The German Foreign Ministry has confirmed that its embassy in Tehran is now operating with “emergency-only” consular staffing and has again urged all German citizens to leave Iran “without delay”. Speaking to Iran International on 24 July 2026, a spokesperson said visa issuance and most routine services have been suspended because Iranian authorities continue to restrict diplomatic accreditations and because of the volatile regional security environment. Although the chancery remains open, only life-and-death assistance—such as emergency travel documents—will be processed. All biometrics appointments for Schengen and national visas have been cancelled, and applicants are being told to monitor the embassy website for updates. The mission is also contacting German employers who had planned to onboard Iranian hires in Q3 to discuss alternative filing locations, such as the German Embassy in Ankara. The warning comes just weeks after the G7 labelled Iran a “high-risk operating environment” for Western nationals. Insurance brokers have already increased war-risk premia for assignees in Iran, and most relocation providers have stopped offering destination services in Tehran. Companies with essential staff on the ground must register them in the ELEFAND crisis database and prepare evacuation plans. For visa-dependent Iranian professionals, the suspension effectively halts start-dates for German work contracts unless employers can shift applications to a third-country mission. Immigration advisers recommend lodging appointments in neighbouring Armenia or Turkey, where capacity is still available, and preparing for longer processing times. The episode underscores how rapidly geopolitical tensions can derail global mobility plans. Organisations with exposure to the region should review force-majeure clauses and develop shadow-payroll scenarios for staff unable to depart Iran on schedule.
Source: Shabtabnews / Iran International
