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Summary: Iranian applicants for a German national visa (stay of more than 90 days) must apply through the German embassy in Tehran. At present, according to the official notice, the embassy’s visa and consular section is operating in a limited and emergency mode and appointments are given only through waiting lists. The waiting time cannot be predicted. This guide collects the steps and important points based on the embassy’s official notice (which may change).
Current situation of the embassy
- The embassy operates “on a very small scale” and no date for a return to normal has been announced.
- There is a separate waiting list for each purpose of travel (work, study, family reunification, …). New lists opened on 15 July 2026.
- The embassy warns not to travel to neighbouring countries for a visa and not to apply at other German missions; they have no jurisdiction and will reject the application, unless the Tehran embassy itself announces otherwise.
- Do not call or email about the status of your case; the embassy will contact you itself if needed.
According to media reports (such as an August 2026 report), many study applicants have been left for a long time without an appointment date. It is sometimes said that work and Schengen visas are processed sooner, but the embassy has not officially confirmed such a preference.
Step 1: choose the right visa type
In the “Visa Navigator” on the Foreign Office’s official website, see the visa type and the list of documents for each category: skilled work, Blue Card, doctors, researchers, family reunification, study, and “other purposes”.
Step 2: prepare the documents
The exact list differs for each category, but usually includes: passport, application form, biometric photo, contract or admission, educational and work documents (with official translation), language certificates, insurance and proof of financing. Note that language certificates and translations, according to reports, must be no more than one year old, because a long wait may invalidate them. Some occupations need approval from the employment agency or the Foreigners’ Authority before applying.
Step 3: register on the right waiting list
- Work, study and other purposes: register through TLScontact. From 15 July 2026 register only on the new lists.
- Family reunification and marriage: register in the embassy’s appointment system. In some cases the embassy coordinates through IOM.
- Schengen visa (short stay): limited appointments, mostly for the old list, urgent humanitarian or medical cases and the new list.
- Always keep the registration email accessible; notifications are sent that way.
Step 4: the in-person appointment
You must attend in person, even children, to hand in biometrics and documents. Processing starts from this moment. The visa fee is paid there (for example the family reunification visa is €75 according to official sources) and you receive a receipt with a file number.
Step 5: processing
Study and work files go to the Federal Office of Foreign Affairs (BfAA) and family reunification to the embassy’s visa section. Processing time depends on the type of visa, the completeness of the documents and the response of German authorities, and no fixed time has been announced. If extra documents are requested, act as instructed; send documents on your own initiative only to the official email address with the file number in the subject.
Step 6: issuance and entry
After approval, you hand in your passport for the visa to be affixed. The family reunification visa is usually valid for the first 90 days and work and study visas usually for the first year. A visa does not guarantee entry and the final decision lies with the border officer; carry your documents and, if needed, cash.
If rejected
Only a complaint at the Berlin Administrative Court or a fresh application is possible. The objection procedure (Remonstration) was abolished on 1 July 2025. It is best to consult a lawyer before filing a complaint.
Common mistakes
- Registering on the wrong list (the documents may not be accepted).
- Travelling to a neighbouring country for a visa without an official embassy announcement.
- Expired documents and translations.
- Giving money to middlemen hoping for a “fast visa”; no middleman can bring forward an embassy appointment.
Planning while you wait
Use the waiting time to learn the language, complete the recognition of your qualification and prepare your documents. For the different routes, see the guide to routes of immigration.
Note: this guide is general information (last reviewed: October 2026) and is not legal or immigration advice. Laws, amounts and embassy procedures change constantly, especially for Iranian applicants. Before taking any step, read the lists of documents and the official notices (Auswärtiges Amt, Make it in Germany, BAMF) and, for complex cases, consult a lawyer or authorised immigration advisor.
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