Iraq Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify an Iraqi Business

TL;DR. Iraq’s official company registry is the Companies Registration Department (CRD) under the Ministry of Trade (MOT) in Baghdad. Online access for foreign users is limited; most foreign compliance buyers require a local agent or legal counsel to obtain certified registry extracts. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has a separate regulatory structure under the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Iraq is on the FATF grey list. US and EU sanctions designate specific Iraqi individuals and entities but do not impose complete country-level sanctions on Iraq as a whole.

What is the official Iraq business registry?

The Companies Registration Department (CRD) is Iraq’s primary authority for the registration and regulation of companies under the Companies Law No. 21 of 1997 (as amended) and predecessor legislation. The CRD operates under the Ministry of Trade (MOT) of the Republic of Iraq and is headquartered in Baghdad.

The MOT is accessible at mot.gov.iq, but the online portal is primarily in Arabic and provides limited functionality for foreign users without domestic credentials. Most corporate filing and verification activity is conducted in-person at MOT offices in Baghdad or through licensed registration agents.

The CRD registers:

• Limited liability companies (شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة)
• Joint-stock companies (شركة مساهمة)
• Mixed economy companies (involving state participation)
• Branches and representative offices of foreign companies
• General and limited partnerships

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Iraq fall under a separate framework administered by the relevant line ministries, not through the standard CRD process.

Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and KRG

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) operates with material autonomy under the Iraqi constitution. Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok are the three KRG governorates. Companies operating primarily in the Kurdistan Region may be registered under KRG administration rather than (or in addition to) Baghdad’s CRD. The KRG Department of Companies and Agencies handles company registration in the KRI.

For foreign buyers, it is important to determine whether a counterparty is registered under Baghdad’s CRD, the KRG system, or both, as the legal and administrative frameworks differ. Erbil has attracted disproportionate foreign investment relative to Baghdad due to the generally more stable security environment in the KRI during the post-2003 period.

Limited online access

The MOT portal does not provide a functional public company search interface comparable to MENA peers such as the UAE or Jordan. Company registration verification in Iraq is substantially an offline, in-person process. Key practical constraints:

• No publicly searchable national company database available to foreign users as of May 2026 [VERIFY: any 2025-2026 digitization improvements at mot.gov.iq]
• Certified company extracts (Commercial Register extracts) require physical application at MOT offices in Baghdad or KRG offices in Erbil
• Application forms are in Arabic
• Iraqi Dinar (IQD) cash payment is typical for government services

Foreign compliance buyers typically access Iraqi company data through:

• Local legal counsel (Baghdad or Erbil-based law firms): The most reliable pathway for certified registry extracts and background verification. Turnaround is typically 3-10 business days for certified documents.
• Commercial intelligence firms with Iraq coverage: A limited number of Middle East-specialized due diligence providers cover Iraq.
• Baghdad Chamber of Commerce (baghdadchamber.com) and Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce: Chamber directories provide indicative counterparty identification but are not substitute for CRD verification.

Sanctions context

Iraq as a country is not subject to complete US or EU sanctions. However, several important sanctions considerations apply:

OFAC. OFAC maintains designations of specific Iraqi individuals and entities under the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, the Iraqi Sanctions Regulations (legacy), and other programs. Militia groups and affiliated entities designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) are present in Iraq. Standard SDN screening applies to any Iraqi counterparty.

Iraq legacy sanctions. Pre-2003 complete sanctions on Iraq under UN resolutions have been substantially lifted, but legacy designations of Baathist-era entities and individuals remain on some lists. Verify current OFAC coverage against Iraq at ofac.treasury.gov.

IRGC-linked entities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran and IRGC-affiliated entities have material economic presence in southern Iraq. IRGC-linked entities are designated under OFAC’s Iran sanctions and SDGT programs. Counterparty screening for IRGC nexus is relevant for any Iraqi entity with material Iran-linked investment or supply chains.

EU. The EU designates individuals and entities in Iraq primarily under the ISIS/ISIL terrorism-related sanctions regime. Check the EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List for current Iraq-related designations.

FATF status

Iraq is on the FATF grey list (Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring). Iraq was added to the grey list in 2022 following an assessment of its AML/CFT framework, which identified weaknesses in financial intelligence, prosecution of money laundering and terrorist financing, and oversight of the financial sector. Check current status at fatf-gafi.org.

FATF grey list status means enhanced due diligence applies for Iraqi counterparty transactions under most financial institution policies and correspondent banking relationships.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Engage local counsel. Certified registry extracts for Iraqi companies require a Baghdad or KRG-based legal presence. Budget 3-10 business days and appropriate fees. Local law firms in Baghdad and Erbil are the standard route.
• Determine the governing authority. Establish whether your counterparty is registered under the Baghdad CRD, the KRG system, or both. The answer affects which records to request and which office to contact.
• Screen for IRGC and militia nexus. Iraq’s economic market includes entities with material IRGC or Iran-aligned militia linkages. OFAC SDN screening alone does not fully address this risk; enhanced due diligence including media review and sector analysis is recommended for Iraqi counterparties in the energy, construction, and logistics sectors.
• Foreign company registration requirements. Foreign companies establishing a legal presence in Iraq must register a branch or subsidiary through the MOT. Compliance buyers verifying a counterparty that is a foreign branch should request both the foreign parent’s home-country registry extract and the MOT branch registration certificate.
• Oil sector structure. Iraq’s hydrocarbon sector is dominated by state entities (Iraqi Oil Ministry, Basra Oil Company, Iraq National Oil Company). Foreign oil services companies operating in Iraq typically do so under direct contracts with state oil entities rather than through standard commercial registration. Compliance analysis for oil-sector counterparties requires sector-specific due diligence.

FAQ

Can I search Iraqi company records online?

Not reliably from outside Iraq as of 2026. The MOT portal provides limited public information. Certified company records require in-person or agent-based requests in Baghdad or Erbil. [VERIFY: current state of mot.gov.iq online search functionality]

Are Iraqi companies subject to sanctions?

Iraq as a country does not face complete country-level sanctions. However, specific Iraqi individuals and entities are designated under OFAC and EU sanctions programs, primarily related to terrorism (ISIS/ISIL, IRGC-affiliated militias). Standard sanctions screening is mandatory. Enhanced due diligence is required given the FATF grey list status.

Is Iraq on the FATF grey list?

Yes. Iraq has been on the FATF grey list since 2022. Check current status at fatf-gafi.org.

What is the difference between Baghdad CRD and KRG registration?

Baghdad’s Companies Registration Department under the Ministry of Trade is the federal company registry. The Kurdistan Regional Government administers a separate company registration process in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok. A company may be registered under one or both frameworks depending on where it operates and its legal structure.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Iraq Ministry of Trade (mot.gov.iq); OFAC Iraq-related designations (ofac.treasury.gov); FATF Iraq Country Page (fatf-gafi.org); EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (eeas.europa.eu). [VERIFY:] flags indicate fields requiring verification against current portal and regulatory sources.