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.
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Both the embassy and external service provider TLS Contact stopped accepting new applications.
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Previously submitted files are still being processed, but slowly, as staff numbers were reduced after repeated harassment of local employees by Iranian authorities.
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Berlin cited a sharp deterioration in security and human rights in Iran since the crackdown on nationwide protests in January.
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Communication with the embassy is now “severely restricted,” making routine correspondence with applicants and German companies very difficult.
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In the first six weeks of 2026, only 1,300 visas were issued, compared to 23,000 in 2025 and 46,600 in 2024.
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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
