Iran Mandates Basic Health Insurance for Legal Foreign Nationals

DID Press: Following approval by Iran’s Cabinet, all foreign nationals with legal residency in the country are now required to be covered by basic health insurance in order to renew their residence permits.

According to a resolution approved by Iran’s Cabinet on Dec. 7 and communicated by the First Vice President, enrollment in basic health insurance has become mandatory for all legally residing foreign nationals in Iran. This insurance coverage will be provided through Iran Health Insurance Organization, the Social Security Organization, and insurance companies operating under the supervision of the Central Insurance of Iran.

The Iranian government said the decision aims to organize insurance services for foreign nationals, increase access to healthcare for legally residing migrants, and create greater coherence within the country’s insurance system.

Official statistics show that more than 100,000 foreign nationals—particularly patients with special medical conditions and other vulnerable individuals—are currently covered by health insurance, with part of the costs supported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Non-vulnerable foreign nationals, however, are required to pay the insurance premiums themselves.

Officials noted that payment of health insurance premiums will now be one of the main conditions for renewing residence permits for foreign nationals in Iran—a move experts say could help prevent unfunded burdens on Iran’s healthcare system and ensure fairer access to health services for migrants.