Iran Moves to Keep Afghan Children With Residency Problems in School

DID Press: Iranian authorities in Razavi Khorasan Province say they are working to ensure Afghan children can continue their education even when their residency documents face problems, including through temporary permits to prevent interruptions in schooling.

Amirollah Shamdqari, deputy governor for security and administrative affairs of Razavi Khorasan, made the remarks on the sidelines of the “Khademan-e Hamdeli 2” ceremony in Mashhad, stressing that no child of foreign nationals should be deprived of education because of administrative or residency issues.

Shamdqari said provincial authorities were seeking to provide a legal pathway for children whose residency documents have problems, including the possible use of temporary permits so that their education does not come to a halt. He added that the registration and management of education for foreign nationals was being pursued seriously.

He also highlighted the decades-long presence of Afghan nationals in Iran and called for their scientific, cultural, social and economic capacities to be used within the framework of Iranian law. He said cooperation between government institutions, civil society organizations and social activists could help address issues affecting migrants.

Separately, the Razavi Khorasan Department of Foreign Nationals and Immigrants Affairs said that educational support documents for eligible foreign-national students are currently being issued through provincial offices. The department stressed, however, that students with legal eligibility remain subject to the applicable registration rules.

The announcement comes as registration of foreign-national students in Razavi Khorasan is being organized for the 2026–27 academic year. Provincial education officials have said students with valid documents are being registered according to the official timetable, while authorities are also considering arrangements for students whose documentation requires further processing.

Editorial note: The wording “children without documents” can be misleading. The latest official remarks refer primarily to children whose residency documents have problems or are incomplete, rather than announcing unrestricted school access for all undocumented migrants. The authorities say temporary permits may be used in some cases.