Greetings to everyone.
Just sharing my own experience as the information on Iraq PCC's is limited in the web. Hopefully, someone will find my post helpful.
After receiving an ITA, I found with great surprise that the system was asking for a PCC from Iraq being my current country of work. Theoretically, I did not need one as with my rotation-based schedule no single trip I made to Iraq exceeded 6 months in a row. Moreover, as per IRCC website, a PCC from Iraq is not needed unless they ask for one.
Nevertheless, my next shift in Iraq had just begun at that moment and I preferred not to miss the opportunity to apply for a PCC. Getting it turned to be a big load of pain
In the middle of February I and a local colleague of mine visited Basra Police Headquarters to apply for the document. I was pretty naive to believe I would get it quickly as for Iraqi nationals it doesn't take more than a couple of working days. How wrong was I
For expats all PCC requests are processed in Baghdad. It would be fine if Basra Police were making use of modern digital technologies to process this paperwork online, but that is not how it turned out.
All the applications for PCC are manually delivered to Baghdad, manually processed and then ready PCC's are manually brought to Basra.
They promised the PCC to be ready in 3 weeks. As a matter of course, I didn't actually believe in it.
They took 5 or 6 passport size photographs, a copy of my passport, a file of their government format with a couple of questionnaires (bought right there in the police HQ) and 25000 Iraqi dinars in cash. They gave no receipt to me saying that the fees were intended to be paid Baghdad where the entire file is sent.
When asked if they need my visa copy, they answered no.
We further proceeded to a small building where my fingerprints were taken in an old-school way with ink.
I came back to my work location and started waiting.
In two weeks after my visit they suddenly realized that my visa copy was actually needed and called my local mate who was with me during the submission. Seems that for those two weeks my application had just remained idle until they finally sent it for processing
My Iraqi buddy gave them a visa copy and we continued waiting. My shift ended, I left home but there were no news from Basra Police. As the EE application submission deadline was close, I submitted the documents without the Iraqi PCC having attached an LoE instead.
Eventually, after more than two months after the submission, my local mate messaged me that the PCC had been ready for collection.
The adventure wasn't over yet. For collecting the ready document they needed my personal attendance. I waited until my next shift, visited the Police HQ again and understood why they needed me to come in person. Prior to giving a PCC to the applicant, they take fingerprints again and put them on the reverse side of the original certificate.
In total it took 3 months from the day of submission till collecting the ready PCC. They issued it with mistake making a typo in my date of birth
Here's a brief summary of what I have learned:
1. The only place in Basra where you can get a PCC is Criminal Records Section in Basra Police Headquarters. As many companies restrict the movement of their expat personnel and condition it by mobile security escort, visiting this place might be a kind of challenge
2. It is highly recommended to have a local resident aware of their procedures assisting you. Even if you can speak Arabic yourself.
3. The requirements are copies of your passport, valid visa, five personal photos and 25k Iraqi dinars paid in cash. Plus few more local money to buy the file with questionnaire forms, I can't recall how much exactly.
4. No cash receipt will be given to you so if you need an evidence of your efforts, try taking copies of the application forms you submit.
5. Personal attendance is mandatory for both requesting and collecting your PCC.
6. Iraqi PCC's are valid for three months from the date of issue. Note that the date of issue is the day when the document is made in Baghdad. In my case the document was delivered to Basra for collection one month after the date of issue.
7. As the processing time is extremely long, it might be faster to use another pathway which is going to the nearest Iraqi diplomatic mission to give your biometrics there and make an authorization letter to someone in Iraq who will submit your application directly in Baghdad. This option suggested to me by Iraqi consulate in Dubai will work only if you have a reliable person to ask for such a favour. I didn't have one
Just sharing my own experience as the information on Iraq PCC's is limited in the web. Hopefully, someone will find my post helpful.
After receiving an ITA, I found with great surprise that the system was asking for a PCC from Iraq being my current country of work. Theoretically, I did not need one as with my rotation-based schedule no single trip I made to Iraq exceeded 6 months in a row. Moreover, as per IRCC website, a PCC from Iraq is not needed unless they ask for one.
Nevertheless, my next shift in Iraq had just begun at that moment and I preferred not to miss the opportunity to apply for a PCC. Getting it turned to be a big load of pain
In the middle of February I and a local colleague of mine visited Basra Police Headquarters to apply for the document. I was pretty naive to believe I would get it quickly as for Iraqi nationals it doesn't take more than a couple of working days. How wrong was I
For expats all PCC requests are processed in Baghdad. It would be fine if Basra Police were making use of modern digital technologies to process this paperwork online, but that is not how it turned out.
All the applications for PCC are manually delivered to Baghdad, manually processed and then ready PCC's are manually brought to Basra.
They promised the PCC to be ready in 3 weeks. As a matter of course, I didn't actually believe in it.
They took 5 or 6 passport size photographs, a copy of my passport, a file of their government format with a couple of questionnaires (bought right there in the police HQ) and 25000 Iraqi dinars in cash. They gave no receipt to me saying that the fees were intended to be paid Baghdad where the entire file is sent.
When asked if they need my visa copy, they answered no.
We further proceeded to a small building where my fingerprints were taken in an old-school way with ink.
I came back to my work location and started waiting.
In two weeks after my visit they suddenly realized that my visa copy was actually needed and called my local mate who was with me during the submission. Seems that for those two weeks my application had just remained idle until they finally sent it for processing
My Iraqi buddy gave them a visa copy and we continued waiting. My shift ended, I left home but there were no news from Basra Police. As the EE application submission deadline was close, I submitted the documents without the Iraqi PCC having attached an LoE instead.
Eventually, after more than two months after the submission, my local mate messaged me that the PCC had been ready for collection.
The adventure wasn't over yet. For collecting the ready document they needed my personal attendance. I waited until my next shift, visited the Police HQ again and understood why they needed me to come in person. Prior to giving a PCC to the applicant, they take fingerprints again and put them on the reverse side of the original certificate.
In total it took 3 months from the day of submission till collecting the ready PCC. They issued it with mistake making a typo in my date of birth
Here's a brief summary of what I have learned:
1. The only place in Basra where you can get a PCC is Criminal Records Section in Basra Police Headquarters. As many companies restrict the movement of their expat personnel and condition it by mobile security escort, visiting this place might be a kind of challenge
2. It is highly recommended to have a local resident aware of their procedures assisting you. Even if you can speak Arabic yourself.
3. The requirements are copies of your passport, valid visa, five personal photos and 25k Iraqi dinars paid in cash. Plus few more local money to buy the file with questionnaire forms, I can't recall how much exactly.
4. No cash receipt will be given to you so if you need an evidence of your efforts, try taking copies of the application forms you submit.
5. Personal attendance is mandatory for both requesting and collecting your PCC.
6. Iraqi PCC's are valid for three months from the date of issue. Note that the date of issue is the day when the document is made in Baghdad. In my case the document was delivered to Basra for collection one month after the date of issue.
7. As the processing time is extremely long, it might be faster to use another pathway which is going to the nearest Iraqi diplomatic mission to give your biometrics there and make an authorization letter to someone in Iraq who will submit your application directly in Baghdad. This option suggested to me by Iraqi consulate in Dubai will work only if you have a reliable person to ask for such a favour. I didn't have one
