kersIran has initiated a work visa program for foreign workers, particularly targeting Afghan nationals, starting from October 2025. This move aims to regulate foreign labor and curb illegal migration.
Kabul 24: Seyed Malek Hosseini, Deputy for Entrepreneurship and Employment Development at Iran’s Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, announced on Tuesday, October 21, during the second meeting of the Specialized Commission of Iran’s Supreme Employment Council that the program is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior.
According to IRNA, Iranian employers can register their requests to hire foreign workers through the “Foreign Nationals Employment System.” Hosseini emphasized that priority is given to Iranian job seekers, and work visas for foreign nationals will only be issued if no Iranian workers are available for the role.
The visa, valid for nine months in the first year, can be renewed for the following year based on the worker’s performance and the availability of Iranian labor, upon the employer’s request.
Under an agreement with Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a maximum of 200,000 work visas will be issued in the first year, primarily for Afghan workers.
The program’s main objective is to enhance transparency in the employment of authorized foreign workers and prevent illegal immigration.
Hosseini stressed, “We will only permit the use of foreign labor when no Iranian worker is available for the job.”Previously, Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Director General of the South Asia Office at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had confirmed in a meeting with Afghanistan’s Minister of Refugees that 200,000 work visas would be issued for Afghan citizens.
This initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening economic ties between Iran and Afghanistan while improving the livelihoods of Afghan workers.
It is expected to create legal job opportunities, reduce illegal migration challenges, and address labor shortages in sectors lacking sufficient Iranian workforce.
