Iraq work permits & residence visas, processed end-to-end.
Albadyea United is the licensed sponsor of record for foreign companies bringing employees to Iraq. We handle work permits, residence visas and employment contracts under official Ministry of Labor authorization (License №35), per Iraqi Labor Law No. 37 of 2015, Articles 30-31.
Credentials that matter for Iraqi work permits.
Four things we stand on, verified, documented, and used by every employer we sponsor.
Direct sponsor of record under Labor Law No. 37 of 2015.
Headquartered in Basra, close to the major project sites.
India, Pakistan, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Myanmar, Sierra Leone.
Plus 7,000 workers placed for Kulak Construction (KBR sub).
Every step from briefing to ongoing compliance.
A single licensed agency handles the full lifecycle, no multi-vendor handoffs.
| Service | Included |
|---|---|
| Permit & visa processing | |
| Iraqi Ministry of Labor work permit application | |
| Iraqi entry visa at the embassy in the source country | |
| Residence permit completed within 7 days of arrival | |
| Exit re-entry permits for project-based travel | |
| Recruitment & vetting | |
| Sourcing across our 11-country network | |
| Skill verification & medical fitness check | |
| Police clearance & document authentication | |
| Pre-deployment briefing in the source country | |
| Contracts & compliance | |
| Bilingual employment contract (Arabic + English) | |
| Annual work permit renewals tracked automatically | |
| Mandatory worker-registration filings to MOLSA (sponsor-side compliance only, no payroll processing) | |
| Single account manager for the contract lifecycle | |
Your licensed sponsor for Iraq, handled end to end.
Albadyea United is your Iraqi Ministry of Labor licensed sponsor (License №35) for everything that touches work permits, residence visas, and Ministry compliance. One accountable team carries the full lifecycle so your foreign workforce is legally in Iraq.
What we handle for you
- Sponsor of record on every work permit and residence visa (License №35)
- Recruitment, vetting, and document authentication across 11 source countries
- Bilingual employment contract drafted under Iraqi Labor Law
- Permit and visa filings end-to-end, plus exit re-entry permits
- Annual permit renewals tracked automatically
- Mandatory MOLSA worker-registration paperwork on the sponsor side
- Single account manager throughout the contract lifecycle
From job brief to deployment in typically 3-4 weeks.
Typical processing window for foreign workers, subject to MoLSA workload. Mobilisation from existing rosters can start within one week. Every project gets a personalised timeline assessment.
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01
Job briefing & quote
You send us the role list, headcount, project location, and target arrival date. We respond with a tailored quote within 24 hours, timeline, source-country mix and per-worker pricing included.
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02
Sourcing across 11 countries
We activate our recruitment network across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Myanmar, and Sierra Leone, matching candidates to the role profile and language requirements.
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03
Vetting & documentation
Skill verification, medical fitness check, police clearance, document authentication, and pre-deployment briefing in the source country, all handled by our local offices.
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04
Bilingual employment contract
Workers sign a Ministry of Labor-approved contract in Arabic and English in their home country, before any travel. Both parties protected from day one.
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05
Iraqi work permit & visa processing
We file the work permit application with the Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (under Labor Law No. 37 of 2015) and process the entry visa at the Iraqi embassy in the source country. Total elapsed time is typically 3-4 weeks, subject to MoLSA workload at the time of filing.
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06
Deployment & ongoing compliance
Workers travel to Iraq with full documentation. We complete the residence permit within 7 days of arrival, file the mandatory MOLSA worker-registration paperwork on the sponsor side, and handle annual permit renewals, your team stays continuously compliant with Iraqi labor law. (Salary disbursement and payroll remain with you, the employer.)
Tell us your project, we'll quote your work permits in 24 hours.
Every project is different: headcount, source countries, sector, urgency. Send us a brief and we'll come back with a tailored timeline, source-country mix, and per-worker pricing. No obligation, and we reply within 24 hours.
What we need to start.
We provide a complete checklist with sample formats once we receive your initial brief.
From the employer
- Company registration certificate (legalised for Iraq use)
- Tax registration / VAT certificate
- Project description and Iraqi worksite location
- List of required workers, roles, and skill levels
- Target deployment date and contract duration
- Salary range and benefits structure (used for the work-permit application, Albadyea does not process the actual payroll)
- Authorized signatory ID and power of attorney
From each worker collected by us
- Passport (valid for at least 18 months)
- Educational certificates (apostilled / authenticated)
- Professional certifications (HSE, trade, medical, etc.)
- Medical fitness certificate from approved clinic
- Police clearance from country of origin
- Recent passport photos (white background)
- Previous employment references
Key rules that shape every placement.
A short reference of the rules we navigate on your behalf, current as of 2025-2026.
Ministry of Labor sponsorship
All foreign workers must be sponsored by an entity registered with the Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Foreign companies operating in Iraq cannot self-sponsor, they must work through a licensed Iraqi agency or have their own Iraqi-registered subsidiary.
