Oman lifts visa rules for Iraq's diplomatic and official passports

BAGHDAD,— Oman has approved a joint agreement with Iraq that removes visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports, according to a royal decree issued by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the Iraqi state-run INA news agency reported.

The decision confirms an understanding previously reached by both governments and is set to take effect once it appears in the country’s Official Gazette.

The document states that the accord was signed in Salalah on September 3, 2025, and was reviewed in line with the nation’s Basic Law.

The decree, identified as Royal Decree No. 100/2025, confirms the ratification of the agreement and notes that the change is based on considerations of public interest.

Officials in Muscat said the exemption will apply to Iraqi citizens who hold diplomatic, private and service passports. The publishing date in the official record will mark the start of implementation.

The approval is one of several cooperation steps that Oman and Iraq have taken this year.

During the meeting in Salalah last September, both sides signed a series of memoranda covering sectors such as energy, investment, trade, scientific cooperation and youth programs.

Authorities also highlighted plans for new direct air links, including a Muscat to Baghdad route, and efforts to strengthen the Oman Iraq Business Council.

According to statements issued during Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani’s visit to Muscat, the two governments voiced a shared intention to expand coordination in economic and political fields.

Officials described the visa exemption as a measure that will simplify movement for official delegations and diplomatic missions.

Relations between the two countries had been limited in earlier decades, but recent talks signaled interest in establishing broader cooperation.

The new agreement is viewed by both governments as a step toward institutionalizing regular engagement and easing procedures for official travel.

(With files from Iraqi INA | Agencies)