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer and a salary meeting the going rate in the Home Office eligible occupations list. Healthcare roles use the lower-fee Health and Care Worker route.
| Work Visa Type | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,149 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | $2,270 |
| Health and Care Worker | $455 |
| Global Talent (with approval) | $288 |
UK Visa Requirements & Documents for Iraqi Citizens
Iraqi citizens must provide thorough documentation, particularly for the visitor route where the 55% 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 with at least 6 months beyond the intended stay.
- Completed online application via gov.uk with the fee paid in USD.
- Bank statements for the last 6 months showing sufficient funds.
- Employment evidence — a letter confirming role, salary, and leave.
- Travel history showing 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. 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; Erbil serves the Kurdistan Region and the north. Standard processing is around 3 weeks.
Iraq's process mirrors that of its neighbours — Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, and the Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE all use the same online system. Begin at gov.uk.
- 1. Complete the online application on gov.uk and select Iraq.
- 2. Pay the visa fee in US Dollars during the application.
- 3. Book your appointment at TLScontact Baghdad or Erbil.
- 4. Attend and give biometrics — fingerprints and a photograph.
- 5. Submit supporting documents at the centre.
- 6. Access your eVisa through your UKVI account once approved.
Standard decisions take around 3 weeks, with settlement and family cases up to 12 weeks; 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.
- Iraq is visa-national — a visa is required for every trip, no ETA.
- 6-month Visitor visa: $190, with a difficult 55% grant rate.
- Family route is strong at 91% — the diaspora advantage.
- Refugee Family Reunion is fee-free for eligible relatives.
- Student visa: $783; Skilled Worker visa: $1,149.
- Spouse visa: $2,896, requiring £29,000 sponsor income.
- Apply through TLScontact in Baghdad or Erbil.
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 $190 for six months and covers tourism, family visits, and business. The visitor grant rate is 55%, 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 March 2026, the Iraqi visitor visa grant rate was 55%, meaning roughly 4 in 10 applications were refused — of 20,340 visitor applications, 9,320 were refused. Family visas performed far better at 91%, with study at 77% and work at 86%. 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 $190, 2-year Visitor $713, Student $783, Skilled Worker $1,149 for up to 3 years, and Spouse $2,896. 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 91%. The Spouse visa costs $2,896 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.