Last winter's files show why:
- The Kurdistan Trademark Registry was closed from 15 December 2025 to 15 January 2026.
- The Baghdad Registrar's website was still out of order on 12 January, and had been since 17 December 2025.
Instructions sent in that window simply waited. Kurdistan filings were planned for when the Registry resumed on 15 January. In several files, Baghdad search applications instructed around the turn of the year were reported as filed on 21 January 2026.
That was routine filings joining a queue. A fixed deadline, such as a priority period, a renewal or an opposition, is a different matter, and we would not assume it moves. If one falls between mid-December and mid-January, raise it with your agent now. Closure dates may also differ this year, so check them rather than relying on last year's pattern.
Year-end checklist for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region:
- Send December instructions as early in the month as you can
- List every hard deadline between mid-December and mid-January now
- Tell clients in advance that silence over the holidays can be normal
Planning year-end filings in Baghdad or Erbil? Our team can help prioritise.