Iraq: 1) Information on whether Iraqi nationals lose their Iraqi nationality upon acquiring the nationality of another country; 2) Information on whether the Iraqi government permits dual nationality for ethnic Arabs
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRQ10772 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iraq: 1) Information on whether Iraqi nationals lose their Iraqi nationality upon acquiring the nationality of another country; 2) Information on whether the Iraqi government permits dual nationality for ethnic Arabs, 1 April 1992, IRQ10772, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aad848.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A secretary at the Embassy of Iraq in Ottawa provided the following information on the above subjects during a telephone interview on 29 April 1992.
1) Iraqi nationals who have obtained the nationality of another country will automatically lose their Iraqi nationality.
2) The Iraqi government does not permit dual nationality for ethnic Arabs.
A representative of the Arab League in Ottawa offered the following information on the above subjects during a telephone interview on 29 April 1992.
1) Iraqi nationals will automatically lose their Iraqi nationality if they acquire another nationality.
2) Ethnic Arabs can acquire Iraqi nationality if they marry an Iraqi national, or live in Iraq as refugees. There are also other circumstances under which ethnic Arabs can acquire Iraqi nationality. However, these ethnic Arabs with recently acquired Iraqi nationality do not enjoy all the rights of nationality as, for instance, new Canadians enjoy. An ethnic Arab who has received Iraqi nationality may receive an Iraqi passport, a residence permit and a work permit, but he/she cannot vote, for instance. No certificates of Iraqi nationality are issued to these people even though they are considered as Iraqis in practice. The situation is the same for male and female ethnic Arabs.
Additional and/or corroborating information on these subjects is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
References
Arab League, Ottawa. 29 April 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
Embassy of Iraq, Ottawa. 29 April 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
