Iraq operates a structured customs framework administered by the General Commission of Customs (under the Ministry of Finance) in federal Iraq, with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Customs General Directorate operating in parallel across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The Communications and Media Commission (CMC) administers type approval for telecom, wireless, and encryption equipment.The Communications and Media Commission (CMC) administers type approval for telecom, wireless, and encryption equipment. The Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC) handles conformity for regulated goods. The Iraqi Drug Authority sits under the Ministry of Health for pharmaceutical and medical device imports. Iraqi Customs has progressively rolled out ASYCUDA World as the electronic customs platform across major ports of entry. Imports require an Iraq-registered party with active customs registration and the correct sector approvals before shipment.
IOR Service operates as your registered Importer of Record (IOR) and Exporter of Record (EOR) in Iraq, covering both federal Iraq (Baghdad, Basra, Umm Qasr, Trebil) and the Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Ibrahim Khalil border). We hold the local registration, manage CMC, COSQC, and sector regulator workflows, file customs declarations, and pay duties and applicable taxes as the legal party of record.
Iraqi customs and conformity rules combine the federal-KRI dual-customs reality, HS classification discipline, sector-specific licensing for tech and telecom, security-clearance scrutiny, and Arabic-language documentation requirements. Foreign companies shipping into Iraq without an in-country compliance partner face shipment holds at port, sector permit refusals, valuation reassessments, security delays, or extended demurrage exposure at Umm Qasr, Baghdad International Airport, or Ibrahim Khalil.
Local entity and customs registration requirement: Only an Iraq-registered party with active customs registration may file declarations and act as the legal importer. Foreign companies cannot self-clear in federal Iraq or the Kurdistan Region. A registered local IOR provides the legal importer structure without establishing a local subsidiary.
Federal Iraq versus Kurdistan Region: The KRI operates its own customs and conformity authorities under the Kurdistan Regional Government. Goods cleared in federal Iraq may still face documentation review when moved to the KRI, and vice versa. Per-destination compliance scoping is mandatory.
CMC type approval for telecom and wireless: Telecom, radio, wireless, and encryption equipment require approval from the Communications and Media Commission before lawful import and use. Common categories include WiFi routers, RF modules, base stations, modems, IoT devices, and satellite communications hardware.
Security clearance through Ministry of Interior: Selected categories, including communications equipment, surveillance hardware, and dual-use technology, are subject to Ministry of Interior security review in addition to standard customs and CMC processes.
COSQC conformity for regulated goods: Selected product categories require COSQC certification or pre-shipment inspection. Documentation and labeling requirements apply at the time of clearance.
Arabic-language documentation: Commercial invoices and key supporting documents commonly require Arabic translation for customs submission. The KRI accepts Arabic and Kurdish; English is supported with translation where required.
HS classification and valuation discipline: Iraqi Customs scrutinizes HS codes and CIF valuations. Misclassification or undervaluation triggers reassessment, inspection escalation, and exposure to penalties.
Used and refurbished IT equipment: Selected categories face import restrictions in federal Iraq. Pre-shipment scope confirmation is essential before goods are committed to freight.
As your registered IOR in Iraq, IOR Service manages the full compliance stack from pre-shipment review through delivery, under a single engagement.
Pre-shipment compliance review: HS classification, restricted-item check, CMC scope confirmation, COSQC pathway determination, Ministry of Interior security clearance scoping where applicable, Arabic translation readiness, and dual-use screening before goods leave origin.
Documentation and customs declarations: Commercial invoice review with Arabic translation, certificate of origin verification (attested or legalized where required), packing list alignment, CMC and COSQC document compilation, OEM letter coordination where required, and ASYCUDA customs entry filing.
Duties and tax handling: We pay applicable customs duty (Iraqi tariffs generally range from 0 to 80 percent depending on category, with most IT and tech hardware in the 5 to 15 percent band), reconstruction levies where applicable, customs fees, and any KRI-specific charges from our account as the registered importer. Costs are billed transparently to the client.
Regulatory approvals coordination: Liaison with CMC for telecom type approval, COSQC for conformity, Ministry of Interior for security clearance on controlled categories, and Iraqi Drug Authority for medical and pharmaceutical authorization.
