New Ministry of Health Announcement on Educational Exemptions for Students Abroad

The Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education issued Announcement No. 2 on May 24, 2026 (1405-03-04), regarding military service facilities for medical students studying abroad. This announcement is a significant step toward clarifying the process of issuing educational exemptions for conscripts who have successfully secured admission to accredited international universities directly with a high school diploma [3].

Implementation of Article 102 of the Seventh Development Plan According to Clause 'T' of Article 102 of the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan Law, the government and the General Staff of the Armed Forces are required to clarify and facilitate the educational conditions for eligible students in approved foreign universities [2]. This law, designed to support elites and facilitate student travel, is now being implemented by the Ministry of Health through a fully digital process. According to these regulations, students without military service absences can benefit from an educational exemption by providing a legal security deposit [1].

Step One: Document Verification in the Mikhak System The first and most vital step for any student is registration and file creation in the 'Mikhak' system (Integrated Management of Consular Services) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Students are required to upload their certificate of enrollment, verified by their university, into this system [1]. Consular officers at Iranian missions abroad will verify the authenticity of the documents and approve them online. It should be noted that if documents are issued in a language other than English, providing an official translation after Mikhak approval is mandatory [3].

Step Two: Registration in the Ministry of Health's Movahed System After document verification in the Mikhak system, applicants must visit the 'Educational Services Center Facilities and Conscripts System' (Movahed System) of the Ministry of Health. At this stage, uploading documents such as scans of the birth certificate, national ID card, the first page of the passport, the last exit stamp from the country, and the high school diploma is required [3]. The Educational Services Center of the Ministry of Health is responsible for checking the compatibility of the field of study and the university with the ministry's list of approved institutions. According to the new announcement, all these steps are performed without the need for the physical presence of the student or their family [1].

Step Three: Submitting the Request in the Sakha System The final stage is connecting to the 'Sakha' system belonging to the Public Conscription Organization of FARAJA. Once the Ministry of Health issues the initial approval, the student must register their request for a foreign educational exemption in the Sakha system [2]. At this stage, the process of determining and depositing the security bond is carried out. According to the latest updates, notifications regarding the progress of the case and the final issuance of the exemption will only be sent via SMS to the applicant's registered mobile number [3].

Key Points and Important Warnings The Ministry of Health emphasized that it is not possible to hold both domestic and foreign educational exemptions simultaneously, and applicants must clarify the status of their previous exemption before registering a new request [3]. Furthermore, due to the complete digitalization of the process, students and their families are strictly requested to avoid visiting the Ministry of Health headquarters in person, as no in-person responses will be provided [1][3].