Applying for a Dutch passport or identity card if you live in Iraq
If you want to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card and you live in Iraq, follow this step-by-step plan.
Step 1: Create your personal checklist
Creating a personal checklist will show you what documents you need in order to apply for a passport or ID card. Create a separate checklist for each application. This means one for you and one for your child, for instance.
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When you have created your checklist, go to step 2.
Step 2: Check the additional requirements
Your personal checklist (see step 1) will show you that you also need documents from Iraq in order to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card. You can also see whether your documents need to be legalised and translated.
You must prove that you are legally resident in Iraq. You can do this by providing one of the following documents:
- a valid visa and supporting documents
- a valid residence permit
- if you also have Iraqi nationality: a valid Iraqi passport or ID card.
If you are applying for a Dutch passport or ID card for your child for the first time, use their birth certificate as proof of legal residence.
If you have a birth certificate or marriage certificate from Iraq, you must have it legalised. Find out more about having documents from Iraq legalised.
If you have documents from another country, find out if you need to have them legalised.
You can submit documents written in Dutch, English, German or French. If you have documents in another language, you should have them translated by a sworn translator.
Step 3: Make an appointment
Once you know which documents you need, you can make an appointment at VFS Global in Iraq or at the Netherlands embassy in another country, such as Türkiye, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates or in the Netherlands. Make a separate appointment for every application you wish to submit.
You can make an appointment to submit your application at VFS Global in Erbil. VFS Global is an external service provider. Please be aware that a service fee will be charged on top of the consular fee.
Who can apply at VFS Global
You can only apply for a passport or ID card at VFS if you already have a valid Dutch travel document.
You can skip step 4 and 5.
Who cannot apply at VFS Global
Are you applying for a passport or ID card for the first time?
Has your passport been lost, stolen or expired?
Then you cannot apply at VFS. In this case you can only apply for your new passport or ID card at the embassy or consulate-general in Jordan, Türkiye or the United Arab Emirates.
It is not possible to apply at the Dutch consulate-general in Erbil.
You can make an appointment with a Dutch embassy or consulate-general in another country, such as Türkiye.
- Do you want to make an appointment at the embassy in Ankara? Please send an email to ank-rd@minbuza.nl. The embassy will inform you about the possibilities.
- Do you want to make an appointment at the consulate-general in Istanbul? Please send an email to ist-rd@minbuza.nl. The consulate-general will inform you about the possibilities.
Changing or cancelling your appointment
- To change or cancel your appointment in Ankara, please send an email to ank-rd@minbuza.nl.
- To change or cancel your appointment in Istanbul, please send an email to ist-rd@minbuza.nl.
You can make an appointment with a Dutch embassy or consulate-general in another country, such as Jordan.
Make an appointment online with the embassy in Amman
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
You can make an appointment with a Dutch embassy or consulate-general in another country, such as the United Arab Emirates.
Make an appointment online with the consulate-general in Dubai
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
You can also submit your passport or ID card application at a border municipality in the Netherlands or at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. If you wish to do this, you can skip steps 4 and 5.
Step 4: Go to your appointment
You must submit your passport or ID card application in person. Even applicants under 18 must appear in person.
Bring all the documents on your personal checklist. For every document the checklist will show you whether you need to provide the original and/or a photocopy.
If you needed to have documents legalised and/or translated, bring the legalised and translated versions with you as well.
Find out how much you will have to pay for a passport or ID card and which payment methods are accepted:
Applying for a passport or ID card at a Dutch border municipality or at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will cost you less.
No. If you need your current passport or ID card while your application is being processed, you can retain it for the time being.
When do I have to hand in my old passport or ID card?
If you are collecting your new passport or ID card in person, you should hand in your old one when you come to collect it.
If you are having your passport or ID card sent to you, you will need to first send your old one to the embassy or consulate-general. Only then will your new passport or ID card be sent to you. This means that there will be a period when you have no passport or ID card. If you want your old passport or ID card back, inform the embassy or consulate-general.
I have a residence permit or visa in my old passport, what should I do?
If your passport contains visas or a residence permit and you want to keep those pages intact, inform staff of this when you submit your old passport.
After you submit your application you will receive a track & trace code to track the status of your application. You will receive an email when your new passport or ID card is ready.
Step 5: Collect your passport or ID card or have it sent to you
It usually takes 4 weeks until your passport or ID card is ready. You will be contacted if there are documents missing from your application. In this case, it will take longer than 4 weeks until your passport or ID card is ready.
If you are submitting a passport application on behalf of a minor of Dutch-Iraqi origin the waiting time may be longer. You will be informed how long the application will take.
You must collect your new passport or ID card within three months; after three months it will be destroyed.
Türkiye
You can collect your new passport or ID card from the embassy in Ankara or the consulate-general in Istanbul.
- Ankara: Monday to Friday: 8:30 – 12:00
- Istanbul: Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30 – 11:30
You do not need to make an appointment but first check which days our offices are closed.
Jordan
You can collect your new passport or ID card from the embassy in Amman from Sunday to Thursday between 11:00 and 12:00.
You do not need to make an appointment but first check which days our offices are closed.
United Arab Emirates
You can collect your new passport or ID card from the consulate-general in Dubai. Make an appointment online to collect your passport or ID card.
Türkiye
You can have your new passport sent to an address in Iraq by courier (UPS). Contact UPS Erbil to arrange this:
- Email: upserbil@ups.com
- Tel.: +964 (0)75 0335 1356
First you must pay UPS Erbil courier costs. UPS Erbil will then provide you with a pre-printed shipment label. Send this label by email to:
- the embassy in Ankara: ank-ca@minbuza.nl or
- the consulate-general in Istanbul: ist-ca@minbuza.nl
It is normally not possible to have your new ID card sent to you. But double check this when you submit your application.
Jordan
You cannot have your new passport or ID card sent to you. You must collect your document from the embassy in Amman.
United Arab Emirates
You cannot have your new passport or ID card sent to you. You must collect your document from the consulate-general in Dubai.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.