Customs coordination and release: General Commission of Customs interface in federal Iraq and KRG Customs interface in the Kurdistan Region, query response, inspection coordination, valuation defense where required, and post-clearance audit management at Umm Qasr, Baghdad International Airport, Basra, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Ibrahim Khalil, and Trebil.
Recordkeeping and shipment updates: Declarations, CMC approvals, COSQC certificates, security clearances, and supporting documentation retained per Iraqi customs retention requirements. Status updates per shipment milestone.
For re-exports, multi-destination projects, and equipment returns leaving Iraq, IOR Service operates as your registered Exporter of Record under a single engagement.
Pre-export compliance review: HS classification, restricted-item screening for dual-use, security-sensitive, and CMC-controlled items, destination market assessment, and export license pathway determination before goods leave Iraqi territory.
Export documentation: Commercial invoice review, certificate of origin preparation, packing list alignment, export permit coordination where required, and ASYCUDA export filing.
Tax handling: Export duty assessment where applicable, customs fee settlement from our account as the registered exporter, and reconciliation across federal Iraq and KRI exits. Costs billed transparently.
Carrier and broker coordination: Interface with carrier, customs broker, and Iraqi or KRG customs authority for departure clearance from Umm Qasr (sea), Baghdad International Airport, Basra International Airport, Erbil International Airport, Sulaymaniyah International Airport, or land borders. Query response and post-departure documentation.
Recordkeeping and shipment updates: Export declarations, license records, and shipping documents retained per Iraqi customs retention requirements. Status updates per shipment milestone.
Re-export and multi-destination support: Project-flow coordination across multiple destinations, returned-equipment handling for energy and reconstruction project rotations, free zone routing where applicable, and bonded consolidation for outbound staging.
The General Commission of Customs, under the Ministry of Finance, administers federal Iraq import and export declarations. ASYCUDA World has been progressively rolled out across major ports of entry. Declarations are submitted electronically where ASYCUDA is operational; manual submission applies at selected smaller crossings. The KRG operates its own Customs General Directorate with parallel registration and filing.
Iraq applies its tariff schedule based on the Harmonized System. Customs duty is calculated on CIF value; reconstruction levies and other charges layer on top depending on category. Valuation accuracy and HS discipline drive both duty calculation and inspection-lane outcome.
The Communications and Media Commission administers type approval for telecom, wireless, encryption, and broadcasting equipment. Approval is mandatory before lawful import and use. Scope confirmation is part of pre-shipment review.
The Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control administers technical regulations, conformity assessment, and labeling requirements. Selected product categories require COSQC certification; labeling rules apply at clearance.
Iraq does not currently apply a federal VAT or general sales tax on imports at the same structural rate as neighboring states. Import charges typically include customs duty (commonly 0 to 80 percent depending on HS category, with most IT and tech in the 5 to 15 percent range), reconstruction levy on selected categories, port and handling fees, and KRI-specific charges where applicable.
Commercial invoice (with HS codes, CIF breakdown, and Arabic translation where required)
Packing list
Bill of lading or airway bill
Certificate of origin (attested or legalized where required)
CMC type approval certificate (for telecom and wireless equipment)
COSQC conformity documentation (for regulated categories)
Ministry of Interior security clearance (for controlled categories)
OEM manufacturer letter (where required for authorized distributor or tech categories)
Technical datasheets and product specifications
Sector-specific permits (Iraqi Drug Authority, other regulators as applicable)
Insurance certificate (where applicable)
Classify equipment under Iraq's tariff schedule, identify regulated categories, confirm CMC, COSQC, and Ministry of Interior scope.
Determine federal Iraq versus KRI routing, CMC type approval, COSQC certification, security clearance scope, and sector permits.
Commercial invoice review with Arabic translation, certificate of origin attestation coordination, sector documentation compilation, OEM letter preparation where required.
ASYCUDA submission in federal Iraq or KRG Customs submission in the KRI, query response, inspection coordination, release.
Paid by IOR Service as the registered importer, then billed transparently.
Delivery to consignee in Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, or other destinations; documentation retained for Iraqi customs audit.
Missing CMC type approval on wireless equipment: Telecom and wireless devices held pending CMC clearance. Type approval cannot be expedited at port.
Federal-KRI routing assumptions: Goods cleared in federal Iraq do not automatically clear for movement to the KRI. Internal control points require additional documentation. Pre-shipment routing scoping is essential.
