The ripple effects of the regional conflict have reached consular outsourcing firms that handle foreign visa applications in the Emirates. India’s BLS International, which runs visa and passport centres for several governments, has warned applicants to expect appointment cancellations and document-collection delays after courier routes were disrupted. Meanwhile, VFS Global’s main Dubai centre remained closed on 4 March, with staff posting updates on social media advising customers not to travel to the site until further notice.
Magrath Sheldrick, a London-based immigration law firm with a Dubai presence, says residency stamping, Emirates ID renewals and Golden Visa submissions are all experiencing backlogs, and clients should switch to online channels where possible. The firm also notes that physical biometrics appointments may be rescheduled at short notice because of staff shortages and security cordons near diplomatic missions.
![Visa application centres close and processing times lengthen across the UAE]()
At times like these, travelers and employers can also turn to independent facilitators such as VisaHQ, whose online platform for the UAE (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides real-time status tracking, electronic application tools, and customer support that can step in when traditional visa centers are offline.
For multinational employers, the disruption means start dates for inbound assignees could slip by several weeks. HR should check whether conditional offers of employment or housing leases contain penalty clauses linked to delayed entry. Companies sponsoring dependants may wish to file electronic entry permits in advance so that family members can travel once flight capacity improves.
Applicants whose passports are already lodged with a visa centre should contact their airline before cancelling travel; some carriers will allow boarding with an official receipt, but others require the physical document. The GDRFA has reminded residents that travelling without a passport is illegal, even if copies are held on the DubaiNow app.
Magrath Sheldrick, a London-based immigration law firm with a Dubai presence, says residency stamping, Emirates ID renewals and Golden Visa submissions are all experiencing backlogs, and clients should switch to online channels where possible. The firm also notes that physical biometrics appointments may be rescheduled at short notice because of staff shortages and security cordons near diplomatic missions.
At times like these, travelers and employers can also turn to independent facilitators such as VisaHQ, whose online platform for the UAE (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides real-time status tracking, electronic application tools, and customer support that can step in when traditional visa centers are offline.
For multinational employers, the disruption means start dates for inbound assignees could slip by several weeks. HR should check whether conditional offers of employment or housing leases contain penalty clauses linked to delayed entry. Companies sponsoring dependants may wish to file electronic entry permits in advance so that family members can travel once flight capacity improves.
Applicants whose passports are already lodged with a visa centre should contact their airline before cancelling travel; some carriers will allow boarding with an official receipt, but others require the physical document. The GDRFA has reminded residents that travelling without a passport is illegal, even if copies are held on the DubaiNow app.
