How do you get a residence or work permit in Iran in 2026?

Tourist and many short business visits start with an MFA process. Nationals of some countries use the MFA e-visa portal at evisa.mfa.ir or an Iranian mission abroad; others need embassy filing or different rules. Always check the live MFA list for your passport before you buy flights. A tourist visa is for visiting, not for taking a salaried local job.

Study, family, pilgrimage, and investment routes have their own evidence packs. Investor or depositor residence programmes, when available, run through specialised commissions and are not the same as a standard work hire. Confirm the category name on official guidance rather than on a recruiter’s WhatsApp summary.

Foreign employment is tightly controlled so Iranian candidates are considered first. In practice you need a real job offer from an Iranian company or organisation. The employer drives the file at the Department General for Employment of Foreign Nationals inside the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare. Expect requests for passport biodata, photos, qualifications, a medical file, and a letter that states role, duration, and why a foreign hire is needed.

After labour approval, the MFA or an Iranian consulate issues the entry visa tied to that employment purpose. You generally cannot invent a freestanding “work visa” without that employer-and-ministry chain. Some people enter on another lawful stamp and try to convert later; that path is fragile and can require exit and re-entry. Treat conversion promises as unverified until the employer and ministry confirm the current route in writing.

After you land, the employer usually finishes work-permit issuance with the provincial labour office within the deadline that applies to your case. Keep copies of every approval letter. Work without both the right visa purpose and a valid work permit is unlawful.

Foreign nationals complete residence registration through Iran’s aliens and foreign-immigrants affairs channel. UNHCR Iran describes BAFIA (the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs) and related government offices as the authorities that register foreign nationals. Cities route people to local aliens-affairs or passport units of the police; ask your employer’s HR or university international office for the exact desk that handles your nationality and permit type.

Bring passport, entry stamp, labour or study evidence, address details, and photos. Deadlines are short after arrival, so book the visit early rather than waiting until the tourist stamp is almost expired. Exit and re-entry can require separate exit permission depending on your status; do not assume a European-style open Schengen return.

Banking, insurance, and many contracts later need a FIDA code (Foreigner’s ID Assignment Code). Start that identifier once your stay basis is clear: Get a FIDA code. Daily life still follows public dress and behaviour rules while you queue: Social life.