HS misclassification and valuation queries: Iraqi Customs scrutinizes declared values, particularly for high-value tech and inter-company transfers. Inaccurate HS codes or undervaluation triggers reassessment.
Ministry of Interior security clearance gaps: Surveillance equipment, secure communications, and dual-use hardware held pending security review. Clearance cannot be obtained on arrival.
Documentation in English only without Arabic translation: Commercial invoices and key documents commonly require Arabic translation; missing translations trigger customs queries.
Document legalization gaps: Certificate of origin and selected supporting documents require attestation or legalization at origin. Legalization cannot be completed after arrival in Iraq.
Used or refurbished IT equipment: Selected categories face import restrictions in federal Iraq and require supplementary documentation. Pre-shipment scope confirmation is essential.
Tell us the origin, the destination (Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, or other), the equipment scope (including any wireless, surveillance, or dual-use capability), the value, the Incoterm, the project timeline, and whether federal Iraq or KRI routing applies. Our compliance team returns an HS, CMC, COSQC, and security-clearance assessment, customs documentation framework, and quote, typically within one business day.
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Shared after initial assessment.25+ Years of International Trade & Compliance Leadership
Backed by decades of experience in global trade, IOR Service delivers the compliance frameworks, regulatory oversight, and market-entry expertise required for successful international operations. From highly regulated industries to complex cross-border projects, we help organizations move forward with certainty.Only an Iraq-registered party with active customs registration may file declarations and act as the legal importer in federal Iraq or the Kurdistan Region. Foreign companies cannot self-clear. Iraq additionally requires sector approvals (CMC for telecom and wireless, COSQC for conformity, Ministry of Interior for security-sensitive categories) that must be coordinated by a registered local party. IOR Service holds the local registration and manages all required approvals on your behalf.
No. Only an Iraq-registered entity with active customs standing may be named on the customs declaration for commercial imports. Foreign companies without an Iraqi subsidiary must work through a registered local IOR. IOR Service holds the local registration on your behalf, so you ship through us without establishing an Iraqi entity.
Federal Iraq operates under the General Commission of Customs (Ministry of Finance) with ASYCUDA World rollout across major ports of entry. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq operates the KRG Customs General Directorate with separate registration, filing, and tariff implementation. Goods cleared in one zone do not automatically clear for movement to the other. Pre-shipment routing scoping determines the correct customs pathway.
Communications and Media Commission (CMC) type approval is required for telecom, radio, wireless, encryption, and broadcasting equipment before lawful import and use. Common categories include WiFi routers, Bluetooth devices, RF modules, modems, base stations, satellite hardware, and IoT devices. Scope confirmation is part of pre-shipment review.
Selected categories, including surveillance equipment, secure communications, dual-use technology, and certain ICT hardware, are subject to Ministry of Interior security review in addition to CMC type approval. Security clearance review is operationally separate from standard customs and CMC processes. Pre-shipment scoping confirms which items require security clearance.
At minimum: commercial invoice in English with Arabic translation, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin (attested or legalized where required), CMC type approval for telecom equipment, COSQC conformity documentation for regulated categories, Ministry of Interior security clearance for controlled categories, technical datasheets, and any sector-specific permits. Iraqi Customs reviews all documents at clearance; mismatches trigger queries and inspection escalation.
Iraqi Customs calculates customs duty on CIF value (cost, insurance, freight). Duty rates generally range from 0 to 80 percent depending on HS classification, with most IT and tech hardware in the 5 to 15 percent band. Reconstruction levies and other charges layer on selected categories. Under DDP terms, IOR Service pays all applicable customs duty and fees as the registered importer and bills transparently to the client.
Yes. Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms, IOR Service acts as the named importer in federal Iraq or the KRI, pays all duties and applicable charges, manages CMC, COSQC, and Ministry of Interior workflows, and delivers cleared goods to the consignee. Your company appears nowhere in the Iraqi customs record. IOR Service is the legal party of record.
Yes. IOR Service operates as registered Exporter of Record for outbound shipments from federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, managing classification, export documentation, restricted-item screening for dual-use and security-sensitive items, ASYCUDA export filings, and re-export coordination for energy, reconstruction, and project equipment returns.
