Iran's Investor Residence Permit lets foreign nationals obtain long-term residence by depositing funds in Iranian banks or investing in the country's economy. Two pathways exist: the FIPPA route, which grants three-year renewable permits to investors who establish an approved project (with no fixed minimum threshold), and the newer deposit/investment route introduced in 2025, which grants residence in exchange for a qualifying bank deposit or capital investment. The program is administered by the Organization for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran (OIETAI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance and is self-sponsored — no employer or job offer is required.
Eligibility is based solely on meeting a financial threshold — no educational or professional qualifications are needed. Under the 2025 framework, the operative amounts are:
Under the FIPPA route, applicants instead obtain an investment license by submitting a business plan and evidence of capital importation; capital may be contributed as cash, machinery, equipment, raw materials, or intangible assets. Deposited funds must be of foreign origin and transferred through the banking system or Central Bank–approved channels.
FIPPA permits are valid for three years and renewable indefinitely for the duration of the investment project. Deposit- and investment-based permits run up to five years, with the length tied to the amount committed. Extension requests must be submitted three months before the permit expires, and renewals follow the same approval process as the initial application. Under FIPPA, the residence permit is automatically cancelled if the approved project funds are not invested within six months of receiving the investment license.
The primary investor or depositor can include up to 5 family members — spouse, male children under 18, single (unmarried) female children, and parents — without additional investment. Beyond 5 dependants, each additional person requires USD 20,000 in extra deposit or investment.
Iran taxes residents on worldwide income, so foreign investors are subject to Iranian tax law during their residence. Under FIPPA, profits and capital can be repatriated after Board approval, and deposit principal and interest are guaranteed by the Central Bank, including transfer abroad.
Applications can be submitted through Iranian diplomatic missions abroad, directly to the OIETAI secretariat, or via the national investment information system (investiniran.ir). Under the 2025 regulation, the secretariat reviews applications and runs inquiries within 15 days, the commission reviews within 10 days, funds must be deposited within two months of approval, and the residence permit is issued within 20 days of deposit confirmation. Under FIPPA, visas and residence permits are typically issued within three business days each, and work permits within seven. Depositors and FIPPA investors with residence permits may also obtain work permits.
International sanctions on Iran create significant practical challenges for transferring funds through the banking system, so prospective applicants should investigate viable transfer methods in advance. Permit holders are exempt from separate exit and re-entry visas and gain access to healthcare, education, driver's licenses, and domestic services for the duration of their legal residence. Provincial authorities have been delegated authority to issue investor residence permits, decentralizing the process.