VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor EN
☰

Iran → Netherlands

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Iran
To
Netherlands
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
3,481
Change since 2018
+88.0%
Share of all arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023
1.20%
Inflow 20233,481OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<NLIRAN<NETHERLANDS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
IR7<NL4<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Migration from Iran to the Netherlands

Inflows of nationals of Iran recorded by the Netherlands; stock of nationals of Iran living there; and acquisitions of the Netherlands' nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

1,7413,481200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,7413,4812000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000392
2001466
2002381
2003427
2004323
2005307
2006363
2007419
2008584
2009636
2010689
2011883
2012624
2013695
2014853
2015910
20161,851
20171,481
20181,852
20193,215
20201,702
20212,253
20223,183
20233,481
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—15,398—
20233,48113,5691,569
20223,18311,7011,379
20212,25310,7011,055
20201,70210,3141,338
20193,2157,824463
20181,8526,695443
20171,4815,886492
20161,8514,675449
20159104,415464
20148534,374690
20136954,531848
20126243,969361
20118833,564281
20106893,330217
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Iran who live in the Netherlands: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

22k45k19901995200020052010201520202024
22k45k19902000201020202024
Data table
19906,992
199513,742
200020,709
200523,936
201025,769
201529,385
202037,422
202444,869
Estimate, 2024
44,869
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.5%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
17
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

The Netherlands' consulates in Iran

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at the Netherlands' consulates located in Iran.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202411,8538,3743,29127.8%
202312,3446,9325,16741.9%
20229,0666,1572,63029.0%
20211,6871,08150730.1%
20202,4288081,58065.1%
201917,6509,5757,82744.3%
201828,37918,5449,35433.0%
201722,74117,3285,08622.4%
201616,93013,7482,43314.4%
201511,7129,4312,05717.6%
20149,0487,2831,47616.3%
20137,7745,3162,29629.5%
20128,3756,3491,87422.4%
201113,58510,3722,84921.0%
201013,10211,7719667.4%
20099,2537,9516807.3%

Applications by year

14k28k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
14k28k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20099,253
201013,102
201113,585
20128,375
20137,774
20149,048
201511,712
201616,930
201722,741
201828,379
201917,650
20202,428
20211,687
20229,066
202312,344
202411,853
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in the Netherlands

First residence permits issued by the Netherlands to citizens of Iran (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family1,006
  2. Other reasons779
  3. Education750
  4. Work621
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20253,156000
20243,191182,4150
20233,436131,5690
20223,93051,3790
20213,63221,0550
20201,81651,3380
20191,9953898783
20181,8362801701
20171,99959330
20161,3350840610
20151,0190733605
20141,0080862580
20131,38301,004650
20121,16205440
20111,44302810
20101,13402170
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)269
  2. Researchers182
  3. Other paid activities165
  4. EU Blue Card5
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
16,394
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,478
Changed status into work, 2025
623
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
2
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Netherlands: national statistics office

Immigrants with the nationality of Iran arriving in the Netherlands, by migration motive; only nationalities from outside the EU/EFTA are covered (Statistics Netherlands).

YearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
20252,8656209301,08022015
20243,5107559451,12567015
20233,4858558001,24058010
20223,1809306051,04559010
20212,25055041070056525
20201,70038523042563030
20193,2405452305451,87050
20181,86548023043069035
20171,52036018034562510
20162,0202451202701,3805
20159151801002254055
201486517512020535510
201375515011520525035
201268014515519514045
201193522521031512560
201071516519021010050

All by year

1,7553,51020052007200920112013201520172019202120232025
1,7553,510200520092013201720212025
Data table
2005350
2006400
2007490
2008660
2009665
2010715
2011935
2012680
2013755
2014865
2015915
20162,020
20171,520
20181,865
20193,240
20201,700
20212,250
20223,180
20233,485
20243,510
20252,865
Source: CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the Netherlands in Iran, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyTehran—
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023; Iran ranks 20.

Inflows to the Netherlands, 2023
  1. Ukraine38,497
  2. Poland25,298
  3. Syria19,551
  4. Romania13,914
  5. Bulgaria12,328
  6. India12,073
  7. Türkiye11,250
  8. Italy10,603
  9. Spain10,447
  10. Germany10,429
  11. China7,991
  12. Portugal6,084
Other destinations for people from Iran, 2023
  1. Germany23,352
  2. Türkiye14,495
  3. Canada10,680
  4. United States8,790
  5. Italy4,318
  6. Australia3,651
  7. Austria2,650
  8. Denmark2,166
  9. Sweden1,944
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more