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Foreign National Work Permit after Legal Residence

IranWork

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

This pathway covers legal employment for adult foreign nationals who already hold valid legal residence in Iran, evidenced by one of: an Amayesh/Hoviat card, a passport bearing a working visa, or a residence permit (residence booklet or residential passport) if that residence type is allowed to work.

See recorded sources

Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

Per UNHCR's help page, foreign nationals legally residing in Iran and holding the listed valid documents can apply for work permits through Kefalat centres. Under the Labour Law, if the employment relationship ends for any reason, the employer must notify the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs within 15 days.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The application-channel statement comes from a UNHCR help page, not the Iranian authority itself.
  • Whether a job offer or employer sponsor is needed is not stated.

What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

Under the Labour Law, work permits are issued only if no one with similar qualifications is available, the foreign national has adequate specialisation for the job, and the specialisation can serve to train and replace Iranians. The Ministry may issue, extend and renew work permits for foreign nationals with at least ten years' continuous residence, those with an Iranian spouse, and immigrants/political asylum seekers holding valid immigration or refugee cards (with written approval of the Interior and Foreign Affairs ministries).

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The job categories open to foreigners vary by province and are not listed; no salary or experience criteria are stated.
  • https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/21843/IRN21843.pdf
    Article 121: The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs shall issue of the visas with the right to engage in specific jobs for foreign nationals, and shall also issue work permits by duly observing the following conditions:
  • https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/21843/IRN21843.pdf
    a. Based on the information existing at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, there are no individuals desirous of work and having similar educational qualifications and specialization. b. The applicant foreign national possesses adequate knowledge and specialization for employment in a desired job. c. The foreign national’s specialization may be utilized for the training of and subsequent replacement by Iranians.
  • https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/21843/IRN21843.pdf
    Article 122: The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs may issue, extend any renew the work permits of the following individuals: a) A foreign national with at least ten years of continuous residence in Iran. b) A foreign national having Iranian spouse. c) Immigrants from foreign countries in particular Islamic states and those seeking political asylum subject to holding valid immigration or refugee cards, and after the written approval of the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs.

What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

Adult foreign nationals with valid documents can obtain work permits enabling them to work legally in Iran, and foreign nationals in general might need to choose their field of occupation within the job categories available to foreigners. The official source does not state whether the holder is tied to an employer, occupation or sector, or whether family can accompany.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The document does not specify whether the work permit is tied to a particular employer, occupation or sector beyond the general statement about choosing a field of occupation within available job categories.
  • The document does not address whether family members can accompany the work permit holder.
  • Legal Employment
    Adult foreign nationals in the possession of the below valid documents can obtain work permits enabling them to work legally in Iran:
  • Legal Employment
    Varying from province to province, foreign nationals in general might need to choose their field of occupation within the job categories available to foreigners.

How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

Work permits are issued, renewed or extended for periods not exceeding one year. The official source does not state a longer-term residence direction.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No longer-term residence direction from holding a work permit is stated.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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