By virtue of Article 35 of the Executive Bylaw of FIPPA:“The relevant executive agencies, including but not limited to, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs [since 2011 and after merging of ministries, the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare] and the 
Disciplinary Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (the Police) are required to proceed with the issuance of visas, residence permits and work permits for foreign investors, directors, experts and their immediate family members in relation to the investments covered by FIPPA, at the request of the Organization confirming their status as investors, in the following manner :
The Ministry of Foreign Affair is required, upon receipt of the request of the Organization, to communicate to the Missions of the Islamic Republic of Iran abroad, the authorization for the issuance of single entry visa, or multi-entry visa (for three years) with a three-month residence permit on each entry for the relevant individuals, depending on the type of visa requested.
The above mentioned persons who have obtained entry visa for investment may, after entry into the Country, refer to the Disciplinary Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (the Police) and obtain a three-year residence permit, upon submission of the Organization’s formal note confirming the coverage of such investments under FIPPA. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is obliged to issue work permit for such individuals consequent to the issuance of the residence permit.
Obtaining such three-year residence permits by foreign investors, as stipulated above, shall exempt them from entry and exit visas required for traveling to or from the Country.”

In cases when Iranian employers need technical specialty of foreign experts, issuance of visa with a work permit privilege as well as work permit for the foreign nationals will be carried out upon request by Iranian employer. According to pertinent rules and regulations, no foreign citizen can personally apply for employment and work permit in Iran, unless he/she registers an enterprise legally. Upon inquiry from the Department General for Employment of Foreign Nationals, before concluding any contract with foreign experts, the Iranian employers should deliver the request and required documents to the department general for verification. The documents are sent for further investigation to the Technical Board for Employment of Foreign Nationals. The approval or disapproval of the Board is thereby announced to the employer through the related experts.
Delegation of Limited Authority for Issuance, Extension and Renewal of Work Permit of Foreign Nationals to the Provincial Departments General of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare:
In the past, the responsibility of issuance, extension and renewal of the work permits of foreign nationals used to be carried out in Tehran (at the Department General for Employment of Foreign Nationals). For the welfare of the applicants, the authority of these affairs to certain degree has been delegated to the Departments General of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare in the provinces. Therefore, employers and foreign nationals can refer to the provincial departments general for issuance, extension or renewal of their work permit.

The work permits of foreign nationals is issued, extended or renewed for a period of one year.

Upon expiry of the work permit, if the Iranian employer still needs the specialty of expatriates, he can apply for the extension of the work permit of his foreign laborer or expert. The application is sent to the Technical Board for Employment and upon approval the permit is extended for a period of one year.

Foreign nationals with valid work permits whose contracts with employer become null and void for any reason, will be subject to renewal of work permit after changing the employer. The renewal of work permit – upon the change in employer or the type of work – will be carried out by the responsible divisions of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare after the approval of the Technical Board for Employment of Foreign Nationals.

Employers who hire foreign nationals whose work permits have been expired or have no work permit, or employ them in jobs other than those stipulated in their work permits, or do not notify the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare about cases where the employment agreement between them and foreign nationals is terminated, shall be sentenced to prison terms or cash fines.

At present, the issuance and renewal of work permits for foreign nationals costs 1,400,000. Rls and extension of permits costs 1,000,000.Rls. Expatriates of some countries will be exempted from such charges upon mutual agreement with their respected countries on receiving similar privileges.

Foreign investors employing those introduced by the affiliated units of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare will enjoy growing discounts or exemption from paying part of the insurance duties in case their units are newly established, or there would be no reduction in their employment rate the year before (part of Article 80 of the Law on Fifth Five-Year Development Plan).