Seyed Malek Hosseini, the Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Employment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has recently announced that the country has started issuing work visas, particularly for Afghans.
The IRNA news agency reported that Mr. Hosseini made these statements during the second meeting of the “Specialized Commission of the Supreme Employment Council,” stating that the issuance of these visas began on October 1 in collaboration with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior.
The Deputy Minister of Labor emphasized that employers can register their requests through the “Employment System for Foreign Nationals.”
He further added that the primary priority is given to Iranian job seekers; however, in the absence of Iranian workers, foreign workers will be issued a nine-month visa in the first year. Based on the performance of foreign labor and the supply conditions of Iranian labor, there is a possibility for reissuance for the following year upon the employer’s request.
Mr. Hosseini clarified that according to an agreement with the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a maximum of 200,000 work visas will be issued in the first year, with the main goal being “to clarify and monitor the legal workforce of foreign nationals to prevent illegal entry.”
The Deputy Minister of Labor stated: “We will only allow the use of foreign labor if there are no Iranian workers available for that job position.”
This announcement comes as Mohammad Reza Bahrami, the Director General of South Asian Affairs at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had previously mentioned in a meeting with the Afghan Minister of Refugees that 200,000 work visas would be issued for Afghan citizens.
While Iranian officials announce the commencement of work visa issuance for Afghan workers, embassies and consulates in Afghanistan are currently not issuing visas for Afghan citizens.
Following the expiration of the voluntary departure deadline for Afghan migrants, Iran has halted the normal issuance of visas for Afghan citizens.
