TLScontact, the external service provider for the German Embassy in Tehran, announced on 15 July that it has created 15 new waiting lists, allowing visa applicants once again to register online after a six-month pause caused by staffing shortages and security restrictions at the mission. The embassy continues to operate with reduced capacity, so appointment slots will initially be allocated only to applicants on the ‘Legalisation’ list and to those using the §81a AufenthG accelerated employment procedure (the so-called Fast-Track for Skilled Workers). Under the new system, biomedical professionals and engineers with pre-approval from a German foreigners’ authority will receive priority appointments, followed by other work-visa categories. Students hoping to start degrees in winter semester 2026/27 are advised that no timeline exists yet for study-visa slots. The embassy stressed that applicants may register on more than one list and that registrations carry over from the old system. When additional appointments arise, applicants will be contacted by phone and given limited time to upload documents. Practical implications: Iranian assignees hired under the Fast-Track procedure should ensure that the Ausländerbehörde’s pre-approval is valid (typically six months) and that language certificates are scanned and ready. Companies may wish to reserve travel funds for employees who might have to travel to a neighbouring country to receive the visa sticker once the application is approved, a workaround introduced after January’s temporary closure. Global employers recruiting from Iran should now revisit project timelines: whereas visa issuance times had stretched beyond four months earlier this year, mobility consultants in Tehran anticipate first appointments for fast-track cases within eight weeks if document packages are complete.
Source: TLScontact Tehran
