Iraq - Visa processing arrangements for applicants sponsored by the Australian Government or Australian companies

Supporting reconstruction efforts in Iraq, and working closely with Australian representatives in Iraq, the Australian Embassy Amman has developed special arrangements to facilitate visa processing for Australian-government sponsored Iraqi officials and trainees and business visitors.

This is a general guide only. For more information on Australian visas or to download forms see the website www.immi.gov.au.

Which form do I need?

• If visiting for business/training – form 456
• If for AusAID-sponsored study – form 157A
• Other temporary residence – form 147

Are there any fees? And how do I pay these?

There are no visa application charges where a person is sponsored by the Australian government, or travelling as a representative of a foreign government. In other cases, fees can be paid in Amman (cash only) or at any DIAC office in Australia. For information visit Fees.

Government visitors and business visitors

For persons attending a conference or business meetings in Australia, invited by the Australian government or an Australian company:
• Completed and signed Form 456
• Copy of biodata pages of your passport (showing passport number, your photo, date of issue and validity of your passport)
• Covering email/letter from your Australian contacts setting out reasons for visit, proposed itinerary and details of your position in Iraq
• Copy of visa application charge receipt where payable
Standard processing time is 10 working days to allow for clearances.

I’m in Iraq, how do I get my documents to you?

DIAC Amman recognises the logistical difficulties in doing business in Iraq and has developed special procedures to facilitate visa issue for qualified Iraqis.

While application documents can be mailed or couriered to our office, it is often easier and faster for visa applicants or their representatives in Iraq or Australia to scan and email these documents to our Iraq visa mailbox [email protected] or faxed to our office marked “Iraqi visas”.

Copies of visa application charge receipts should be scanned and emailed to us from Australia.

Scanned documents should be saved in Adobe PDF formats (JPG is also acceptable), and should be no larger than 1Mb. Note we cannot accept emails or attachments larger than 2Mb.

We do not want to inconvenience travellers with unnecessary delays in Amman. For this reason, we will contact you or your representatives when the visa has been granted and you can then make arrangements to travel to Amman to have your visas evidenced and labels stuck in your passport.

Is my Iraqi passport acceptable?

Passports should generally be valid for six months and should include full Arabic name details (given name, middle name and family name) including middle name (not initial). If your full name is not listed in your passport, please provide full details in your application to assist with processing. Passport names can also be corrected at any Iraqi passport department or overseas mission.

What about medicals?

The Australian Government overseas medical panel includes doctors in Baghdad, Basra, Erbil and Amman who are authorised to undertake medical examinations to meet Australian visa requirements. Details of these doctors are available at www.immi.gov.au/contacts/panel-doctors/index.htm.

And English testing?

While at present there are no IELTS testing facilities in Iraq, the British Council in Amman is able to assist. For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.org/jordan.htm or the IELTS website for scheduling of tests (www.ielts.org).

Iraq Visas Information