Iran Introduces New Work Visa Regulations for Afghan Nationals
Iran’s Ministry of Labor has announced the launch of a new temporary work visa scheme for Afghan nationals. The ministry underscored that the primary conditions for obtaining this visa include possessing a valid passport from the country of origin and entering Iran legally. According to the ministry, the goal of the initiative is to regulate the employment of foreign nationals, particularly Afghans, in the country.
The program, implemented at the beginning of the Persian month of Mehr, allows Iranian employers to apply for foreign labor through the Ministry of Labor’s digital platform. However, Iranian law prioritizes the hiring of local workers, and Afghan laborers can only be employed if no Iranian candidates are available.
Ali Bagheri, head of the Foreign Nationals Employment Office at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, stated that both individual and corporate employers can apply for foreign worker visas by submitting the required documentation. These visas are valid for nine months, after which workers must return to their home country and reapply the following year if necessary.
This new initiative follows a sharp decline in the number of Afghan workers in Iran due to mass deportations. Iranian authorities say the program aims to prevent exploitation of Afghan workers, enhance transparency in the labor market, and balance competition between local and migrant labor forces.
Despite the implementation of the work visa system and the potential for migrants to access insurance, the visa is non-renewable within Iran. The Ministry of Labor also claims measures are in place to prevent monopolies, allowing the replacement of foreign workers with Iranian workers or other authorized migrants.
The new policy comes amid a significant influx of Afghan migrants fleeing harsh conditions and crackdowns under Taliban rule. Many have sought job opportunities in Iran, but now face new barriers and restrictions on continuing their employment.
