Statement on visa applications in Iran
Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt updated Parliament on the latest information regarding visa applications in Iran, following the closure of our embassy in Tehran.
“I would like to correct an answer I gave during a Westminster Hall debate to the Hon Member for Islington North at Official Report 11 January 2012 col 129WH who asked to which embassy in Iran should a family of Iranian origin living in Britain who wants to invite a family member to an occasion here, or the other way round, address its inquiries. We regret that the closure of our embassy means that Iranians will now have to travel to another country to obtain a visa for the UK. We remain committed to engaging with the Iranian people, even though we do not have an embassy in Tehran. But our visa centres in UAE and Turkey will be open for Iranians, and we continue to welcome applicants. Iranian nationals wishing to submit an application for a visit visa only can do so at any visa application centre worldwide. Iranian nationals may submit applications for all visa categories in the UAE, at Abu Dhabi or Dubai, and in Turkey at Istanbul, Ankara Izmir, Bursa or Gaziantep. All applications must still be submitted online and attendance at the visa application centers remains by pre-booked online appointment only. More information on this can be found on the UK Border Agency’s website. For those wishing to travel to Iran, they should contact the nearest Iranian Embassy for advice.”