A flurry of posts on UAE expatriate forums on 29 March suggests that residence visas held by some Iranian nationals are being cancelled without prior notice, particularly for those currently outside the country. Contributors, including several Golden-Visa holders, shared screenshots showing their files listed as “void” in the Integrated Immigration System (IIS) used by both the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai) and ICP. No official statement has been issued, but travel agents confirm that new UAE entry permits for Iranian passport-holders have been on hold since mid-March, when missile and drone exchanges between Iran and Gulf states escalated. The apparent shift from a freeze on new applications to the active revocation of existing residencies marks a significant escalation with immediate mobility implications. Individuals whose visas were cancelled while abroad report receiving only a brief e-mail advising them to contact the issuing emirate. Under current regulations, a cancelled resident normally has 30 days to exit or amend status after re-entry, but if the visa is voided while the holder is outside the UAE there is no automatic right to return.
![Reports emerge of Iranian residents losing UAE visas amid regional tensions]()
At this stage, specialist visa services can also play a bridging role. VisaHQ, for example, offers real-time status checks, alternative visa strategies and application support through its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), giving both individuals and mobility managers a direct channel for up-to-date guidance while official policy remains unclear.
Lawyers warn that property ownership, bank accounts and even children’s school places can be affected because most such contracts require a valid Emirates ID. Corporate mobility managers with Iranian assignees are scrambling to verify the status of each employee through the ICP e-channel. Contingency plans include applying for humanitarian visit visas via third-country passports (if available) or relocating staff to company entities in Qatar and Türkiye until the situation clarifies. Although unofficial, the reports echo similar mass cancellations affecting Qataris during the 2017 Gulf crisis. Until the UAE government comments, companies are advised to treat the risk as real; immediate checks of residency validity and a review of payroll, housing and schooling guarantees are prudent.
At this stage, specialist visa services can also play a bridging role. VisaHQ, for example, offers real-time status checks, alternative visa strategies and application support through its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), giving both individuals and mobility managers a direct channel for up-to-date guidance while official policy remains unclear.
Lawyers warn that property ownership, bank accounts and even children’s school places can be affected because most such contracts require a valid Emirates ID. Corporate mobility managers with Iranian assignees are scrambling to verify the status of each employee through the ICP e-channel. Contingency plans include applying for humanitarian visit visas via third-country passports (if available) or relocating staff to company entities in Qatar and Türkiye until the situation clarifies. Although unofficial, the reports echo similar mass cancellations affecting Qataris during the 2017 Gulf crisis. Until the UAE government comments, companies are advised to treat the risk as real; immediate checks of residency validity and a review of payroll, housing and schooling guarantees are prudent.
