ATTENTION - Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Erbil notes that issued Schengen visas have to be used to travel to the Czech Republic as the main destination, not as a mere transit country. Any change of documents, hotel reservations and airtickets have to be promptly reported to the Consulate General which issued the visa. If the Schengen visa is abused only to transit through the Czech Republic, the applicant will be denied entry into the schengen country and will be returned back to his home country.

Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No. 810/2009) represents a new legal act regulating and harmonising the short-term visa procedure in the Consulates of countries of Schengen zone (including the Czech Republic). Visa Code comes in force on 5th April, 2010.

In the Iraq, there is a harmonized list of required documents for the short term visa application shared by the Schengen Member State missions in the country.

Schengen Visa Application Requirements:

1. an application form – completed duly and legibly, and signed and dated by the applicant (in case of applicants under 15, the application form should be signed by the parent/legal guardian; in case of applicants aged 15-18, a written consent of their parent/legal guardian should be presented. In all such cases the parent/legal guardian´s passport copy needs to be provided); 

2.original passport + copy of all relevant pages (ID page, previous Schengen visas, etc.) - the passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended departure from the Schengen Area. Further, the document must have been issued within previous 10 years and contain 2 blank pages. For the Table of recognized passports consult the website of the European Comission website; EU citizen´s family members valid passport only.

3.a recent passport-size photograph (compliant with ICAO standards, light background and neutral expression necessary, no head covering acceptable except for religious reasons; not stapled!);

4. a travel medical insurance policy (not for diplomatic passports and EU citizen family members)- valid for the Schengen area and covering the entire period of intended stay. The minimum coverage needs to be 30.000 EUR and include repatriation.

5. a flight ticket reservation, including return flight (the original ticket may be required at the collection of the visa);

6. a confirmed hotel reservation(s) or other proof of accommodation for the whole duration of stay in Schengen;

7. a proof of sufficient financial means for the intended visit of the Schengen area (such as a valid credit card) - for non-Iraqi nationals original bank statements in English for the past 6 months are requested (online print-out statements need to be stamped by the bank). If the applicant does not receive his/her salary in the bank account, salary slips are requested.

8. original document(s) proving the purpose of travel:

• For business/conference/sports event visit: a letter from the inviting company/organizer (original, or sent from the company/organizer´s official fax number or official email address), or official invitation form certified by the Czech Police
• For visiting family or friends: a letter from the inviting person or official invitation form certified by the Czech Police
• For medical reasons visit: a medical certificate stating the medical history of the patient and the treatment needed, official document from the receiving Czech institution stating the type of treatment reserved and the financial arrangement
• For study visit: official documents from the receiving (and possibly also sending) institution
• For tourism in several member states: detailed travel plan should be provided, including the information on means of transport (flight reservations, train connections, etc.) and accommodation (confirmed hotel reservations);
• For accompanying domestic staff: original Guarantee Letter from the sponsor accepting full responsibility and the employment contract. Housemaids can travel only together with the sponsor. A prerequisite is a previous duration of the employment of at least one year).

9. Original letter from employer, stating employment status, position, length of contract and salary, stamped. Self-sponsored: valid original trade licence and 1 copy thereof with translation.

10. Copy of a Iraqi ID with the transcription of the birthplace in English.

Additionally, for Non-Iraqi Nationals

11. Iqama and 1 copy thereof.

 

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A. Visa for Business Travel

12. Invitation letter from a company or an authority to attend a meeting, conference or event or other documents which show the existence of trade relations or relations for work purposes (e.g. confirmed registrations for trade fairs or congresses), including a proof of accommodation during the intended stay.

B. Visa for Tourism or for Private Visits

13. For tourism: Proof of accommodation during intended stay: hotel reservation or copy of a rental contract or proof of residential property.

14. For private visits: Original invitation letter signed by the host covering the intended stay [where applicable: using the official format required by the Member State's national legislation. For further information, please verify the website of the Member State(s) of destination].

C. Visa for Medical Treatment

15. A document issued by the medical institution in the Schengen Member State confirming that the applicant will receive medical care in that institution.

16. Pre-payment or other proof of sufficient financial means to cover the medical treatment and related expenses, such as insurance coverage.

D. Visa for Study or Training

17. Certificate of enrolment at an educational establishment in the Schengen Member State for the purposes of attending vocational or theoretical courses within the framework of basic and further training or student cards or certificates of the courses to be attended.

E. Diplomatic and other Official Government Missions

18. Verbal Note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Iraq or KRG.

F. Airport Transit Visa

19. Valid visa for the country of next or final destination.

20. Proof of the intention of carrying out the onward journey: copy of continuation ticket or reservation. 

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The applicant needs to pay a non refundable visa fee 90 EUR (children under 6 years of age are exempt from the fee, children under age of 12 pay 45 EUR).

Fingerprints are collected from all applicants except for children up to 12 years old, applicants that have submitted their fingerprints at a Schengen member state's embassy in the last 5 years, applicants in whom fingerprint collection is physically impossible, heads of states and governments and their delegations if invited on an official visit.

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Please note that:

• All Arabic and Kurdish supporting documents must be translated into English or Czech!
• All applications must be submitted at the General Consulate in person in order to collect the biometric fingerprint data from the applicants.
• Only applications with all of the supporting documents will be accepted.
• Each applicant must present a separate application form and a separate set of documents.
• EU citizen´s family members - The above requirements do not apply to accompanying or following family members of EU citizens! EU citizen family members need to present an original document proving their relation to the EU citizen, a copy of the EU citizen´s passport and a proof of accompanying or joining the EU citizen in the Schengen.
• All visa applications must be submitted the General Consulate not later than 15 days before planning departure for the journey.

Attachments

Schengen Visa Application Form