Overview

The border crossing facilitates all types of cross-border activities between KRI - Duhok and Syria - Semalka. Since the closing of the Rabia/Al-Yarubiyah border crossing in 2014, border activities have grown substantially. The number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) implementing cross-border operations in north-eastern Syria through Fishkhabor crossing point has risen since closure of Rabia.

Border Crossing Picture

Daily Capacity

There is a river between KRI and Syria, which forms the natural border between Iraq and Syria. There are two river crossing lanes/points separated into two major uses, one for private/civilian movement and the other for commercial and humanitarian goods movement. Civilian crossings are mainly by boat, and through a one-way pontoon bridge crossing that is also used for commercial and humanitarian movement purposes. The bridge is designed to hold only one truck at a time with a maximum capacity of no more than 25 metric tons. There is a parking area for about 100 trucks that is only available during the daytime. Since trucks from Syria are not allowed to enter KRI, cargo exchange and unloading areas are provided prior to entering the customs area. It is necessary to consider the limited daily capacity of transportation and crossing through this crossing point, though no traffic was observed during the assessment.

Customs Clearance

Passengers

Authorised staff working in humanitarian organizations in NE Syria and Syrian residents with a KRI residence permit are allowed to cross the border.

Border Crossing Permit

The following documents are required by the customs office in their original version in order to cross the border:

1. Identification cards for personal and organizations.
2. Original format of passports/visas and approval letters.
3. The border officials verify all the information on all the supporting documents, matches the objects and people physically present at the border crossing point.
4. Furthermore, organizations must amend their requests if there are any modifications to the initial requirement.

Procedure

1. In addition to the standard entrance and exit stamping routine, passengers and personal luggage are subject to scrutiny and search.
2. Following clearance office approval, citizens need to cross the border by a boat to Syria side (no payment/fee charged). The ride takes five to eight minutes.

For Commodities

Only trucks and supplies authorised by the Fishkhabor governing body/entity are permitted to enter NE Syria.

Border Crossing Permit

The following documents are required by the customs office in order to cross the border:

1. Tax exemption documents (The organization should have a valid registration at KRI).
2. Packing list for the items.
3. Permission for movement.

Notification: All organizations should consider that the border authorities are ONLY there to facilitate access to cross the border. Therefore, organizations must plan, manage, organize, and coordinate logistics aspects, such as:

1. Obtaining KRI-licensed trucks that will transport cargo across the bridge.
2. Organizing Syrian trucks and laborers to facilitate the cross-loading.
3. Prepare for onward transportation into NE Syria, across the border because KRI or Syrian trucks are not permitted to remain in the designated parking area overnight.

For more information on customs in Iraq, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.

Other Relevant Information

To use the crossing, NGOs need to be registered in both the KRI and NE Syria and they need to get approval for the movement of goods and personnel from the Border and Customs Manager in Fishkhabor/Peshabor. Requests for approval should be submitted to the following email address: Peshabor.krg@gmail.com, with supporting documents attached. Contact numbers are: +964 750 390 8589. 

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Overview

Bashmakh border crossing is located between Iraq and Iran 100 km northwest of Sulaymaniyah.

Border Crossing Picture

Daily Capacity

Bashmakh has a total daily capacity that can handle approximately 1,000 trucks. The average of trucks cross per day are 600 trucks from Iran to Iraq and 200 trucks from Iraq to Iran. There are separate lines for trucks and cars. On average, 20-25 cars per day cross the border from KRI to Iran, this number increases (from Iran) during the festivals and other occasions. The crossing has two truck parking bays, one for non-food, which has 500 bays, and one for food items. There’s a storage facility at the border area, which belongs to a private company. There is a 900 m² storage space used for food and non-food, which is fenced and monitored by security cameras, and covered with a sandwich panel, belongs to Rozhan Corporation.

Customs Clearance

The release of the shipments at the border depends on the type of goods, the expected duration of the lab test procedure varies depending on the type of goods:

For more information on customs in Iraq, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Other Relevant Information

1. Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agricultural are present at the border to inspect and check Medicines, Food, Agricultural products, and Animals, which must have all the necessary approvals before crossing, otherwise the process will be on hold.
2. Bashmakh bank is available at Bashmakh crossing to facilitate business matters.
3. There is a small health clinic and ambulance at Bashmakh border in case of any serious accidents. The nearest hospital (Penjwen hospital) has an emergency room and surgical equipment (about 8 KM 15 min away). Below is the contact information of the hospital:

There are several clearing agents registered at the border. For contact information for these clearing agents, please see the following documents.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Overview

The latest information on the Muntyra/Khosravi border crossing with Iraq/Iran was updated in December 2018 over the phone.  

