What it means
دفتر خدمات (daftar-e khadamât) literally means “office of services” and refers to a service office, a public services window, or a counter where government or institutional services are delivered to citizens. Both words come from Arabic: دفتر (daftar) originally entered Arabic from Greek via Aramaic, meaning a register or book, and passed into Persian through Arabic administrative usage. خدمات (khadamât) is the Arabic plural of خدمت (khedmat, service). Together, the phrase is standard in Iranian government signage, hospital reception areas, and municipal buildings. A partial synonym is باجه خدمات (bâje-ye khadamât, service window or kiosk).
How to use it
- برای تمدید گذرنامه باید به دفتر خدمات بروید. (Barâye tamdid-e gozarnâme bâyad be daftar-e khadamât beravid.) “To renew your passport, you need to go to the services office.”
- دفتر خدمات از ساعت ۸ تا ۱۴ باز است. (Daftar-e khadamât az sâ’at-e hasht tâ chahârdah bâz ast.) “The services office is open from 8 to 2.”
- این مشکل را باید مستقیم با دفتر خدمات در میان بذاری. (In moshkel râ bâyad mostaghim bâ daftar-e khadamât dar miân bezâri.) “You need to take this problem directly to the services office.”
- دفتر خدمات الکترونیک الان بیشتر کارها رو آنلاین انجام میده. (Daftar-e khadamât-e elektronik alân bishtar kârhâ ro online anjâm mide.) “The electronic services office now handles most things online.”
Cultural note
In Iran, دفتر خدمات (or دفاتر خدمات, in plural) has taken on new meaning since the expansion of دفاتر پیشخوان دولت (government service counters) in the 2010s. These are privately run offices authorized by the government to provide a wide range of administrative services, from postal registration to driving license renewal, reducing the need to visit multiple government buildings. They are a common feature of Iranian towns and cities and have significantly changed the everyday experience of dealing with bureaucracy.