This is to inform all foreign nationals and migrants holding Head count slips: Considering that the validity of the mentioned document will expire on 20 March 2025, the following six groups mentioned below must take action to legalize their stay in the country.

1. One spouse (husband or wife) holds an Amayesh card while the other and their children have headcount slips.
2. One spouse (husband or wife) holds an Amayesh card, while the other spouse and children lack headcount slips and their family relationship is verified by official authorities.
3. Foreign nationals with a valid passport and an expired visa must pay a fine and apply for a short-term exit visa, allowing them to re-enter Iran with a new visa.
4. Those holding a job identification number or work permit who obtain legal residency within the given deadline.
5. Individuals who were government employees, officials, or military personnel under the previous Afghan government and cannot return shall be referred to relevant international organizations for further processing upon approval by BAFIA.
6. Other Afghan nationals with headcount slips must exit Iran and return legally with a passport to regularize their stay.
   It is stressed that CAFIA is the only recognized authority and the sole authority responsible for handling affairs related to immigrants and foreign nationals, and the provincial offices of BAFIA and authorized Foreign Nationals’ Residence & Employment Service Centers all across the country are the only recognized agencies for processing executive plans. The provision of services by other organizations, administrations, companies, offices, etc. is not authorized by CAFIA.
   It should be noted that from 21 March 2025, any services to foreign nationals such as education, healthcare, sim cards, real estate transactions and rentals will only be available to holders of valid residence permits (holding passport and visa/residence permit and Amayesh card).

The new 11^th Cycle of UPHI scheme has started countrywide (from 25 February 2025) and the scheme is open and accessible to all Amayesh, Hoviat or Valid Laissez-Passer.

Vulnerable:
Vulnerable refugees holding a Amayesh, Hoviat or valid Laissez-Passer (including refugees with Special Diseases – such as Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Renal Failure, Kidney Transplant and Multiple Sclerosis [MS]), similar to previous cycles, can approach Pishkhan centers contracted with Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) countrywide and enroll in the free-of-charge health insurance coverage from 25 February 2025 – 24 February 2026.

Premium payers:
As per previous cycles, other refugees who are holding Amayesh, Hoviat and valid Laissez-Passer can also approach Pishkhan centres contracted with IHIO countrywide and by paying the ratified premium fee, enroll in the UPHI scheme and receive health insurance coverage with duration of 12-months from the date of enrolment.

Important points regarding registration:

• To know if you fall under vulnerable or premium payer category, please approach your nearest Pishkhan centers contracted with IHIO countrywide or call contact No. 1666 (IHIO’s dedicated operator for UPHI) and check your vulnerability status and your access to the scheme. Enrollment in the scheme takes place at Pishkhan Centers.
• Refugees holding a Amayesh, Hoviat or valid Laissez-Passer, in order to enroll in the scheme, please ensure to bring your residential documents and those of your family members and provide it to the authorities of Pishkhan Centers contracted with IHIO to facilitate their registration.
• All refugees should ensure pre-registration is conducted before enrolment in Pishkhan centers.
• Refugees who have enrolled in UPHI scheme, can always find out the status of their insurance coverage and its validity period by dialing the code *1666#.
• By enrolling in this UPHI scheme you can benefit from a 12-months health insurance coverage.
• All diagnostic and treatment services for refugees are covered in all hospitals contracted with IHIO countrywide, according to the primary health care package.
• All refugees who have enrolled in Universal Public Health Insurance scheme can receive medical services through online prescription services by providing their Identity Cards (valid Amayesh/Hoviat/valid Laissez-Passer) and shall be referred to medical centers, who will verify access to UPHI in the system. Your access to UPHI and the coverage of insured services in the system of medical centers will be confirmed by presenting valid Amayesh/Hoviat/ or Laissez-Passer.

Beware of individuals with false promises regarding Canadian visa/immigration programs. They are fraudsters! Do not pay these fraudsters and instead report them to the police.

UNHCR is NOT involved in any visa/immigration programs for any country, including those for Canada.

For accurate information, check the Canadian government’s official website here: (https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html)

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

This is to inform all refugees residing in the country who have not yet been successful with extending and receiving Amayesh/Hoviat cards: The exercise [deadline] for updating the information of refugees residing in the country has been extended until 18 February 2025.

Therefore, all eligible individuals are requested to approach Kefalat centers in their residential area as soon as possible, update their information, and obtain identity cards.

It must be stressed that the exercise for updating the information of refugees won’t be extended after this deadline, and eligible foreign nationals who don’t participate in the scheme for any reason, will be considered as “unauthorized”.

