Moreover, all exemptions, except for physical disabilities, were only for five years. military service of the penalties likely to be faced if the person refuses to undertake, evades, or deserts from, military service 1.2 Points to note 1.2.1 Military service is compulsory for all males aged between 18 and 49 although there are some grounds for exemption (see Eligibility). If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. Document Name:Kart-e Shenasayi-e Melli; or Kart-e Melli (National Card), Issuing Authority:National Organization for Civil Registration. Iran's 1986 population of approximately 48.2 million (including approximately 2.6 million refugees) gave the armed forces a large pool from which to fill its manpower needs, despite the existence . Draft evaders were subject to arrest, trial before a military court, and imprisonment for a maximum of two years after serving the required two years of active duty. Exemptions from compulsory military service are in case of: After the post-election political turmoil in the summer of 2009 it appeared as if the Iranian Government has eased the requirements to allow people to leave the country in the sense that a young man wishing to leave the country before having completed his military service is able to deposit a bond of 12,000 USD and be allowed travel abroad for study. In 2019, the US State Department designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, an unprecedented action against the military of a foreign state. IranSource New military ID cards list the subsection of the law dictating their exemption on their ID cards, which identifies them as gay or transgender and puts them at risk of physical danger and general discrimination. Compounding this dilemma, many conscripts came from those areas where Persian was not spoken. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadian and Mexican nationals coming to engage in certain types of professional employment in the United States may be admitted in a special nonimmigrant category known as the "trade NAFTA" or "TN" category. Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. OFFICIAL TRANSLATION FROM PERSIAN Emblem Police Administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran MILITARY SERVICE EXEMPTION CARD This card is valid only for peace period Scanned photo of the Holder National ID No. Of about 8 million males between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, nearly 6 million were considered physically and mentally fit for military service. Al-Monitor reports that in December 2013, General Kamali indicated that Iran is "reviewing its policy of offering a reduction in service time for those who are married" (19 Dec. 2013). According to the website of the Iranian Embassy in the UK, the only male child must be over the age of 18 and his father must be over the age of 60; being the sole caretaker of a parent, a minor or ill sibling or ill grandparents or, only children caring for parents; being a man who has demonstrated exceptional scholastic achievement; members of the Basij are exempt from military service, which is a possibility if they are active in the Basij for 5 years or more; those who work in industries vital to the government or military may also be exempt. Agence France-Presse (AFP). The new digital version contains the individual's national ID number (also found on the right-hand side of the passport biodata page) and a bar code. 8. Comments:Military service completion and exemption cards and reliable English translations are readily available in Iran. Irans Bureau of Affairs Concerning Documents maintains a record of the location, name, number, specimen of signature, and seal of each notary who is expected periodically to advise the Bureau of the number of marriages and divorces that have been registered. "Iranian Youth Studying Abroad Can Apply for Reduced Military Service." I have no Iranian passport and nationality anymore. Depending on their field, those with higher education can end up with higher-status duties. Under the pre-revolutionary law, temporary or permanent exemptions were provided for the physically disabled, hardship cases, convicted felons, students, and certain professions. Under Iranian law, a designation as a homosexual or transsexual/transgender is considered to constitute a medical and psychological condition that warrants an exemption from compulsory military service. 18 March 2014. By Al-Monitor, a news source providing "reporting and analysis by prominent journalists and experts from the Middle East" (Al-Monitor n.d.), reported that, General Kamali, described by the source as the "chief conscription officer of the armed forces," stated in December 2013 that "many exemptions, deductions and options to pay to avoid military service will be removed" in the "following year" (19 Dec. 2013). N.d.b. Issuing Authority Personnel Title:There is no issuing authority personnel title. Indeed the Iranian diaspora community is one of the most successful ethnic minority groups in the US, with many celebrated scholars, scientists, and academics. According to the IHRDC, "in general males are expected to serve for a period of 20 months" and "[f]or service in impoverished areas, the duration can last 24 months while service in boundary areas can last 22 months" (7 Nov. 2013). Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are not available. being the only son of the family. Original and photocopy of the Certificate of Completion of Military Service or Exemption from Service, or filling out Form#104 for granting permission to exit once . Presently, military service lasts generally 18 months, but there are shorter terms for college graduates. Men who refuse military service and do not have an exemption are ineligible for government jobs and are furthermore not hired for high-paying jobs. 6 January 2010. Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Iran - Islamic Parliament of Iran, Iranian Police, National Portal for Iran, Office of the Supreme Leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Presidency Website; Iran Data Portal; Hein Online; Legislationline; Small Media; United Nations - Refworld. Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. The Iranians who fought on the frontlines during the Iran-Iraq war from 1980 to 1988 are retired. The old and new versions differ in their presentation of information related to marriages and children. 4. Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 2014], World-newspapers.com. Accordingly, the period of validity of a V-2 or V-3 visa must be limited to expire on or before the applicant's twenty-first birthday. New military ID cards list the subsection of the law dictating their exemption on their ID cards, which identifies them as gay or transgender and puts them at risk of physical danger and. Persons who are unwilling to perform military service, for whatever reason, are either recruited against their will or seek to escape or evade recruitment. 2- They must have lived at least 2 years in the foreign country. Of the three services, the air force fared best in this respect, as it had always done. No 184, Imam Khomeini Street, Tehran, Iran This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. First, it separated homosexuality from transsexuality and no longer categorized transsexuality as a form of sexual perversion, and transsexuals were thus afforded the right to permanent military exemption. Similarly, in a November 2013 article published by the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre (IHRDC), a Connecticut-based independent non-profit organization composed of scholars and lawyers working to provide a "historical record" of human rights issues in Iran (IHRDC n.d.), military service "begins" at 18 (ibid. The Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy will look into the governments reasons for excluding the proposal from its 2019/20 budget given the fact that the conscription buy-out was allowed in previous years., Dehghani explained: Barring any objections from the government, the Majlis will include the proposal in next years budget. Special Seal(s) / Color / Format:All service cards show national ID number, given name, surname, fathers name, date of birth (Persian), dates of service, card issuance date, rank, photo, and contain a chip. Both versions include a space for notes, death information, and where the registration office records any changes or corrections to the information in the document, such as a legal name change or a correction to the date or place of birth. Iran now has a largely conscripted force with limited military training and little combat experience. However, Al Jazeera indicates that the recruitment age is 19 (Al Jazeera 24 Apr. 2014], Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC). The spouse and children of an E-1 or E-2 principal alien are accorded derivative E-1 or E-2 status following the reciprocity schedule, including any reciprocity fees, of the principle aliens country of nationality. (Factiva), _____. . Its unclear yet whether a US decision to lift the FTO designation of the IRGC will erase the stigma of having served in the organization as far as US immigration is concerned (separate financial sanctions on the IRGC will remain). Many applicants also submit titles and deeds to apartments and property. "Iran and Israel: Comparing Military Machines." New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challengesand the United States role in addressing them alongside its allies and partners. For example, those who are accepted to universities are exempted while at school but are required to sign up after they graduate. Human Rights Watch indicates that in order to "prove" their sexual orientation or gender identity, men must undergo "numerous" "humiliating" physical and psychological tests and exams, which may be costly, and they may also encounter administrative barriers, such as "few doctors" to perform such tests and doctors that refuse to perform them without parental accompaniment (Dec. 2010, 24-26). About 3,800,000 men entered the Army during 1942, through inductions and enlistments. Human Rights Watch reports that "several individuals who had received exemptions based on their sexual orientation" faced discrimination in employment, "because their identification cards stated the reasons for their exemption as 'behavioural disorders' such as 'sexual deviancy'" (Dec. 2010, 24). If you are exempt from the service please provide a copy and certified English translation of your military service exemption card. Furthermore, most conscripts, especially those with no higher education, end up doing manual jobs, such as cleaning, cooking, or construction or, if they are lucky and have connections, driving for a senior officer. [Accessed 14 Mar. Other Documents Available:No other documents available. G-1, G-2, and G-3 visa applicants must submit their applications to either U.S. Embassy Bern or U.S. Embassy Vienna. Procedure for Obtaining: Iranian nationals over the age of 15 apply for the card at any local branch of the National Organization for Civil Registration in Iran. 2014]. Copyright notice: This document is published with the permission of the copyright holder and producer Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). The BBC reports that, according to Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), General Musa Kamali, the Vice Commander of the Headquarters for Human Resources of the Iranian Armed Forces, was quoted as saying that "the duration of military service is 18 months in combat and in insecure regions, 19 months in the regions which are deprived of facilities and have bad weather conditions, 21 months in other places, and 24 months in government offices" ( 26 Dec. 2013). Al-Monitor reports that in December 2013, General Kamali stated that "[b]ecause of its discriminatory nature, paying off military service was never desired by the armed forces, and that option has been closed" (19 Dec. 2013). Alternate Documents: The National Card presents information which is also contained on the Birth Certificate, but the latter is more comprehensive. 