German Embassy in Tehran halts all visa services over security concerns

 

On February 14, 2026, Germany’s Foreign Ministry announced that the visa section of its embassy in Tehran has been “temporarily closed until further notice” due to security concerns.

• Both the embassy and external service provider TLS Contact stopped accepting new applications.

• Previously submitted files are still being processed, but slowly, as staff numbers were reduced after repeated harassment of local employees by Iranian authorities.

• Berlin cited a sharp deterioration in security and human rights in Iran since the crackdown on nationwide protests in January.

• Communication with the embassy is now “severely restricted,” making routine correspondence with applicants and German companies very difficult.

• In the first six weeks of 2026, only 1,300 visas were issued, compared to 23,000 in 2025 and 46,600 in 2024.

• Although the closure is described as temporary, observers note visa issuance had already dropped by about 50% in 2025, raising doubts about a quick resumption of full operations.

Sources – Agencies