Iraq: U.S. Passport Restrictions Further Amended For Humanitarian Activities

Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell has further amended the restriction on the use of the U.S. passport for travel in, to or through Iraq. The amendment removes the restriction for persons conducting humanitarian activities, as defined in 31 CFR Section 575.330. It also applies to persons conducting activities within the scope of a U.S. Government contract or grant, including employees of subcontractors and other persons hired to conduct such activities. It explicitly exempts Members of Congress and their staffs on official business in Iraq from the passport restriction.

In April, the Secretary had amended the restriction to exempt certain persons providing humanitarian and other critical services in support of the Iraqi people. The April exemptions were keyed in part to whether the activity was licensed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Earlier this month, OFAC authorized additional activities in Iraq. Broadening our exemptions to reflect the new OFAC authorizations will facilitate our humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

Persons resident in Iraq since February 1, 1991, and professional reporters and journalists on assignment there, continue to be exempt from the passport restriction, as do personnel of the United Nations and its agencies and U.S. Government personnel on official assignment in Iraq.

General travel conditions in Iraq are still extremely hazardous for Americans. The Iraq Travel Warning on the Consular Affairs website (travel.state.gov) describes the risks in detail.

The restriction on use of U.S. passports to travel to, in or through Iraq otherwise remains in place until the Secretary lifts the restriction or it expires. With the exceptions noted above, U.S. passports are not valid for travel to, in or through Iraq, unless they are validated by the Department of State.