Which route fits me?
Six main routes lead from Iran to Berlin. Pick by your situation, then read the route page.
Start with the visa situation. Every route below ends in a national visa, and the German visa section in Tehran has been working only in a very limited way. Read Visa application: current situation before you spend money on anything else.
| You are | Route |
|---|---|
| A school leaver or university student who wants a German degree | Study (§ 16b). First check admission with Iranian certificates, then money. |
| A bachelor graduate who wants a Master's | Study |
| A graduate or experienced professional with a job offer from a German employer | Skilled worker / Blue Card |
| Qualified (degree or at least 2 years of vocational training), no job offer yet, with savings and German A1 or English B2 | Opportunity Card |
| A school leaver who wants vocational training, German at B1 or close | Ausbildung |
| Spouse, child or parent of someone living in Germany | Family |
| Someone who only wants to learn German in Germany, or a nurse | Language course or Nursing |
| Already in Berlin | Already in Berlin? |
Five honest checks before you decide
- The visa itself. See Visa application: appointments are scarce, and you should not travel to a neighbouring country to apply unless the embassy asks you to.
- Money. See Costs at a glance. Most routes need a blocked account of €11,904 to €13,092 for one year, and sanctions make transfers from Iran hard: Money and sanctions.
- Documents. Iran is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so Iranian documents follow a different procedure: Documents from Iran.
- German. Almost every route needs it, and it takes longest: Learning German.
- Iranian rules. Men of military age should read Iranian rules early.
This site gives general orientation. It does not assess your individual case; for that see a lawyer for migration law or a recognised advice centre.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.