ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's interior ministry on Tuesday denied circulating rumors that the issuance of electronic visas to foreign nationals has been suspended, confirming that the system remains fully operational.
The ministry’s clarification comes after reports on social media claimed that Iraq had halted its electronic visa system for citizens of several countries following the kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad last month.
“The suspension of issuing electronic visas to foreign citizens is untrue. The issuance of visas is ongoing,”Abbas al-Bahadli, spokesperson for Iraq's interior ministry told Rudaw.
Shelly Kittleson was abducted on March 31 on Saadoun Street in central Baghdad by Kata’ib Hezbollah. On April 7, the powerful Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group announced she had been released "on the condition that she leaves the country immediately,” attributing the move to the "patriotic stances" of outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
Separately, Iraqi authorities have decided to suspend the issuance of visas on arrival - airport visas - for citizens of several countries, requiring them instead to apply through the electronic visa system.
The policy applies to nationals from the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, as well as Australia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, and New Zealand, who must submit their applications via the official e-visa portal.