According to the communication of the esteemed Center of Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (CAFIA), those irregular Afghans who, for any reason, have not yet returned to their home country may, provided they meet the following conditions, attend Kefalat Offices in the provinces—and in Tehran Province, visit the online appointment system kanoonnobat.com—to obtain an educational referral letter. 

1. The student must have been registered and studying in schools in the country during the previous academic year. 

2. A first-year student whose brother or sister is registered and studying in schools in the country during the current academic year, provided that a birth certificate is available. 

3. No member of the student’s household must have a record of deportation from the country or hold a Return Slip. 

4. Introduction of one guarantor holding Amayesh Card No. 19, who must sign a commitment to monitor and ensure the household’s departure from the country after the end of the current academic year. 

Association of Kefalat Offices for Residency and Employment of Foreign Nationals 

For more information please visit the Association Website. 

Please be informed that UNHCR has introduced a new country-wide helpline number, replacing all previous ones.

?️ Starting from Sunday, 2 November 2025, you can only contact UNHCR through the new toll-free number:

? 90000427

Working hours: Sunday to Thursday, from 08:00 to 16:00

You can also visit the https://help.unhcr.org/iran/ for further information.

All UNHCR services, including calls to this helpline, are completely free of charge.
Please do not share your personal information with any individual or entity claiming to provide UNHCR services through unofficial channels.

UNHCR Iran has received reports of false information circulating online and among forcibly displaced communities. The misinformation claims that UNHCR is registering individuals for immigration to third countries. Please be advised that this is not true. Do not trust this rumor!

UNHCR is not involved in any visa/immigration programs for any country.

Please do not approach UNHCR seeking visa/immigration programs. 

UNHCR Iran does not conduct registration, does not decide whether someone is a refugee and does not issue documentation. These are the responsibilities of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Beware of fraudsters who falsely claim to be affiliated with UNHCR and make false promises regarding visa/immigration programs. These fraudsters may reach out to you in person or through messages, calls, emails, mobile applications or social media.

Do not pay these fraudsters any money and do not share any personal information and documentation with them. Instead, report these fraudsters to UNHCR and the police. All complaints to UNHCR are confidential.

Please only rely on official government/embassy channels to receive accurate information regarding visa/immigration programs.

For information about the available UNHCR services in Iran, please visit the UNHCR Iran website (https://www.unhcr.org/ir/) or see the official announcements made on UNHCR Iran’s Help Page (https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/news/) or follow the UNHCR Instagram account (https://instagram.com/unhcriran).

If you have any questions about UNHCR services, please send your queries through the UNHCR online contact form or contact the UNHCR helpline (https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/contact/).

Stay vigilant, stay informed, stay safe.

UNHCR Iran has received reports regarding fraudsters falsely offering to help Afghan refugees in Iran apply for Australian and Brazilian humanitarian visas. These fraudsters have been collecting personal information and documentation from Afghan refugees and charging them money for fake assistance with filling out forms.

Beware of such fraudsters with false promises regarding humanitarian visa/immigration programs to any country. These fraudsters may reach out to you in person or through messages, calls, emails, mobile applications or social media.

Do not pay these fraudsters any money and do not share any personal information and documentation with them. Instead, report these fraudsters to UNHCR and the police. All complaints and reports to UNHCR are confidential.

Please only rely on official government/embassy channels to receive accurate information regarding visa/immigration programs.

UNHCR is NOT involved in any visa/immigration programs for any country.

For information about the available UNHCR services in Iran, please visit the UNHCR Iran website (https://www.unhcr.org/ir/) or see the official announcements made on UNHCR Iran’s Help Page (https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/news/) or follow the UNHCR Instagram account (https://instagram.com/unhcriran).

If you have any questions about UNHCR services, please send your queries through the UNHCR online contact form or contact the UNHCR helpline (https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/contact/).

Stay vigilant, stay informed, stay safe.

UNHCR services are always free of charge! Do not trust anyone claiming to be able to offer, fast-track or guarantee UNHCR services in exchange for money or favours. They are fraudsters.

Fraudsters may reach out to you in person or through messages, calls, emails, mobile applications or social media. They can be very convincing and may impersonate UNHCR personnel or falsely claim to be affiliated with UNHCR. Fraudsters may also show you fake identification to try to convince you that they work for UNHCR. Never trust them!

Always be suspicious of individuals approaching you outside of UNHCR offices claiming to be connected to UNHCR and offering access to UNHCR services.

Fraudsters may also try to obtain personal information from you or try to gain entry into your homes. Never share your personal information with them and do not allow them into your homes.

Report these fraudsters to UNHCR and the police. All complaints to UNHCR are confidential.

When in doubt, please check directly with UNHCR for accurate information. You may send your queries through the UNHCR online contact form or contact the UNHCR helpline (https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/contact/).

For information about the available UNHCR services in Iran, please visit the UNHCR Iran website (https://www.unhcr.org/ir/) or see the official announcements made on UNHCR Iran’s Help Page (https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/news/) or follow the UNHCR Instagram account (https://instagram.com/unhcriran).

Stay vigilant, stay informed, stay safe.

This is to inform all refugees holding valid identification documents of “Foreign National Identification Card” with residence type of Amayesh-18 or Hoviat-17 that, the Prima Facie Refugees’ Information Update Exercise has commenced as of 26 July 2025 (1404/05/04) and will continue for a period of two months.

