The endless oil reserves and wealth of natural resources in the Middle East are attracting ambitious and promising professionals to the region. And one of the most successful places to develop a career may be Iran, with its developed mining industry and a constant shortage of professional staff due to economic sanctions. 

Characteristics of employment in Iran

Compliance with labour laws in Iran is closely monitored. After all, most of the legal norms in the country are based on Islamic dogmas, which Iranians consider obligatory. Yes, the duration of the working week should not exceed 44 hours. And harsh working conditions guarantee workers a reduced six-hour working day. Iranian workers receive one month of paid leave per year. More information on working conditions in the Iranian labour field can be found in our checklist.

The labour market in Iran

IT workers are among the most in-demand in Iran. After all, the computerisation and automation of many areas in the country are progressing at a fairly rapid pace. Therefore, IT professionals are quite highly valued by Iranian employers. The profession is one of the best paid in the country.

As Iran ranks third in the world in terms of gas and oil deposits, the oil and gas industry is highly developed here. A large part of the population works in oil production and energy. Often, oil companies also take on foreign specialists, for example in engineering, chemistry or geology.

In general, Iran's energy sector is in constant need of new employees. So work for engineers, mechanics, electricians etc. in the country will always be there, although not with the highest salaries. In particular, these professionals will be interested in working at the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the first nuclear power plant in the Middle East. However, work experience will be a compulsory condition for getting a position here.

Work for foreigners in Iran

When emigrating to Iran becomes an urgent matter for you, keep in mind that the local population has more rights during employment. Therefore, vacancies, where it is possible to work from home, will be favourable offers for foreigners. For example, employees of Iranian IT companies do not need to be in the country, they can work from abroad.

The following areas will be the most accessible to foreigners in Iran:

• agriculture;

• medicine;

• law;

• IT;

• construction;

• management and administration;

• energy industry.

It is also important to note that for those who want a prestigious job abroad, particularly in Iran, fluency in English alone is not enough. Unless, of course, it is a job in the agricultural industry or the service sector. In addition, foreign workers in Iran need to know Persian or Arabic.

Work visa to Iran

Not sure how to work abroad legally? Then we advise you to contact a legal advisor to clarify the legislative subtleties. But it is generally known that a work visa is required for official employment in Iran. You can only apply for one once you have concluded an employment contract with an employer and obtained a work permit.

The permit process can be delayed because the Iranian Civil Service has to ensure that there are no suitable candidates for the position among the local population. In the event of a positive outcome, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs must apply to the embassy itself for a visa.

It is usually open for a contractual period, but no longer than three years. After this time, the work visa must be renewed. By the way, once you enter Iran with a business visa, you can obtain a temporary residence permit for up to 3 years. Thus, migration to the country can be made much easier through employment.