For more info please visit the Center for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs Ministry of Interior website.

For the attention of all refugees and forcibly displaced and stateless people in Iran who submitted RST requests via the Online contact form:

Please note that “Resettlement” is not a right. You cannot apply for resettlement. You also cannot request/refer yourself or someone else for resettlement consideration. Please do not approach UNHCR, or partner agency requesting resettlement consideration.

However, if you have any other request or concern that you believe requires support from UNHCR, you may contact UNHCR via the telephone helpline or submit an online contact form by selecting the most appropriate reason for contacting UNHCR.

All UNHCR services are always free of charge! Be aware of individuals offering to help you obtain UNHCR services in exchange for money or favors. These individuals may pretend to be affiliated with UNHCR and may also falsely claim to be able to fast-track or guarantee UNHCR services. These individuals are fraudsters! Do not trust them. UNHCR will never ask you for money or favors! Do not pay these fraudsters and instead report them to UNHCR and BAFIA/police.

Please only rely on officially issued messages from UNHCR which can be found on the UNHCR Iran Help Page (https://help.unhcr.org/iran/). When in doubt, please check directly with UNHCR for more information.

This is to inform all foreign nationals and migrants residing in the country: Foreign nationals holding electronic or hand-written family passports with visas valid until 20 December 2024, can visit Kanoonnobar.ir website from 11 January 2025 to schedule an appointment, and after receiving an appointment, approach Kefalat centers to extend their visa.

* The duration of implementation is from 18 January 2025 until 15 March 2025, and will not be extended in any way.

It is worth mentioning that the validity of issued visas, and work permits will be until 21 June 2025.

For more info please visit the Center for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs Ministry of Interior website.

For the attention of all refugees residing in Iran, the process of updating refugee information has begun, therefore, all refugees holding Foreign Nationals’ ID cards with Amayesh residency status, holders of Amayesh Cards 15, 16, and 17, holders of Hoviat Cards 14, 15, and 16 and holders of valid travel permits (for corrections or changes), are requested to approach Kefalat centers, after receiving a notification to update their information and receive their new ID cards. The update process will take place from 2 December 2024 to 31 January 2025.

It is emphasized since the plan will not be extended beyond this timeline, refugees should adhere to appointment schedules and avoid overcrowding at service centers.

For further information about the plan, visit اداره کل امور اتباع و مهاجرین خارجی – اجرای طرح آمایش پناهندگان and Kanoonnobat.ir.

Please be aware of misinformation about the UNHCR online contact form. This form UNHCR’s online contact form ONLY replaced the Protection Mailbox, where forcibly displaced and stateless people in Iran can get in contact with UNHCR. The purpose of developing this form is an attempt to respond to individual requests more efficiently. There is no change to the services made available by UNHCR in Iran.

Submitting this online form does not constitute registration with UNHCR or eligibility for any of its services, including cash or resettlement.

Please be assured that UNHCR is committed to assisting and supporting foreign nationals in need of protection within the limits of its available programs.

For information about the available UNHCR services in Iran, please visit the UNHCR Iran website or see the official announcements made on UNHCR Iran’s help page Latest News – UNHCR Iran or follow the UNHCR Instagram account (UNHCR Iran) or contact Contact UNHCR – UNHCR Iran through helpline.

All UNHCR services are always free of charge!

Be aware of individuals offering to help you obtain UNHCR services in exchange for money or favors. Some may offer their help to fill out the UNHCR contact form in exchange for money or favors. They are fraudsters! Do not trust them. UNHCR will never ask you for money! Do not pay these fraudsters and instead report them to UNHCR and BAFIA/Police.

For further information on fraud reporting to UNHCR, please refer to https://help.unhcr.org/iran/contact/.

Stay vigilant, stay informed.

Please be informed that the UNHCR Protection mailbox has been replaced by an online contact form where forcibly displaced and stateless people in Iran can ask their urgent questions.

This means that from 01 November 2024, emails sent to the Protection mailbox will no longer be processed. This online contact form can be found on UNHCR’s help page via the following link: https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/contact/

Please be aware that UNHCR Hotline remains the main channel of communication for foreign nationals in need of international protection.

For the attention of all Unified Smart Card holders:

Based on an announcement shared by Public relations of the National Organization for Migration and given the necessity for providing priority services to foreign nationals, and in order to prevent interruptions in the provision of services to the holders of Unified Smart ID Cards (Amayesh, Hoviat and other documents), the validity of these cards and related services are extended for six months, until 20 March 2025.