80/20 Iraqi employment quota
As of late 2024, the Ministry of Labor enforces an 80/20 ratio: at least 80% of staff must be Iraqi nationals, capping foreign employees at 20% of total headcount. Oil and gas companies fall under specific provisions of Decision 245, but the 80% Iraqi employment requirement still applies. Albadyea provides both foreign and qualified Iraqi candidates so you stay compliant on the local-hire ratio.
Kurdistan Region, separate quota
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) operates its own labor regulations and applies a 25% cap on foreign employees in the private sector. We process placements under the relevant authority depending on whether the worksite is federal Iraq or KRI.
Work permit validity & renewal
Work permits are valid for one year and must be renewed at least 30 days before expiry. We track every permit and trigger renewals automatically, no client we sponsor has fallen out of compliance.
Residence permits & entry visas
Each foreign worker requires both a Ministry of Labor work permit and a Ministry of Interior residence permit. Both are issued in our name as sponsor. We also handle exit re-entry permits for project-based travel.
General guidance, not legal advice. Reflects Iraqi Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 and current Ministry of Labour practice; fees, minimum-wage floors and quotas are set by ministerial order and confirmed at the quoting stage. Sources: ILO NATLEX, UNHCR Iraq, Al Tamimi & Co., ILOSTAT Iraq.
Six sectors. One licensed sponsor.
The same permit and visa pipeline serves every industry we work with.
Workers, visas, housekeepers, let's talk.
From a single housekeeper to a 500-strong project workforce, get a tailored quote within 24 hours. We answer in English, Arabic and French.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about how we work, what we deliver, and how to start with us.
How long does it take to get a work permit in Iraq?
Standard Iraq work permit processing takes 3 to 4 weeks once all documents are submitted. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs issues the approval, followed by the entry visa at the Iraqi embassy in the source country and the residence permit (within 7 days of arrival in Iraq). Mobilisation from existing rosters can start in about a week; full sourcing campaigns take 4-8 weeks.
Can a foreign company sponsor its own workers in Iraq?
No. Foreign companies cannot self-sponsor workers in Iraq. They must either incorporate an Iraqi entity registered with the Ministry of Labor (a multi-month process) or work through a licensed Iraqi manpower agency such as Albadyea United (License №35). The licensed agency becomes the sponsor of record on the work permit and residence visa.
How much does an Iraq work permit cost?
Pricing depends on the role profile, source country, headcount, and contract duration. Per-worker fees cover Ministry of Labor permit filing, embassy visa processing, residence permit, sourcing, vetting, contract drafting, and ongoing compliance. We provide tailored quotes within 24 hours of an initial brief. Contact ceo@albadyeaunited.com for pricing.
Which documents are required to start the work permit process?
From the employer: company registration certificate, tax registration, project description and Iraqi worksite location, list of required workers and roles, target deployment date, salary structure, and authorized signatory ID. From each worker: passport (18+ months validity), educational certificates, professional certifications, medical fitness certificate, police clearance from country of origin, and recent passport photos.
What is the Iraqi Ministry of Labor License №35?
License №35 is the official authorization issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs that allows Albadyea United to legally recruit, sponsor, and place foreign workers for employers operating in Iraq. Without such a license, no entity can legally sponsor foreign manpower under Iraqi labor law.
How long is an Iraqi work permit valid?
Iraqi work permits are valid for one year and must be renewed at least 30 days before expiry. Albadyea tracks every permit we sponsor and triggers the renewal process automatically so foreign workers stay continuously compliant with Iraqi labor regulations.
Is there a quota on foreign workers in Iraqi companies?
Yes. As of late 2024, Iraqi labor law applies an 80/20 ratio: at least 80% Iraqi nationals and a maximum of 20% foreign workers in private-sector companies. Oil and gas operators have specific provisions under Decision 245 but the 80% Iraqi employment requirement still applies. The Kurdistan Region (KRI) operates its own rule and caps foreign employees at 25%. Albadyea provides both foreign manpower and qualified Iraqi candidates so employers stay compliant on the local-hire ratio.
Which countries can workers be brought from?
We have active recruitment offices and partner networks in 11 source countries: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Myanmar, and Sierra Leone. Workers from any other country can also be processed on a case-by-case basis if all documentation requirements are met.
Do you handle the residence permit and exit re-entry visas?
Yes. Each foreign worker requires both a Ministry of Labor work permit and a Ministry of Interior residence permit, both issued in our name as sponsor. We also handle exit re-entry visas for project-based travel and visa renewals throughout the contract.
How quickly can you mobilize 100+ workers for an urgent project?
For volume mobilisations, we can typically begin permit processing within 1 week if candidates are already on our existing rosters, and 4-8 weeks for full sourcing campaigns from new source countries. Track record at scale: 7,000 workers placed for Kulak Construction (KBR) and 4,000+ work permits processed for Basra Gas Company.
Can you provide a single point of contact for ongoing compliance?
Yes. Each enterprise client gets a dedicated account manager for all permit, visa, and compliance questions throughout the contract lifecycle. We also file social contributions to the Labor Office on behalf of every worker we sponsor, so the employer never has paperwork left unfiled.
Still have questions? We answer in English, Arabic and French within 24 hours.
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