The German Embassy in Iran has temporarily stopped accepting visa applications, the German Foreign Office said to the Funke Media Group.
Both the embassy’s visa section in Tehran and its external partner, TLS Contact, are closed for the time being.
Applications that have already been submitted will be processed “as far as possible”. Appointments that were cancelled will be rescheduled, but the embassy is not setting new appointment dates.
The Foreign Office explained that the embassy’s operational capacity has been “significantly restricted” since June 2025. According to officials, pressure from the Iranian government and current domestic developments have led to further reductions in staff, and communication channels are now severely limited.
So far this year the embassy has issued 1,300 visas. In 2023 it issued a total of 23,400 visas, and the number of visas issued by the embassy in Iran fell sharply during the second half of 2025. For comparison, 46,600 visas were issued in 2024.
The Foreign Office also highlighted the deplorable human‑rights situation in Iran, citing the brutal crackdown by security forces during protests in January. The authorities are reportedly systematically persecuting, arresting and sentencing regime opponents to severe prison terms, including the death penalty.