Trucks moving through this border crossing can travel to Sulaymaniyah and Baghdad. Prior permission from the General Authority of border crossings. There are no further clearances required to travel to Sulaymaniyah once having crossed the border. 

At the time of assessment the border was open but no trucks were seen crossing or parked in the truck bay area. 

Daily Capacity

• Capacity is 400 trucks per day
• Currently 10-12 trucks per day are crossing from Iran. Previously this was about 200 trucks per day.
• There are currently no trucks crossing from Iraq to Iran.
• There are separate lanes for trucks, cars and buses. Cars crossing must have prior permission to cross from customs at the border.
• To date no Humanitarian agencies have used this crossing.
• There is an available weighbridge and truck parking for up to 400 trucks.
• There is no storage space available.
• There is no restriction on size/tonnage of trucks or use of temperature controlled trucks when importing supplies that require temperature control.
• Iranian trucks can move freely across the border or can be cross loaded as required.

Customs Clearance 

• If all paperwork is in order the transit time at the border is 1-2 hrs.
•  Trucks crossing into Iraq will go through a security check and then items scanned by sonar. The trucks will then proceed to the weighbridge and onto customs.
•  Tax exemption available for Humanitarian agencies on provision of appropriate paperwork. The process needs to start in Baghdad. General Customs in Baghdad will then send the information to the border authorizing/not authorizing the crossing.
• All food certificates must be supplied. Must be inspected by Quality Control Ministry of Planning.  
• If food is transiting through Iran to Iraq food testing will take approx. 2-3 days. Trucks can continue to final destination however no distribution permitted until the food test results are available.
• For medicines and vaccines, the border will need to receive the documentation from the General Customs in Baghdad and, from MoH in Baghdad, the request with the list of medicines and/or vaccines, with medicines test results from MoH in Baghdad or (Country of origin).
• There is no restriction of type of commodities/items or where they originate from.
• There is a charge of ID 41,000 cost tax for inspection (US $25) for the manifest sheet and ID 1,000 per ton at the weighbridge.
•  There are approximately 25 Clearing Agents, who are required to renew their licenses annually. For contact information for these clearing agents, please see the following document: Munthrya Clearing Agents List
•  For procedures and documentation requirements for specific items, please see the following link: 1.3 Iraq Customs Information

Other Relevant Information

• If trucks were to be re-routed from Ibrahim Khalil border crossing to Munthrya, permission to cross is required from General Authority of border crossings Baghdad and for Customs issues Ministry of Finance. 
• Note that travel times to Baghdad are dependent on security and access.
• Trucks travelling to Baghdad with no restrictions takes approximately 6 hours.
• Trucks travelling to Baghdad via Khanaqin-Naft khana-Mandali, Bald Ruz-Kanan-Baqubah-Baghdad is 220 km and takes approximately 6 hours. Permission is required from Ministry of Interior to use this road.
• Trucks travelling to Baghdad via Khanaqin-Sadiyah-Miqdadiyah-Baghdad is 170 km and takes approximately 3 hours. Restrictions apply and permission is required from Ministry of Interior to use this road.
• Trucks travelling to Sulaymaniyah take approximately 4 hours. 

For information on government contacts, please see the following link: 4.1 Iraq Government Contact List

Photos

First entrance to the border crossing

 

Second gate entrance
 

Main office on left
 

Border crossing gate in distance
 

Weighbridge
 

Munthrya facility
 

Truck parking area

Overview

Ibrahim Khalil is a border crossing point between Iraq and Turkey through KRI. Before the control point and gate there's a bridge crossing the Khabur river, which's forms the natural border between Iraq and Turkey. The crossing is located to the north of the town of Zakho form Iraqi said and south of the town of Silopi form Turkish side. Ibrahim Khalil is one of the most important border gates in Iraq and KRI as it is one of the critical points connecting Iraq/KRI with Europe through Turkey.

Border Crossing Picture

Daily Capacity

Currently there are three bridges connecting KRI and Turkey. The first bridge is a 30 m wide one-way bridge. The second and the third are two-way bridges. For both import and export operations, Ibrahim Khalil has a total daily capacity that can handle approximately 5,000 trucks. For import activities the border crossing has a parking area with the capacity of 3,000 trucks of different types, except fuel tanks. Ibrahim Khalil Customs Compound has separate lines for trucks and cars. Nearly 1,000 cars cross the border per day to Iraqi’s side. Nearly 1,500 trucks cross the border per day to Iraqi’s side. Nearly 1,000 trucks cross the border per day to the Turkish side.

Customs Clearance

The expected duration of the procedure varies depending on the type of goods:

1. Crossing times for trucks carrying Non-Food Items is approximately 3 hours.
2. For trucks carrying food crossing times are 24-72 hours (subject to the quality control at the border)
3. Dry food is approximately 24 hours.
4. Medicines is approximately 2-3 hours.

