Documents from Iran
No apostille: legalisation instead
Iran is not listed as a party to the Hague Apostille Convention in the HCCH status table; in a 2021 questionnaire Iran told the HCCH it was studying the Convention. Check the status table again before you apply, in case this has changed. For documents from such countries, the German authority that will read the file decides whether legalisation is needed, and the German mission in the issuing country carries it out (Federal Foreign Office, international document traffic).
Replacement legalisation at the embassy in Tehran
The embassy describes this procedure for Iranian documents such as birth or marriage certificates (embassy page):
- Translation into German by a translator who is on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's list of translators (the embassy says the list is online only in Farsi). Some translators offer to arrange step 2 for an extra fee.
- Pre-authentication by the Iranian Ministry of Justice, then by the Iranian Foreign Ministry (legalisation department). At submission the pre-authentications must be no older than one year.
- Appointment through TLScontact, category "Legalization". You go on a waitlist; to hold a place you pay a reservation fee of 15,000,000 rial within 48 hours, refunded after you attend.
- Appointment at the TLScontact centre in Tehran: hand in the originals and the pre-authenticated translations. Fees €30 embassy fee plus €10 TLScontact service fee per document, in cash euros on the day.
- A person with a signed power of attorney (German, English or Farsi) and a copy of your Melli card may submit for you; the booking is still in your name.
- Not legalised: private papers, documents issued by Iranian missions abroad, documents without the issuer's seal and signature, and any document suspected of being forged. Originals are required.
The embassy also states that it works in a restricted mode, see Visa application. Legalisation is currently the only waitlist category from which appointments are given (TLScontact news, 15 July 2026, updated September). The embassy cannot obtain Iranian documents for you.
Do you need legalisation at all?
That is decided by the office that reads the document: the mission for the visa, the university or uni-assist, the recognition body. Ask before you pay. The embassy lists academic certificates as documents it can legalise. We did not confirm which offices accept uncertified copies.
- Certified copies at the embassy: €25 plus €10 TLScontact fee; free for study purposes (up to 5 sets of copies).
- Marriage certificate: the Shenasnameh of both spouses in original.
Document verification
In some countries the embassy has documents checked by a local trusted lawyer; we found no confirmation for Iran. Ask the embassy or the office that asks for the document.
Documents you will usually need
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid beyond the planned stay, with free pages. |
| School-leaving certificate (Diploma) and transcript | Original, German translation by a listed translator; for uni-assist see Admission. |
| University degree (Karshenasi / Kardani) and transcript | Original, translation; used for anabin, ZAB and recognition files. |
| Birth and marriage certificates | Replacement legalisation and translation – mainly for family members and minors. |
| Employer reference, contract, CV, insurance record | Translation; private papers cannot be legalised. |
| Criminal-record certificate | Only if a German office asks; it must be no older than three months when submitted for legalisation. |
German documents for use in Iran
Needed e.g. for a marriage or a power of attorney: German documents first get a pre-authentication in Germany; Iran additionally requires a final authentication (Endbeglaubigung or Überbeglaubigung) by the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs, except for university certificates (Federal Foreign Office).
If anyone offers to "get your papers accepted" for a fee, check against this page first. See Avoiding scams.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.