KRG opens new Iraqi passport office for Kurdistan Region residents
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has opened a new passport directorate, this time in the small city of Koya of Erbil Province, adding to several such offices that are meant to improve public access to the obtaining a travel document.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), in cooperation with the Iraqi federal government, has opened a new passport directorate in the small city of Koya, located in Erbil province. This adds to other such offices recently established that are meant to improve public access for those originally from the Kurdistan Region to Iraqi documents crucial for international travel.
On Monday, officials from the Baghdad and Erbil governments held a press conference at the new building after an inauguration ceremony for the tenth new such office aimed at facilitating passports being issued to Kurdistan Region residents from the area by the federal government.
KRG Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed affirmed during the briefing that the move had come as part of a directive by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and that another office would be opened in the small city of Chamchamal in the near future, but did not specify a projected date.
He reiterated that such efforts are part of reducing costs, mitigating travel risks, and increasing access to civilians who want to do the necessary legal work to attain the official document.
Erbil Province Governor Firsat Sofi, Police Chief Diler Najar, and representatives of the Iraqi Interior Ministry also attended the opening event.
In December, the ministry opened a similar office in Duhok province’s northern city of Zakho.
Read More: Passport directorate officially opens in Kurdistan Region’s Zakho
Counting the Koya office, the number of new directorates opened has so far reached ten, four of which are in Erbil province, another four in Sulaimani, and the previously opened one in Duhok.
Editing by John J. Catherine