In a late-night notice on 28 February—picked up by mainland media outlets the following morning—the Chinese Embassy in Tehran announced an indefinite suspension of visa, authentication and other consular document services starting 1 March. Emergency travel documents for Chinese citizens will continue to be issued, but all ordinary visa requests are being redirected to China’s missions in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
The embassy gave no end date, saying only that services would resume ‘at a later time’ once conditions permit. The move comes as the regional security situation deteriorates following air-strikes in Iran’s capital and reciprocal drone attacks across the Gulf.
![Chinese Embassy in Iran Halts Visa Issuance From 1 March Amid Security Concerns]()
Companies scrambling for interim solutions should note that VisaHQ can assist with redirecting applications to the appropriate Chinese consulates, securing appointment slots and arranging courier delivery of passports—services that can be initiated online at https://www.visahq.com/china/
Chinese companies with personnel rotation cycles in Iran—particularly those in oilfield services, automotive assembly and infrastructure construction—face immediate deployment challenges. New hires or experts needing Z-class work visas must now route applications through Ankara, Istanbul or Dubai, adding at least two weeks to lead-times because biometric capture is required.
Mobility managers are advised to:
1 • Audit upcoming expiry dates for existing residence permits;
2 • Issue invitation letters early so applicants can secure Turkish or UAE appointments;
3 • Review med-evac and contingency flight arrangements, as the embassy’s pared-back capacity could slow emergency document issuance.
The embassy gave no end date, saying only that services would resume ‘at a later time’ once conditions permit. The move comes as the regional security situation deteriorates following air-strikes in Iran’s capital and reciprocal drone attacks across the Gulf.
Companies scrambling for interim solutions should note that VisaHQ can assist with redirecting applications to the appropriate Chinese consulates, securing appointment slots and arranging courier delivery of passports—services that can be initiated online at https://www.visahq.com/china/
Chinese companies with personnel rotation cycles in Iran—particularly those in oilfield services, automotive assembly and infrastructure construction—face immediate deployment challenges. New hires or experts needing Z-class work visas must now route applications through Ankara, Istanbul or Dubai, adding at least two weeks to lead-times because biometric capture is required.
Mobility managers are advised to:
1 • Audit upcoming expiry dates for existing residence permits;
2 • Issue invitation letters early so applicants can secure Turkish or UAE appointments;
3 • Review med-evac and contingency flight arrangements, as the embassy’s pared-back capacity could slow emergency document issuance.
