Laissez-Passer (Emergency Travel Document)

19 May
811

A Laissez-Passer is issued for one-time use only and is valid for 15 days from the date of issuance. It permits its holder to enter Iraq once only. When necessary, the Consul at the mission may add other countries and include accompanying persons travelling with the applicant.

A Laissez-Passer may be issued in the following cases:

  1. When a citizen has lost their passport and wishes to return to Iraq.
  2. When a citizen’s passport has been confiscated or withdrawn and they wish to return to Iraq.
  3. When a passport has expired.
  4. When an indigent person is being repatriated to Iraq.
  5. In the case of a foreign national who entered Iraq from an unknown point of entry, or who holds the nationality of a country that has no diplomatic representation in Iraq, and wishes to travel to their home country or to another country willing to receive them.

Documents Accepted as Proof of Iraqi Nationality (for Case No. 1 above)

a. Civil Status Identity Card.
b. Nationality Certificate.
c. Copy of a valid passport.

The citizen shall complete an application form containing information regarding their name, date of birth, place of residence, previous passport number (if any), address in Iraq, and the names and addresses of persons who may be contacted for verification purposes.

Procedures for Issuing a Laissez-Passer

  1. The applicant’s information shall be recorded in the fields of the Laissez-Passer Issuance Register (attached Form No. 1). A photograph of the citizen shall be affixed to the register, together with details of the supporting documents relied upon for issuing the Laissez-Passer.
  2. The applicant’s information, photograph, and those of any accompanying persons shall be entered into the document, and the photographs shall be stamped with the Consular Seal.
  3. The passport number, date of issue, and date of expiry shall be recorded (the expiry date is normally set at six months).
  4. The following statement shall be entered on the visas page:“This document has been issued due to the loss of the holder’s passport in order to enable them to return to Iraq.”
  5. The Laissez-Passer shall be signed by the Consul and stamped with the Consular Seal, with the Consul’s name written in both Arabic and English.

Notes

  1. This document is valid for one journey only, namely the holder’s return to Iraq, and must be surrendered at the point of entry into Iraqi territory.
  2. When issuing a Laissez-Passer, it is necessary to record the reason for issuance on one of the document’s pages and to notify the Consular Department by telegram/cable of the document number, date of issuance, and the intended border crossing point through which the citizen is expected to enter Iraq, so that the relevant authorities may be informed in a timely manner.