2014], XE. Further information on the implementation of the proposed service extension could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. If the person does not return to Iran, the amount is taken by the authorities. Special Seal(s) / Color / Format:Booklet Old versions have a red/burgundy cover, handwritten biodata, and manual signatures and stamps. According to estimates, this force, mainly composed of youths, could expand to as many as 1 million members in the event of a national emergency. If the parents marriage is not registered, both must be present to sign the document. 2023 Atlantic Council Example: John Doe is a national of the country of Z that has an E-1/E-2 treaty with the U.S. His wife and child are nationals of the country of Y which has no treaty with the U.S. After completing basic training outside of Semnan Air Defense Base, I received some mediocre training as a member of the military police and mostly did office work. A weekly column by Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe, Inflection Points focuses on the global challenges facing the United States and how to best address them. Given the tens of thousands of Iranians whom the IRGC drafted over the years, its likely that many have relatives who are part of the large Iranian diaspora in the United States. There are limited exemptions available but the option to buy out of military service has been reintroduced for some people. Home Office. Image: Iranian army military personnel hold Iran flags while attending a funeral for the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88) unknown martyrs in downtown Tehran on January 6, 2022. They, like less-educated conscripts, are often disciplined for minor infractions. [Accessed 13 Mar. Sources indicate that military service is mandatory for all males in Iran (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2013; Al-Monitor 19 Dec. 2013; Human Rights Watch Dec. 2010, 23). Diplomatic Sales Tax Exemption Cards The Department's Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) issues diplomatic tax exemption cards to eligible foreign missions and their accredited members and dependents on the basis of international law and reciprocity. Types Available (Regular, Diplomatic, Official, etc. These marriages are performed by ecclesiastical authorities and are not registered with the government. IranSource provides a holistic look at Irans internal dynamics, global and regional policies, and posture through unique analysis of current events and long-term, strategic issues related to Iran. [Accessed 3 Mar. Sina Azodi. Danish Refugee Council, LANDINFO, Danish Immigration Service. Although translations tend to be accurate, it is recommended that both the translation and the original card are reviewed. 2014], Human Rights Watch. (Iran n.d.a). "Iran Cuts Military Service Term." "Iran May Increase Compulsory Military Service by Three Months." Compulsory conscription has been in effect since 1926, when Reza Shah's Military Service Act was passed by the Majlis. The death certificate issued by the physician, hospital, or cemetery official; or the presence of two witnesses before the relevant civil registration office. About 80 percent of army personnel are conscripts, as are 60 percent of the Revolutionary Guards; navy and air force personnel are mainly volunteers. Embassy in the Hague. The following dependents of a T-1 visa holder, however, may be issued a T visa at a U.S. consular office abroad: The validity of NATO-5 visas may not exceed the period of validity of the employment contract or 12 months, whichever is less. General Kamali, the chief conscription officer of the armed forces, stated 19 December 2013 that "many exemptions, deductions and options to pay to avoid military service will be removed" in the "following year". In December 2013, General Kamali stated that "[b]ecause of its discriminatory nature, paying off military service was never desired by the armed forces, and that option has been closed" (19 Dec. 2013). In 1984 the Majlis passed a new Military Act that amended conscription laws to reduce the high number of draft dodgers. Newspapers had carried reports of people caught trying to buy their way out of military service, at an unofficial figure of about US$8,000 for forged exemption documents. Under the current amnesty plan, citizens who have not reported for compulsory military service for eight years after they first become eligible have until the end of the Iranian year (March 20, 2019) to pay a fine and avoid conscription. This means a temporary marriage would not disqualify an alien from a K-1 fianc (e) visa and would not be considered a marriage for determining whether an alien meets the definition of child (under 21 and unmarried). According to a 2020 survey from 6Rang, nearly 63 percent of Iranian LGBTQ people reported experiencing violence perpetrated by their nuclear family. Since Canadian nationals generally are exempt from visa requirement, a Canadian "TN' or "TD" alien does not require a visa to enter the United States. 