Iraq will not issue visas to male individuals under 50 who travel alone

Iraqi authorities have issued new regulations for pilgrims visiting the country’s sacred religious sites, imposing age-related conditions for visa issuance.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony’s spokesperson, Muhammad Umar Butt, Iraq will no longer grant pilgrimage visas to male individuals under the age of 50 if they are traveling alone.

However, men below 50 will be eligible to apply if they are accompanied by their families.

The ministry stated that the new rules are aimed at streamlining the pilgrimage process and ensuring better management of visitors at Iraq’s holy shrines.

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Earlier, Pakistan had also revised its own policy for pilgrims traveling to Iraq. From 2026 onwards, individual travel will no longer be permitted, and all pilgrims will be required to travel under a registered group-based system.

Interior ministers of Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq had recently held a trilateral conference in Tehran to discuss measures for easing religious travel between the three countries. The meeting concluded with a consensus to take every possible step to facilitate pilgrims visiting holy sites in Iran and Iraq.