Written under our editorial standards.
Targeted correction from official sources: 12 October 2026. Checked jurisdiction, registration routes, the stated operational details, suspension and language. This is not a complete legal review or a test of telephone responsiveness or appointment availability.
German instructions identify Baghdad for central Iraq and Erbil for the Kurdistan Region: Erbil, Dohuk, Suleimaniya and Halabja. “The north” alone is not a precise consular district. Establish residence, category and sponsor status before registration or travel costs; no acceptance or quick appointment is promised.
Where to file
- Central Iraq
- The German Embassy in Baghdad — Al-Mansour district, Mahalla 609, Zuqaq 3, House 53.
- Kurdistan Region of Iraq
- The Consulate General in Erbil covers the Kurdistan Region provinces Erbil, Dohuk, Suleimaniya and Halabja under current visa instructions, not every northern district automatically.
- Baghdad consular section
- The contact page identifies +964 790 110 8793 for Baghdad visa/passport questions, Sunday–Thursday 14:00–16:00; the general number is +964 790 192 2526. These are published details, not a tested call response.
- Passport and visa collection
- No appointment — Sunday to Thursday between 13:30 and 15:00. The exemption covers collection only, not filing.
- Erbil's additional role
- New applications from residents or habitual residents of Syria from 1 June 2026: Amman, Beirut or Erbil under the category-specific mission instructions.
- Status in Germany
- Family reunification under section 36a to subsidiary-protection beneficiaries is suspended through the end of 23 July 2027; sections 22 and 23 remain unaffected. Refugee status alone is outside this particular suspension, but the route retains its requirements and individual assessment.
Central Iraq and the Kurdistan Region: check provinces and category
Baghdad’s visa page directs residents of the Kurdistan Region provinces Erbil, Dohuk, Suleimaniya and Halabja exclusively to Erbil. Baghdad’s district is described as central Iraq. Use the mission contact form if your district, residence situation orcategory is unclear.
Check the competent mission and category checklist before translation or travel costs. An appointment does not establish eligibility, and we do not give a universal fee-loss or formal-refusal rule merely from choosing a different mission. The 21 June 2026 reopening notice says in its introduction that both sections reopened, but someFAQ answers retain wording that new booking dates are unknown orunavailable. This is an internal inconsistency read on 12 October 2026, not proof of current closure oravailable bookings. Check your appointment confirmation and category instructions before travel.
Steps for a reunification file from Iraq
- Check the relative’s current status in GermanyRead the current residence permit and, for protection cases, the BAMF decision. Status is one element of eligibility, not approval; the specific suspension concerns section 36a and subsidiary protection.
- Identify the district preciselyKurdistan Region provinces Erbil, Dohuk, Suleimaniya and Halabja use Erbil under current instructions; do not generalise “the north”. Ask Baghdad or Erbil if residence/category competence is unclear.
- Register family under the mission/category rulesErbil asks families travelling together to register as a group for digital categories; specified humanitarian andother categories remain in RK-Termin. Baghdad publishes a family waiting list. Each applicant needs their file, but four people do not always mean four independent bookings.
- Check category-specific language and translation rulesSimple German on the spouse route legally means A1 under section 2(9), read with section 30, with conditional exemptions. Check the category checklist before buying a certificate or translation; requirements depend on the route and mission.
- Separate collection from filingThe appointment exemption in Baghdad covers collecting passports and visas in an afternoon window. Filing an application has its own arrangements and booking system.
- Read the "before you call" page before callingThe embassy publishes a page to that effect, and many common questions are answered there in writing — saving you attempts on a number that differs from the general one.
⚠️ The suspension concerns section 36a family reunification to subsidiary-protection beneficiaries through the end of 23 July 2027, not every nationality or route. Sections 22 and 23 remain unaffected. The Foreign Office explains reasoned hardship reports to [email protected] and individual review; the email is neither an approval guarantee nor the only legal route. Check mission instructions and specialised advice for your case.
Official sources
German Embassy Baghdad — address and jurisdiction · Notice on the suspension of reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection · Section 30 AufenthG · German mission addresses and districts in Iraq · Official Baghdad Arabic contact listing · Baghdad visa jurisdiction and provinces · Baghdad family waiting list · Visa/passport telephone and published call hours · Erbil categories and online portal · Syrian-residence filing rule · Scope of section 36a suspension · Statutory language definition · Spouse conditions and language exemptions · Reopening notice —21 June 2026 and inconsistentFAQ · Hardship reporting, individual review and route limits
Please note: this page is general guidance, not legal advice. Reunification cases are assessed individually — consult a lawyer specialising in immigration law or a migration advice centre before any decision concerning your family.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iraqis file a reunification application?
Kurdistan Region residence in Erbil, Dohuk, Suleimaniya or Halabja means Erbil under current Baghdad instructions. Baghdad’s district is described as central Iraq. Check category and district before travel; not all northern Iraq is automatically assigned to Erbil.
Has reunification for Iraqis stopped?
Family reunification under section 36a to subsidiary-protection beneficiaries is suspended through the end of 23 July 2027; sections 22 and 23 remain unaffected. Refugee status alone is outside this particular suspension, but the route retains its requirements and individual assessment.
Do I need an appointment to collect a visa in Baghdad?
No. The embassy states that passports and visas may be collected without an appointment, Sunday to Thursday between half past one and three. The exemption covers collection only, not filing.
Is one appointment enough for the family?
There is no single booking rule across all routes. Current Erbil instructions use family-group registration in the portal and RK-Termin for specified humanitarian categories; Baghdad publishes a family waiting list. Each person has a file; follow category instructions for registration and appointments.
What language level is required of the arriving spouse?
Simple German on the spouse route legally means A1 under section 2(9), read with section 30, with conditional statutory exemptions. Check your category’s checklist, accepted translators and language certificates before paying; families do not all need the same evidence.
What is the Baghdad consular section's number?
Published Baghdad visa/passport telephone: +964 790 110 8793, Sunday–Thursday 14:00–16:00; general number +964 790 192 2526. We did not test responsiveness. The contact page directs unanswered questions to the mission forms.