Shipping from China to Iraq — City Guides, Customs and Transit Times
China → Iraq · clearance by General Commission of Customs, Iraq
We move freight cargo from South China into Iraq through BGW air / Umm Qasr sea. Iraq is served through Umm Qasr, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
Clearance itself is handled by General Commission of Customs, Iraq, and typical dwell at the gateway runs 7–15 days.
Routing and transit on this lane
Umm Qasr is the sea gateway for federal Iraq, while the Kurdistan Region is more often served by air into Erbil or overland from Turkey and Iran. The two administrations apply customs differently, so the destination city changes the process — not just the trucking leg. A pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity is the single most important document on this lane.
| Air gateways used | BGW (Baghdad), EBL (Erbil), BSR (Basra) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 4–7 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Umm Qasr |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 20–30 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Iraq | BGW air / Umm Qasr sea |
| Inland leg to Iraq | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 7–15 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Delivery cities in Iraq
Principal delivery points: Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Mosul, Najaf. Pick a city for the gateway it uses and the inland leg beyond clearance.
Import duty and tax position for Iraq
Imports into Iraq are cleared by General Commission of Customs, Iraq. The headline position is: Customs duty 0.5–30% plus a reconstruction levy; regional variations apply in the Kurdistan Region. The de-minimis threshold is No practical de-minimis.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Certificate of Conformity (COC) issued pre-shipment under the Iraqi conformity programme is mandatory for most goods. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Iraq: A pre-shipment COC is mandatory for most commercial goods; cargo arriving without it faces heavy penalties. Security and route conditions affect inland delivery. Confirm which customs administration applies to the final destination.
Air, sea or overland into Iraq?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 4–7 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 20–30 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Iraq gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Iraq and 7–15 days of clearance.
Before you book: Iraq checklist
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Iraq duty rate against it yourself.
- Confirm the consignee in Iraq can act as importer of record — General Commission of Customs, Iraq will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Put the Iraq delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Iraq take?
China to the Iraq gateway is 4–7 business days by air, 20–30 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 7–15 days of clearance with General Commission of Customs, Iraq and a same-day inland leg to Iraq.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Iraq?
General Commission of Customs, Iraq applies: Customs duty 0.5–30% plus a reconstruction levy; regional variations apply in the Kurdistan Region. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Iraq.
Which port or airport does cargo for Iraq clear through?
Cargo for Iraq is routed via BGW air / Umm Qasr sea. Sea gateways for Iraq are Umm Qasr; air gateways are BGW (Baghdad), EBL (Erbil), BSR (Basra). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Iraq?
Yes. Delivery to a Iraq address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to General Commission of Customs, Iraq, and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
What documents does General Commission of Customs, Iraq require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (Certificate of Conformity (COC) issued pre-shipment under the Iraqi conformity programme is mandatory for most goods). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Iraq?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via BGW (Baghdad), EBL (Erbil), BSR (Basra). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Iraq change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with General Commission of Customs, Iraq or your broker before you ship.
- General Commission of Customs
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Iraq
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.