Germany's Visa Restrictions on Iranian Skilled Workers Deepen Labor Shortages Amid Political Tensions

Germany is currently facing a critical shortage of skilled labor, yet its restrictive visa policy is significantly limiting access for qualified Iranian professionals. Since June 2025, following heightened political tensions linked to a military conflict between Israel and Iran, the German embassy in Tehran has dramatically reduced visa issuances. This has left many highly qualified Iranians—including nurses, engineers, and researchers—unable to join the German workforce despite existing job offers.

Markus Potzel, the outgoing German ambassador to Tehran, confirmed the embassy's decision to withhold visas in large numbers, exacerbating challenges for individuals who had prepared extensively for migration. This policy inconsistency reflects a broader conflict in Germany's approach: while publicly acknowledging the need for skilled labor, its foreign policy sends a political signal by effectively blocking potential contributors to the economy.

This visa stance not only hampers Germany's efforts to address understaffing in hospitals and stagnation in research projects but may also inadvertently bolster the Iranian regime by preventing the emigration of skilled professionals during an economic crisis. Critics argue for a reassessment of Germany's foreign and immigration policies to adopt a more open and coherent strategy that enables skilled workers to enter the country and supports diplomatic stability.

Without such reform, Germany risks deepening its labor shortages and losing valuable economic and social benefits that skilled Iranian migrants could provide.