In Baghdad, a registered licence is monitored by four governmental entities: the Trademark Registrar, the Central Bank of Iraq, the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control, and the Ministry of Trade. These entities form the committee responsible for granting licences. Such a committee does not exist in the Kurdistan Region (November 2024).
Licence agreements
- If the licensee is Iraqi, they are required to carry out the manufacturing within Iraq only. If the manufacturing is conducted outside Iraq, it is not possible to register sub-licences for local companies (November 2024).
- In October 2023 we advised that the sole benefit of registering a licence agreement between two foreign companies in Iraq is realised when goods produced by the licensee enter Iraq; in such cases the relevant customs authorities do not object to the importation, provided the goods originate from the licensed producer.
- In September 2026, in a licence matter, we noted that the licence agreement must be signed by the authorised signatory of the company itself, and not by an individual representing its parent company. The Chamber of Commerce ID provided for the director authorised to sign on behalf of the company identifies the authorised signatory.
- In a licence recordal in September 2026 the Trademark Registrar specifically requested a Chamber of Commerce ID of the company’s authorised manager issued in 2026; an ID issued in 2025 did not satisfy the requirement, which the Registrar requires in order to refer the licence to the Licensing Committee.
Franchising
- According to the Arabic Language Safety Law in Iraq, for a restaurant owner to be able to use a foreign name, there must be a franchising agreement with the foreign company to use the foreign name. This agreement should be registered with the Trademark Registry and the Ministry of Health (December 2023).
- A franchisee is allowed to transfer the agreed amounts specified in the licensing agreement and registered with the Iraqi government authorities (December 2023).
The Kurdistan Region
- It is not possible to register licences in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq due to the absence of a regulatory authority to oversee such licences, as is the case in Baghdad. The registration of franchising agreements is not applicable in Kurdistan.
Restricted products
- In November 2024 we referred to the Iraqi Council of Ministers’ decision prohibiting the production and sale of alcoholic beverages throughout Iraq except in the Kurdistan Region.
Frequently asked questions
Who approves a licence in Baghdad?
In Baghdad, a registered licence is monitored by four governmental entities: the Trademark Registrar, the Central Bank of Iraq, the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control, and the Ministry of Trade. These entities form the committee responsible for granting licences. Such a committee does not exist in the Kurdistan Region (November 2024).
Can a franchisee transfer payments to the foreign franchisor?
A franchisee is allowed to transfer the agreed amounts specified in the licensing agreement and registered with the Iraqi government authorities (December 2023).