Accordingly, all prima facie refugees with an Amayesh-18 residency status and Iraqi nationals with a Hoviat-17 residency status are required to visit the designated Offices for Services, Residency, and Employment of Foreign Nationals (Kefalat centers), after receiving an SMS notification, and renew their cards in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

For more information please refer the CAFIA Website.

UNHCR services are always free of charge!

Beware of individuals or groups who may try to exploit you by falsely promising UNHCR-related assistance or services in exchange for money, favours or personal information.

UNHCR does NOT work with any type of agent or broker, including tourism agencies and internet cafés, to provide access to UNHCR services. UNHCR is also NOT involved in any visa/immigration programs for any country.

Do not trust anyone claiming to be affiliated with UNHCR and claiming to be able to fast-track or guarantee UNHCR services in exchange for money or favours. They are fraudsters!

These fraudsters may reach out to you in person or through messages, calls, emails, mobile applications or social media. Do not pay these fraudsters and instead report them to UNHCR and the police.

For information about the available UNHCR services in Iran, please visit the UNHCR Iran website (https://www.unhcr.org/ir/) or see the official announcements made on UNHCR Iran’s Help Page (https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/news/) or follow the UNHCR Instagram account (https://instagram.com/unhcriran). You may also send your queries through the UNHCR online contact form or contact the UNHCR helpline (https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/contact/).

Stay vigilant, stay informed, stay safe.

All foreign nationals and migrants holding Headcount Slips are hereby informed that the final deadline to book an appointment under the regularization scheme for Headcount Slip holders is 17 Khordad 1404 (7 June 2025). Therefore, the afore mentioned individuals are required to visit the kanoonnobat.ir website to obtain an appointment.

It is emphasized that failure to book an appointment and complete the regularization process will result in these individuals being considered unauthorized and ineligible for any services, and legal action will be taken against them in accordance with the law.

Furthermore, it is reiterated that all official news regarding the regularization scheme for foreign nationals holding Headcount Slips is only published via the website of the Center for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (CAFIA) at cafia.moi.ir, and any other sources of information in this regard are invalid.

For more information, please visit CAFIA

Please be aware that the application period has ended. If you haven’t submitted your application before the deadline, your application will not be considered. The successful applicants will be informed in the upcoming weeks.

In the framework of the partnership between UNHCR and IELTS test provider, UNHCR is providing globally free IELTS tests to refugees with support of UNHCR. In this light, UNHCR Iran operation is providing Free IELTS vouchers for a very limited number of seats for qualified refugee candidates to sit for an exam in the authorized centers in Iran. Applicants must benefit from this opportunity before the end of August 2025. UNHCR will facilitate the process in case there are no vacant slots available in Iran before the end of August.

Interested candidates should provide the following documents to be considered for further review for the screening and selection:

1. A copy of the Amayesh card (most recent one). In case you have handed over your Amayesh card for obtaining Passports, please share with us a copy of your latest Amayesh card.

• A copy of a document showing the B2 level of proficiency in English as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)- https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions

In case you do not already have such document, you can provide Duolingo exam certificate (UNHCR can provide free vouchers to a limited number of applicants)

• A written justification (in English) that shows the candidate needs to sit for the IELTS test (in less than 350 words).

Candidates should provide the legible copies of the above documents in a ZIP file titled “Applying for free IELTS voucher- Full name) and send it to the below email address: IRNTEUIV@UNHCR.org

Please note that submission of above documents will not guarantee the receipt of a free IELTS voucher.

At any point during the review of the provided documents, UNHCR may ask for provision of the original document and failing to provide the same will result in disqualification from the selection process.

Candidates selected after the first round of review might be called for an interview or requested to provide further documents as needed.

All application should be submitted by the deadline of 10^th June 2025 ONLY SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED

As reported by the public relations and communications [department] of the Center for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (CAFIA) regarding the Implementation of the Instruction for making a decision on the status of foreign nationals holding Headcount slips, please note the following points:

1) From 12 March 2025, the call has commenced for eligible individuals under the first and second category of the first announcement, i.e. where one of the spouses holds Amayesh 18, and her/his spouse holds Headcount and children might or might not hold headcount, and will continue until End-Farvardin (20 April 2025). Eligible individuals shall approach the same Kefalat center where their Amayesh card 18 was issued to obtain appointment.

2) From 12 March 2025, the call by phone has commenced for eligible individuals under the fifth category of the first announcement; i.e. former government officials that return is not possible for them; The call will continue until Mid-Farvardin 1403 (Early April 2025). If eligible persons under this category do not receive calls by 30 March 2025, they should approach BAFIAs for registration from 5 April 2025.

3) For the rest of eligible individuals as per the first announcement, including holders of the financial scheme receipts, Employment Determination Scheme Slips, Passport with Expired Visa holders, etc. as per the discretion by the provincial BAFIA, they will be called by one of the below two methods:

A) Receiving calls or SMS from the second week of Farvardin 1404 (End March 2025) to approach the Kefalat center where they have their records and case.

B) Announcement by the provincial BAFIA for visiting the appointment scheduling portal “Kanoonnobat.ir” from 30 March 2025, and receiving appointments.

Note: This system of appointment scheduling in not functional in provinces implementing the (A) method.

4) holders of Headcount slips shall not approach BAFIA offices or Kefalat centers before being called by the Kefalat center via phone, SMS, or upon the announcement of provincial BAFIA for scheduling appointments.

For more info please visit CAFIA website