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Iran → Switzerland

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Iran
To
Switzerland
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
599
Change since 2018
-1.2%
Share of all arrivals in Switzerland, 2023
0.33%
Inflow 2023599OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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IR7<CH5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Migration from Iran to Switzerland

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

Inflows by year

307613201020132016201920222023
307613201020132016201920222023
Data table
2010522
2011524
2012467
2013437
2014386
2015440
2016439
2017485
2018606
2019545
2020613
2021572
2022523
2023599
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—5,521—
20235995,237159
20225235,079180
20215724,778124
20206134,429105
20195454,220142
20186063,957158
20174853,824156
20164393,713154
20154403,624177
20143863,514135
20134373,364—
20124673,165—
20115243,165—
2010522——
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

8,51917k19901995200020052010201520202024
8,51917k19902000201020202024
Data table
19902,262
19953,037
20004,100
20055,754
20107,783
20159,969
202013,950
202417,038
Estimate, 2024
17,038
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
0.61%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
33
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

Switzerland's consulates in Iran

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202413,44011,8831,3109.7%
202310,3469,3507657.4%
20229,0757,0541,87220.6%
20211,9791,73622611.4%
20201,8351,41640522.1%
20199,7257,6282,01720.7%
201813,33011,1452,04715.4%
201717,62815,8151,6839.5%
201611,43910,2401,0138.9%
20157,1826,6773324.6%
20145,9895,6042404.0%
20135,5454,8494638.3%
20126,1945,9552393.9%
20118,1177,8902272.8%
20106,7486,4672814.2%
20096,1075,7463615.9%

Applications by year

8,81418k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
8,81418k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20096,107
20106,748
20118,117
20126,194
20135,545
20145,989
20157,182
201611,439
201717,628
201813,330
20199,725
20201,835
20211,979
20229,075
202310,346
202413,440
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Switzerland

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education184
  2. Family121
  3. Work77
  4. Other reasons32
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2025414000
20244410135703
20235170161686
20224050178707
20214330125687
202000108639
201900149622
20184550161587
20174360170588
20163800173563
20153120185586
20142150134591
20134550122659
201249101230
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities77
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
6,135
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
25
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

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

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyDistrict 1eda.admin.ch
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Switzerland, 2023; Iran ranks 42.

Inflows to Switzerland, 2023
  1. Germany26,211
  2. France19,955
  3. Italy19,497
  4. Portugal12,750
  5. Spain8,964
  6. Poland7,576
  7. Romania7,520
  8. Hungary4,175
  9. Türkiye3,788
  10. China3,526
  11. India3,514
  12. Afghanistan3,466
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. Netherlands3,481
  8. Austria2,650
  9. Denmark2,166
  10. 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