The Dutch Foreign Minister announced yesterday that in view of sanctions against Iran, Netherlands will no longer renew or issue visa or residency applications for Iranian researchers and specialist immigrants.
Zamaneh reports that Foreign Minister Yuri Rosenthal announced to the Dutch Parliament that UN and EU sanctions on Iran prompted his ministry’s decision to reject renewal applications for residency made by Iranians engaged in research at universities or specific companies or those who are now employed at various centres in Netherlands.
Rosenthal claimed that this decision was based on an article of the EU sanctions on Iran that bans Iranians from having access to certain fields that could lead to certain knowledge being relayed to Iran.
He added this decision does not affect applications made by students or tourists traveling to the Netherlands, which will be handled as before.
A number of Iranians in Netherlands have already reported the effects of the recent moves by the Foreign Ministry. A number of graduate students have reported on Facebook that their residency application has been turned down.
One student reports that a letter from the Dutch Immigration Office (IND) informed him that the office is examining how the EU sanctions on Iran will affect residency applications from Iranians.
Another Iranian residing in the Netherlands reported that he received a letter from a prospective employer after an interview, informing him that the IND has forbidden the company from considering Iranian professionals because of the EU sanctions.
The Iranian embassy has reportedly protested against the restrictions on Iranian students and called for their immediate withdrawal.