22 hours ago, AmirNL said: About 3,000,000 were rejected for physical reasons But it became the rule in many induction centers that if there were any doubt at all as to whether a registrant would perform satisfactorily, he should be rejected. (for almost 10 years) During the interview I was asked about my military card or exemption and I explained that I do not have because I did not even serve in the military ! Treatment of People Who Refuse Military Service. A 14 October 2008 article by Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that, according to the state-run Fars News Agency, General Kamali stated that military service would be reduced by 1 to 2 months, adding "the term was 17 monthsand now it has been cut to 16 months." N.d. "IFOR Mission." It was commented that young dissatisfied individuals could be perceived as a potential source of unrest by the authorities. Since the Iran-Iraq War ended in 1988, most Iranian conscripts have seen no combat, and their military service is often devoid of actual combat training. 2014], Press TV. Evidence suggests that those wishing to obtain an exemption on the grounds of their sexuality/gender identity have to undergo numerous humiliating physical and psychological tests and exams and provide intimate information regarding their life. 26 December 2013. Procedure for Obtaining:Apply at local registration office. In the case of the IRGC, a clean-shaven face could result in three days of extra service time, as I was told by a number of friends who were drafted by the IRGC. The news met with widespread outrage. According to Commander Kamali, the eight-year rule also applies to military deserters and university students who were exempt from the national service while in school but had quit their studies without informing the draft registration office. The undated website of the Iranian Embassy in The Hague states that. Revolutionary leaders repeatedly declared that Iran could establish an army of 20 million to defend the country against foreign aggression. The first page includes a summary of the certificate holders personal information such as place of birth and parents first names and birth certificate numbers. The original version of this document may be found on the offical website of the IRB at, Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 February 2023, 15:25 GMT, 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran : information sur le service militaire, y compris sur l'ge du recrutement, la dure du service, les motifs d'exemption, la possibilit d'effectuer un service de remplacement et le traitement rserv par les autorits aux personnes qui refusent de faire leur service militaire; information indiquant si des sanctions sont imposes aux objecteurs de conscience, Military service / Conscientious objection / Desertion / Draft evasion / Forced conscription, Persecution on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Temporary student exemptions may also be substantiated by a letter from the conscription authority and proof of the students bond payment to exit Iran. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. 2014], Al-Monitor. I was a 19-year-old high school graduate when I was ordered to report at 4 am to the headquarters of the Law Enforcement Department of the Draft in downtown Tehran. "Shamsi to Gregorian Converter." 2012). Embassy in the Hague. There are many reasons a man could be exempted, including, but not limited to, payment in lieu of service, medical reasons, being the only son in his family, having elderly parents, and having a brother currently serving in the military. The IHRDC indicates that, "[i]n particular, gay men and transsexual persons who obtain military exemption due to their sexual orientation are at a significant disadvantage" because their cards for military exemption indicate the reason as "a psychological disorder" (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2013). The IHRDC states this exemption is for "a man who is the only male in the family and his father is over 65 years old" (IHRDC 7 Nov. 2014). Iran does not recognize the Bahai'i faith as a minority religion, thus the documentation of such marriages differs from Islamic marriages or marriages of other religious minorities. 26 September 2013. Alternate Documents:Amended identity certificates that indicate an individuals correct marital status can be obtained. "Iran May Cut Mandatory Military Service." 2014], Taghvim.com. The IHRDC reports on doctors who have written letters to the Military Service Office indicating that the individual seeking a military exemption based on sexual preference needed "sex-reassignment surgery" (IHRDC 19 June 2013). Asking for the military exemption card is just a convenient way to refuse you. Basically you get your exit permission validated and stamped in your passport before you enter the country. : 2298500101 Surname : MOHAMMAD Name : NIKNAM Father's Name : Ali Birth Certificate No. [Accessed 13 Mar. After the bitter experience of the Donald Trump administrations Muslim ban, subsequent withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, and maximum pressure campaign, easing restrictions on the immigration of innocent Iranians, who had no choice about serving in the IRGC, could be a collateral benefit of restoring the JCPOA. You accept the use of cookies as per our, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Adrienne Arsht Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs, A history of continuity in Irans long nuclear program, An escalating Israel-Iran conflict could sink the JCPOA, How Iranian Phantoms pulled off one of the most daring airstrikes in recent memory, Policy on donor acceptance and disclosure.