Iraq Document Legalization
LegalizationUsing US documents in Iraq · Middle East & North Africa
Iraq is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so US documents need authentication plus embassy legalization. The chain: state or federal certification, then U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications authentication ($20/doc), then legalization at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq — Consular Section.
| Hague status | Not a member |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalization needed? | Yes |
| State documents go to | The issuing state's competent authority |
| Federal documents go to | U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications ($20/doc) |
| Embassy | Embassy of the Republic of Iraq — Consular Section — 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 (consular section; chancery at 1801 P Street NW) · fee: confirm with embassy |
Your exact steps for Iraq
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The full legalization chain, in order
- Get the correct base document (certified vital-records copy, or notarize the document)
- State authority certification — ask for an authentication for a non-Hague country, not an apostille (state documents only)
- U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications — $20 per document
- Embassy of Iraq (Consular Section), Washington D.C. — consular legalization
- Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation after arrival in Iraq (commonly required)
Embassy details & fees
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq — Consular Section — 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 (consular section; chancery at 1801 P Street NW). Confirm the current consular fee directly with the embassy. The embassy legalizes documents already authenticated by the U.S. Department of State; confirm the current consular legalization fee directly with the consular section. Embassy website →
Timeline & cost, worked out
For a state document: the state fee (roughly $10 in many states) + $20 federal authentication + the embassy's consular fee. Budget several weeks — federal authentication alone runs about 5+ weeks by mail.
Which documents does Iraq usually ask for
- Diploma / degree certificate (state example: California)
- Marriage certificate (state example: California)
- Birth certificate (state example: California)
- Power of attorney (state example: California)
- Corporate documents (state example: California)
State documents vs federal documents
The routing never depends on Iraq — it depends on who issued your document. A birth certificate, diploma, or notarized paper is a state document, apostilled or certified by the issuing state. An FBI background check, IRS letter, or naturalization certificate is federal and goes only to the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications.
Frequently asked questions
＋Does Iraq accept a US apostille?
No. Iraq is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so an apostille is not accepted. US documents need authentication by the US Department of State and legalization at the Iraq embassy.
＋What is the order of steps for Iraq?
Get the correct base document, obtain the state or federal certification, have the US Department of State authenticate it, then legalize it at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq — Consular Section. Iraq commonly requires a further attestation by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs after arrival in Iraq.
＋How much does legalization for Iraq cost?
The US Department of State charges $20 per document, plus the state fee for state documents. The Iraq embassy sets its own consular fee — confirm it directly, as embassies change fees without much notice.
＋How long does the Iraq legalization chain take?
Plan for several weeks. The federal authentication step alone runs about 5+ weeks by mail, and the embassy step adds more. Start early, especially for visa deadlines.
More country requirements
Sources
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor
Last verified: July 13, 2026 against the HCCH status table and the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq — Consular Section(official page). See how we verify and how often on ourmethodology page.
This is informational, not legal advice. The receiving authority sets the final requirements — confirm with them and the office named above before you send anything.