I am an Iranian seeking refugee status outside of Iran in a neighboring country

Last updated: June 12, 2025 19:24

Summary

This guide gives Iranians some information about claiming asylum in a country neighboring Iran. The rights that refugees have access to vary by country. In most countries that neighbor Iran, refugees will have extremely limited access to legal residence, work, or financial support.

Armenia

The asylum procedure in Armenia is run by the government of Armenia.

UNHCR has offices in Armenia and provides assistance to refugees and asylum seekers located in Armenia. The UNHCR Armenia - Help website (also available in Farsi) has information on how to apply for asylum and other forms of assistance for refugees.

Azerbaijan

The asylum procedure in Azerbaijan is run by the government of Azerbaijan.

UNHCR has offices in Armenia and provides assistance to refugees and asylum seekers located in Armenia. Contact information for the UNHCR Azerbaijan office is available here.

Iraq

New arrivals in Iraq who wish to seek asylum should contact UNHCR to register as asylum seekers.

The UNHCR Iraq - Help website (also available in Bahdini Kurdish and Sorani Kurdish) has information on how to apply for asylum and other forms of assistance for refugees.

Pakistan

New arrivals in Pakistan who wish to seek asylum should contact UNHCR to register as asylum seekers.

The UNHCR Pakistan- Help website (also available in Farsi/Dari) has information about the registration process for asylum seekers in Pakistan and other forms of assistance for refugees.

Turkey

The asylum procedure in Turkey is run by the government of Turkey. UNHCR has offices in Turkey and provides assistance to refugees located in Turkey.

UNHCR has published information for asylum seekers in Turkey (also in Farsi) and information about the registration process for asylum seekers in Turkey (also in Farsi). Information about services provided to asylum seekers in Turkey is also available on the UNHCR website.

Refugee Rights Turkey is a non-profit that provides legal information and assistance to refugees in Turkey. Refugee Rights Turkey has an information portal for asylum seekers in Turkey (also in Farsi and Kurdish).

Turkmenistan

The asylum procedure in Turkmenistan is run by the government of Turkmenistan.

UNHCR has offices in Turkmenistan and provides assistance to refugees and asylum seekers located in Turkmenistan. The UNHCR Help - Turkmenistan website has information on how to apply for asylum and how to contact UNHCR.

United Arab Emirates

UNHCR has offices in the UAE, and UNHCR UAE uses the phrase “persons of concern to UNHCR” instead of refugees or asylum seekers.

Newly arriving refugees / asylum seekers in the United Arab Emirates who wish to seek protection should contact UNHCR to register as persons of concern. Contact information for the UNHCR UAE office is available here.

Additional Information & Other Countries:

You can also ask the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for help after you are outside of Iran. UNHCR provides this website with information on its offices and local resources in many countries.

IRAP has additional guides that may be helpful for Iranians, including:

Guide on resources for artists, journalists, and activists under threat
Guide on applying for the Lautenberg program as a member of an Iranian religious minority with family ties in the United States
Guides on family reunification
Guides on the U.S. Refugee Admission Program (USRAP)

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides free legal help to some refugees and displaced people.

IRAP helps some people find services and prepare refugee and visa applications.
IRAP is not part of any government, IOM, or UNHCR.
IRAP cannot grant refugee status or visas or speed up cases.
IRAP cannot provide financial help, find or pay for housing, or find jobs.
All of IRAP’s help is free. No one affiliated with IRAP has the right to ask you for money or any other service.

IRAP decides to help people based on their need and eligibility for immigration status. IRAP does not decide to help people based on any other social, political, or religious criteria.

This website provides general information about legal processes available to some refugees. It is not meant as legal advice for individual applications.

Requirements may change. Always check for current requirements from the government or agency deciding your request.

If you are in a refugee emergency, we recommend that you contact the UNHCR office in the country where you live.