Customs Clearance in Iraq
Import entries into Iraq are administered by General Commission of Customs, Iraq. Cargo typically sits 7–15 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Iraq
| Customs authority | General Commission of Customs, Iraq |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | Customs duty 0.5–30% plus a reconstruction levy; regional variations apply in the Kurdistan Region |
| De-minimis | No practical de-minimis |
| Certification | Certificate of Conformity (COC) issued pre-shipment under the Iraqi conformity programme is mandatory for most goods |
| Typical port dwell | 7–15 days |
| Sea gateways | Umm Qasr |
| Air gateways | BGW (Baghdad), EBL (Erbil), BSR (Basra) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Iraq expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
A pre-shipment COC is mandatory for most commercial goods; cargo arriving without it faces heavy penalties. Security and route conditions affect inland delivery. Confirm which customs administration applies to the final destination.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
Umm Qasr is the sea gateway for federal Iraq, while the Kurdistan Region is more often served by air into Erbil or overland from Turkey and Iran. The two administrations apply customs differently, so the destination city changes the process — not just the trucking leg. A pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity is the single most important document on this lane.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Iraq
Our entries in Iraq are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Iraq clearance partner →Freight rates into Iraq
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Shipping a Container from Ningbo to Umm Qasr: Cost & Transit
- Shipping a Container from Shanghai to Umm Qasr: Cost & Transit
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Iraq — the background this clearance page assumes.
Iraq destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Iraq?
Import entries are administered by General Commission of Customs, Iraq.
How long does clearance take in Iraq?
Cargo typically sits 7–15 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Iraq?
Customs duty 0.5–30% plus a reconstruction levy; regional variations apply in the Kurdistan Region The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Iraq that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Iraq?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.