Iraq company search: Companies Registration Department (mot.gov.iq)

TL;DR. Iraq’s official company registry is described as the Companies Registration Department (CRD) under the Ministry of Trade (MOT) in Baghdad. Both https://mot.gov.iq and https://www.mot.gov.iq answer with a Secure Gateway captcha rather than a registry page, so no MOT company-search form and no Iraqi dinar fee could be read. https://www.baghdadchamber.com lands on /Identity/Account/Login, an Arabic login page rather than a company register. Iraq is on the FATF grey list.

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 host is https://mot.gov.iq. Both the bare domain and the www address answer with a Secure Gateway captcha rather than a registry page, so no Arabic search screen, filing walkthrough or digitisation claim could be read behind it. The registry name below is the statutory label; it could not be re-read on a working MOT page.

The CRD registers:

• Limited liability companies
• Joint-stock companies
• 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. For foreign buyers, determine whether a counterparty is registered under Baghdad’s CRD, the KRG system, or both. This guide does not name a separate KRG search address; confirm at source.

Limited online access

The MOT site answers with a Secure Gateway captcha, and no public company search interface could be reached behind it. Key practical constraints:

• No MOT company-search page could be reached behind the Secure Gateway captcha
• Certified company extracts have historically required physical application at MOT offices in Baghdad or KRG offices in Erbil
• Application forms have historically been in Arabic
• IQD cash payment has been reported as typical for government services, but no tariff is published where it could be read; confirm at source

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. Turnaround has been reported as several business days; confirm at source.
• Commercial intelligence firms with Iraq coverage: a limited number of Middle East-specialized due diligence providers cover Iraq.
• Baghdad Chamber of Commerce: https://www.baghdadchamber.com forwards to https://www.baghdadchamber.com/Identity/Account/Login, an Arabic login page titled “Login | Baghdad Chamber of Commerce”. That is not a 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. Check current status at fatf-gafi.org; confirm at source.

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

For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Engage local counsel. Certified registry extracts for Iraqi companies require a Baghdad or KRG-based legal presence.
• Determine the governing authority. Establish whether your counterparty is registered under the Baghdad CRD, the KRG system, or both.
• 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.
• Foreign company registration requirements. Foreign companies establishing a legal presence in Iraq must register a branch or subsidiary through the MOT. For a foreign branch, the two records that exist are 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.

FAQ

Can I search Iraqi company records online?

Not through mot.gov.iq, which answers with a Secure Gateway captcha rather than a registry page. Certified company records have historically required in-person or agent-based requests in Baghdad or Erbil.

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); confirm current entries against the OFAC and EU lists at source. Iraq’s FATF grey-list status is a factor most institutional risk frameworks weight when scoring Iraqi counterparties.

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: 2026-09-04. Sources: the Iraq Ministry of Trade at https://mot.gov.iq, which answers with a Secure Gateway captcha; the Baghdad Chamber login at https://www.baghdadchamber.com/Identity/Account/Login. OFAC (ofac.treasury.gov); FATF (fatf-gafi.org); EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (eeas.europa.eu).