Can I own 100% as a foreign national in Kurdistan?

When full foreign ownership is possible

The KRG's investor guide describes wholly foreign-owned companies, and its current national-company registration service expressly provides for a foreign owner. That supports a clear starting point: foreign nationality does not automatically mean you must give shares to a local partner. It does not establish eligibility for every proposed activity. KRG Legal Guide, pp. 45-46; National Company Registration.

This article concerns the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A proposed operation elsewhere in Iraq needs its own jurisdiction-specific review. Official sources reviewed on 2 October 2026.

Start with what the company will actually do

A business that buys and supplies equipment, an engineering service provider and a company appointed as a legally licensed commercial agent can face different requirements.

This distinction matters for ownership. The KRG's commercial-agency licensing service states that a company applying under that route must have Iraqi shareholders throughout. A general statement about foreign ownership cannot override that condition. Before agreeing to represent an overseas manufacturer, confirm whether the proposed contract and activities fall within the commercial-agency regime. KRG Commercial Agency Licence.

Sector approvals also need their own assessment. For example, the Ministry of Natural Resources describes a separate registration and approval process for oil and gas service providers. Company incorporation alone should not be treated as permission to undertake every activity or supply every buyer. MNR: Doing Business in Kurdistan Region.

Choose the structure that fits the operation

A new local company

This route creates a company in the Kurdistan Region. The official checklist accommodates foreign owners and foreign authorized managers. Confirm the legal form, shareholding and exact activity before preparing the application; ownership by an overseas company needs its own document and eligibility check. National Company Registration.

A branch of an existing foreign company

A branch establishes the existing overseas company's presence. The KRG checklist requires a parent registered for more than a year and in good financial standing, a resident branch manager, a local address and authenticated, translated corporate documents, including the decision to open the branch. Consider this route in light of how you want to contract and operate locally. Foreign Company Branch Registration.

An investment-licensed project

The Investment Law separately allows a foreign investor to hold all the capital of a project covered by that law. Its investor definition includes individuals and legal entities. Article 16 makes a Board of Investment licence a condition for receiving the law's exemptions and privileges. Ordinary incorporation does not automatically provide that licence or its incentives. Investment Law, Articles 1-3; Article 16.

Separate ownership from local responsibilities

Share ownership, an authorized manager's role and an attorney's authority are different matters. Appointing someone to handle an application does not, by itself, give that person shares.

The national-company service permits an attorney to act under a legal power of attorney. It also calls for headquarters and a visible address, at least IQD 1 million in capital with bank confirmation, manager identification and UPN arrangements, and applicable residency documentation. Lawyer, accountant, tax and social-security steps also need attention. National Company Registration.

An owner based abroad may therefore use local support while retaining ownership. The practical plan still needs to establish who handles the work locally and who must attend particular appointments. Confirm entry, residency, work permissions and bank onboarding separately; share ownership is not confirmation of those permissions or of a fully remote process.

Plan the timetable around milestones

A useful schedule identifies the work that must be completed before submission, the authority's review, and the arrangements needed before the business can operate.

First settle the activity and structure. Then establish the document, representation and local-address arrangements. Track registration, management, banking and any sector permissions as distinct milestones, with clear responsibilities. Agree a working timetable against the actual application rather than applying another company's completion time to your project.

A Turkish company: established and ready to supply in four weeks

A Turkish company wanted to establish a local presence and supply equipment in the Kurdistan Region while retaining full ownership. Keybridge supported its establishment and local arrangements. The company was established and ready to supply in four weeks, with 100% ownership retained and without deploying its own team locally.

The support included company registration, relationships with local companies, bookkeeping, filing and ISO support. The four-week milestone refers to establishment and readiness to supply. It does not mean that every ongoing service, or ISO certification, was completed within those four weeks.

The client and equipment are kept anonymous. This is a historical Keybridge project, based on the company’s account of the engagement. Another application may follow a different timetable, depending on its activity, documents and approvals.

How Keybridge can help

Keybridge supports company establishment in Erbil through an agreed scope covering registration preparation and submission, coordination with the relevant authorities and follow-up to the registration documents. Registered-address and ongoing support can be arranged as separately defined services.

The proposal should make clear what is included, what depends on the applicant or another provider, and which decisions remain with an authority or bank. That gives the owner a practical basis for deciding how to enter the market.

See our company registration service, bookkeeping and filing support and ISO certification preparation. For the wider operating plan, read what a company needs before it can invoice in Iraq.