Iran Announces New Administrative Exemptions for Some Afghan Migrants

Iran’s Ministry of Interior has issued a new directive easing some administrative requirements related to the Sana code, health insurance and housing tracking code for a number of Afghan migrants.

According to the directive, people whose last Amayesh card or temporary card was valid until 22 September 2025, and who visit this year for implementation of the scheme, are exempt from obtaining a Sana code.

The directive says that persons with disabilities and elderly people who are unable to obtain a Sana code will also not need to provide one, provided this is confirmed by the service office and the General Department for Foreign Nationals and Immigrants Affairs. It also says that for female heads of household who do not have a male child over the age of 18 and are unable to pay the health insurance fee, their list must be sent by the provincial foreigners’ department to Iran’s Ministry of Interior.

Iran’s Ministry of Interior has also made exceptions in insurance for some families. Under this, in families where the head of household is covered by social security insurance but it is not possible to register health insurance electronically for other members, only the head of household’s social security insurance code is required this year, and the other members will be exempt from providing a health insurance code.

This exemption also applies to children born this year whose new card has not yet been issued. This group also does not need to provide a health insurance code for this year.

In another part of the directive, some easing measures have also been set out for a number of Afghan migrants in registering their place of residence. One- or two-person families living together with another family in the same housing unit may use a shared tracking code, and the second family may register the same code in the system.

Those living in production, industrial or agricultural units and who cannot obtain a housing tracking code will also be exempt from this requirement by providing an employer’s certificate. For gardeners, caretakers and guards living in non-residential units, a property owner’s certificate has been accepted as a substitute for the housing tracking code.

According to the directive, mosque or endowment servants living in non-residential units will be exempt from providing a housing tracking code with a certificate from the mosque or endowment board of trustees. In areas where there is no postal code, especially in some outskirts and villages, and where lease registration in the Self-Writer system is not possible, a certificate from the local Islamic council can replace this code.

The Ministry of Interior has also said that in cases where lease registration in the Self-Writer system is not possible because the landlord has died, providing a death certificate is sufficient for exemption from the housing tracking code. In the case of houses bought by foreign nationals on a promissory contract and then rented to another foreign national, providing the latest promissory contract between the owner and tenant and uploading it to the system will replace the tracking code.

The final part of the directive says holders of temporary card 4 are exempt from providing a Sana code, insurance and housing registration. This card is also not sent by post, and holders must visit the Kefalat office in person.

Amayesh cards and temporary cards are among the main identification and residence documents for some Afghan migrants in Iran, and the process of renewing or registering these documents is usually accompanied by various administrative requirements.