Iran Imposes New Restrictions on Afghan Migrants

Nader Yarahmadi, director general of the Bureau for Foreign Nationals and Immigrants Affairs at Iran’s Ministry of Interior, recently announced that from the 1st of Hamal 1404 (March 21, 2025), undocumented Afghan migrants in Iran will be deprived of healthcare, education, and other services.

Speaking to an Iranian media outlet, Yarahmadi stated that only six groups of Afghan migrants will be legally allowed to reside in Iran.

According to him, Afghan migrants with census registration documents must cooperate with governmental institutions to ensure their legal stay in the country based on existing policies and programs.

The groups permitted to stay in Iran are as follows:
* One spouse has an Amayesh card, while the other has a census registration document.

* One person holds an Amayesh card (temporary residency card), while their spouse and children have census registration documents.

* Migrants with valid passports but expired visas, who must pay a fine and obtain a new visa.

* Individuals with job identification cards or work permits, who must acquire legal documentation.

* Migrants who were employees or high-ranking officials in the previous government.

* Migrants who can legalize their status with both a census registration document and a valid passport.

Marofeh Eshaqi, an Afghan migrant in Iran, told TOLOnews:”The situation of migrants in Iran is dire. Anti-migrant sentiment has increased, and police officers arrest people under various pretexts, even those with legal visas and valid documents, and deport them.”

Also See: Afghan Refugees In Iran And Pakistan Face Mistreatment and Detentions

Meanwhile, Afghan migrants in Pakistan and Türkiye also report serious challenges.

Reza Sakhi, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, expressed his concerns to TOLOnews:”We are all worried about what will happen to us. Even those with visas, POR (Proof of Registration) cards, or ACC (Afghan Citizen Card) are facing difficulties in Pakistan.”

Feroz, an Afghan migrant in Türkiye, said: “Arrests continue daily across Turkey. Mobile units have been deployed in different cities to quickly identify and detain undocumented migrants.”

Meanwhile, Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reported that in the past eleven months, 62,893 Afghan migrant families have returned to Afghanistan from various countries.

Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for the ministry, stated:”From Hamal to Dalwa (solar months), 62,893 migrant families have returned to the country, either voluntarily or forcibly. Among them, 20,415 families came from Pakistan, 42,293 families from Iran, and 180 families from Türkiye.”

This comes as António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, recently reported that in the past three months alone, over 350,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran and Pakistan.

This news is sourced from [Tolo News] and is for informational purposes only.