It replaced the Nationality Certificate and Civil Identification Document and the Residency Card.

This card has a high security platform and is connected directly to the Iraqi Civil System, and can be used to travel within Iraq and Syria.

The Ministry of Interior awarded Giesecke & Devrient the contract for this project on October 31, 2013.

The front side shows the coat of arms of Iraq and the words "جمهورية العراق / Republic of Iraq", "وزارة الداخلية / Ministry of Interior" and "مديرية الجنسية العامة / General Directorate of Nationality".

It contains the following information: The MRZ is structured according to the ICAO standard for machine-readable ID cards.