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In search of an Iraqi passport, the black market is often the best option
By: Ralph Hassall (Bulletin Staff)
Published date: 24/6/2003
In the days of the last regime, leaving the country was not possible for most citizens. Only those who graduated from college and who had completed military service were eligible, with the exception of retired government officials up to five years after date of retirement and doctors and engineers.College graduates were required to have their diplomas validated before they could apply for a passport. Education was free until validation was required, at which time the graduate was required to pay their full tuition. In the college of education, for example, the fees were ID 1.5 million and thus unaffordable for most.
A certificate from the conscription office was required, as well as a fee of ID 50,000. The passport would then be issued within ten to fourteen days.
For Iraqis without passports who wish to leave the country, it is unclear how they should proceed. A recent visit by one Iraqi citizen to the Al-Kharkh Passport Office (transcript below) is an indication of how confusing the process can be.
ALI: Excuse me, is this the building for passports?
GUARD: Yes, but now it belongs to a political party.
ALI: Which party?
GUARD: A division of the (Iraqi National Congress).
ALI: Okay, my friend, so I want to have a passport. How can I get one?
GUARD: (laughing) There are no documents here, the building was burnt and we have even repainted it now.
ALI: Where should I go?
GUARD: Go to the central passport office.
At the Central Passport Office
ALI: Is this the Central Office of Passports?
GUARD: It was, but now there are families living in here. About fifteen of them.
ALI: Where did the families come from?
GUARD: Some of them are homeless. Others were renting homes for high rates and now they let them and come and live here for free.
ALI: Are there any documents for passports here now?
GUARD: No, all of them were burned. What will you do with this passport anyway?
ALI: I want to travel to Britain.
GUARD: Oh! You are lucky to have such an opportunity.
SMALL CHILD NEAR GATE: Why don't you just buy one from Baghdad Jadeeda market?
GUARD: Why don't you shut up?
ALI: Well, has anyone else been asking about passports?
GUARD: Yes, a lot of people come here asking about passports and one of them said there's another place for granting passports but he didn't know where it was.
ALI: Okay my friend, thank you.
GUARD: You're welcome.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (all passports are signed at the MOFA)
ALI: Hello, where can I get a passport?
GUARD: Well, the ministry has no connection with passports and now we don't do anything. We are just reorganizing the ministry. There is a building you should go to next to (the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Affairs). It was previously called Tuffel Arabi Hospital, and during the ex-regime it belonged to the Special
Republican Guard. They can help you.
ALI: Thank you.
Tuffel Arabi Hospital
ALI: Please could you tell me whether this is the office for passports? A man in the MOFA told me that it was. If it isn't, could you tell me where to go please?
MAN AT ENTRANCE: No, this building now belongs to the US army and there are no passports in it.
ALI: So where should I go?
MAN AT ENTRANCE: If you already have a passport you don't need to do anything. You just go to the border and you can leave Iraq.
If you don't have one, you have two options. Either you wait for the passport office to be reopened by the police and the Residency Office, or you can buy one from the market! They cost between 85,000 and 100,000 Iraqi dinars.
ALI: Thanks.
Published date: 24/6/2003
Author: Ralph Hassall (Bulletin Staff)
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