For more information on customs in Iraq, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Other Relevant Information

1. Certificate of Conformity (CoC):
   1. Shipment coming to KRI through Ibrahim Khalil are required to have CoC. The list of Commodities requires CoC is below. COC must be obtained by Intertek.
   2. Shipments weighing less than 5 MT won't be subject to the above CoC requirement.
2. Endorsement of shipping documents: Shipping documents (certificate of origin, certificate of analysis, invoices, packing list, etc...) are required to be endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce at the country of origin or Iraqi embassy.
3. Authorization letter for clearing agents: Organizations are required to provide time-pounded letter of authorization on letterhead, signed and stamped, to brokers/customs agents at Ibrahim Khalil borders, and a case-by-case authorization letter to airport clearing agents for air shipments.
4. Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agricultural are present at the border to inspect and check Medicines, Food, Agricultural products, and Animal commodities. which must have all the necessary approvals beforehand.
5. Rzgari bank is available at Ibrahim Khalil crossing to facilitate the business issue.

Certificate of Conformity (English)

Certificate of Conformity (Arabic)

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Overview

Haj Omran border crossing is located between Iraq / KRI and Iran 172 km northwest of Erbil. The border is open for passengers and cargo.

Border Crossing Picture

Daily Capacity

The border crossing has separate crossing lane for trucks and cars. No reported congestion or operational challenges reported by the border authority.

Customs Clearance

For more information on customs in Iraq, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Other Relevant Information

1. Humanitarian organizations need to obtain the necessary approvals before shipments reach the border in order to avoid any delays and subsequent storage fees and/or damage to the goods.
2. Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agricultural are present at the border to inspect and check Medicines, Food, Agricultural products, and Animals, which must have all the necessary approvals before crossing, otherwise the clearance process will be on hold.
3. There is a warehouse where cargo can be stored in case of delays during clearance. No fee will be charged to humanitarian organizations for the first week.
4. There is a parking for trucks has 40 trucks/trailers capacity located 30 km away from the crossing point. There are trucks available for rent as well.
5. Haj Omran bank is available at Haj Omran crossing to facilitate business issues.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Overview

The Terbil border crossing is located between Iraq and Jorden near the Iraqi town of Trebil west of Anbar, and it is about 575 km (357 miles) from the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, is also known as the Karama border crossing from the Jordanian side. The border was recently reopened after being closed for over two years due to security concerns.

Border Crossing Picture

Daily Capacity

At present and under normal circumstances, Trebil has a total daily capacity that can handle approximately 2,000 trucks for both import and export operations. As for the import activities the border crossing has parking area that lots up to 2,000 trucks of different types. There is no storage facilities at the border area, but warehouses can be found outside the border area in Ramadi city.

Customs Clearance

For more information on customs in Iraq, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Other Relevant Information

There are customs clearing companies/customs brokers at Trebil border crossing who can clear all items in addition to offering handling, transportation and storage services.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Overview

Arar is a border crossing between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The nearest town in Saudi Arabia is Arar and the nearest town in Iraq is Al Nukhayb. The crossing has barracks for Iraqi border guards, a mosque, and offices for processing passengers crossing. The entry points witnesses a spike in traffic during Hajj season as Iraqis cross into Saudi Arabia to visit Mecca.

Border Crossing Picture

Daily Capacity

Under normal circumstances, Arar has a total daily capacity that can handle approximately 500 trucks for both import and export operations. As for the import activities, the border crossing has parking area that lots up to 500 trucks of different types. There is a storage facility at the border with an area of 600 square meters. Warehouses can also be found outside the border area either in Ramadi or Karbala city.

Customs Clearance

For more information on customs in Iraq, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Other Relevant Information

There are customs clearing companies/customs brokers at Trebil border crossing who can clear all items in addition to being able to handle, transport and store goods.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Overview

The Safwan border crossing is located between Iraq and Kuwait 51 km southwest of Basra city. The entry point is also known as the Abdali border crossing from the Kuwaiti side. There is a free trade zone located near Safwan within the Iraqi territory, which extends over an area of eight square km.

Border Crossing Picture

Daily Capacity

At present and under normal circumstances, Safwan has a total daily capacity that can handle approximately 1,100 trucks for both import and export operations. As for the import activities the border crossing has parking area that lots up to 800 trucks of different types. There’re no storage facilities at the border but the warehouses can be found outside the border area in Safwan city owned by private companies.

Customs Clearance

For more information on customs in Iraq, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information. 

Other Relevant Information

There are customs clearing companies/customs brokers at Safwan border crossing who can clear all items in addition to being able to handle, transport and store goods.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.