In order to mitigate risks of refugees and staff contracting and potentially spreading the Coronavirus, UNHCR Iran reception centres continue to be physically closed for regular in-person interaction for the time being. We are working to make our receptions centres as safe as possible to be able to start receiving refugees in-person again soon.  

Continuing services and assistance to refugees has been and remains our priority. For the time being, refugees can contact UNHCR through our hotlines:

• Tehran (Alborz, Ardebil, East Azerbayjan, Esfahan, Gilan, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Tehran, West Azerbayjan, Zanjan provinces) – 021- 88212520 – Sunday to Thursday from 8:30 to 15:30
• Esfahan (Esfahan province) – 031-3444 2841 – Sunday to Wednesday from 08:30 to 15:30
• Shiraz (Fars, Bushehr, Khuzestan, Ilam and Lorestan provinces) – 071-37229692 and 071-37236014 – Sunday to Wednesday from 8:30 to 15:30
• Kerman (Kerman, Yazd, Sistan & Baluchestan and Hormozgan provinces) – 034-32476851 and 034-32476850 – Sunday to Wednesday from 8:30 to 15:30
• Mashhad (Khorasan Razavi, South Khorasan, North Khorasan and Golestan provinces) – 051-37685641 – Sunday to Wednesday from 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:00

Please note that if you have an interview scheduled, it will be conducted over the phone.

You may also write to UNHCR Iran at [email protected].

If you are an Afghan family passport holder in Iran, please note that According to the statements of DG BAFIA, Mr. Mehdi Mahmoudi the deadline to extend your visa is Friday 21 May 2021. BAFIA has confirmed this deadline will not be extended. We thus understand that families who do not successfully renew their Iranian visa by the deadline will be considered undocumented, may not be eligible to continue receiving support services and may be asked to leave Iran.

Therefore, all Afghan family passport holders are strongly encouraged to approach the Afghan Embassy or Consulates to extend their family passport, and afterwards approach their nearest Kefalat center to renew their Iranian visa.

For more information, you can contact the Afghan Embassy or your nearest Consulate and Kefalat center.

Afghan Embassy in Tehran: https://afghanembassy.ir/

Kefalat centers in Tehran: https://www.mcls.gov.ir/icm_content/media/image/2020/10/435708_orig.pdf

All Kefalat centers in Iran: https://www.yjc.news/fa/news/6361582/%D8%A2%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B3-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B1-%DA%A9%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1

You can also contact UNHCR hotlines below or our mail: [email protected] for additional information or advice:

• Tehran: (021) 88212520
• Esfahan: (031) 34442841 – 34414201
• Mashhad: (051) 37685641
• Kerman: (034) 32476850 – 32476851
• Shiraz: (071) 37229692

Joint announcement by the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs (BAFIA), the Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) and the UN Refugee Agency, (UNHCR):

The 7th cycle of Universal Public Health insurance (UPHI) has started. As per previous cycles, all vulnerable refugees can now approach the nearest Pishkhan centre (countrywide) and enrol in the scheme free of charge and be covered by the Salamat health insurance for one year.

As per previous cycles, refugees who are premium payers can also approach Pishkhan centres (countrywide) and, by payment of the ratified premium fee, can enrol in the insurance scheme. Their insurance coverage will be valid 12 months from the date of enrolment.

For more information, please contact UNHCR via our hotlines:

• Tehran: (021) 88212520
• Esfahan: (031) 34442841 – 34414201
• Mashhad: (051) 37685641
• Kerman: (034) 32476850 – 32476851
• Shiraz: (071) 37229692

To go to the BAFIA website, click here.

To approach the IHIO, please approach UPHI desks at Pishkhan centres near you.

Resettlement can be a life-changing durable solution for refugees who are at risk, and it is understandable that refugees would like to know more about the resettlement process. To counter the spread of misinformation and ensure refugees are provided with the correct information, UNHCR would like to share the following explanations regarding the resettlement to third countries.

During the past years, changes in global politics, and migration and asylum policies have regrettably resulted in a decrease in the number of resettlement places for refugees around the world.  The number of resettlement places for refugees in Iran is also at an all-time low.

Contrary to some of UNHCR services, resettlement is not an application-based process, and recognition of refugee status does not necessarily mean that a refugee will be referred for resettlement. It is also not a right.

There are only a few countries that offer very limited resettlement places to UNHCR each year and it is these countries that decide about the selection criteria for refugees. Few refugees meet the strict criteria for submission to resettlement countries – less than 1% of all refugees around the world are resettled. UNHCR only facilitates the process of submission and departure of resettled individuals.

You may contact the UNHCR hotlines related to your location to raise your protection concerns and receive advice on the available services and support offered by UNHCR.

Please note that all services of UNHCR are free of charge and anyone requesting payment for resettlement or any other services, has committed fraud. Do not make any payment in exchange for UNHCR services and immediately report the issue to UNHCR.

You can report any fraud and/or complaints, as well as give us feedback, via one of the methods mentioned below:

• Contacting the hotline of UNHCR Offices:
  • Tehran: (021) 88212520
  • Esfahan: (031) 34442841 – 34414201
  • Mashhad: (051) 37685641
  • Kerman: (034) 32476850 – 32476851
  • Shiraz: (071) 37229692
• Dropping a note in the complaint mailboxes in front of UNHCR offices
• Sending an email to [email protected] or [email protected]

In addition to the above, you could use the below email to report misconduct by UNHCR personnel, partner staff, or vendors/contractors including fraud, directly to the Inspector General’s Office at UNHCR Headquarters:  [email protected].

Please do not consider fake news for resettlement on social media. To receive the latest updates, please only refer to the official UNHCR Iran website https://www.unhcr.org/ir/fa/