United Kingdom Joins Germany, Hungary, South Africa, Israel, Sweden, Lithuania, Austria, Norway, and More Powerful Countries in Resuming Limited Visa Processing Amid Ongoing Conflict

Published on
March 5, 2026

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The United Kingdom has officially joined Germany, Hungary, South Africa, Israel, Sweden, Lithuania, Austria, Norway, and several other influential nations in resuming limited visa processing services. This decision comes amid ongoing global conflicts that have disrupted international travel and visa operations. In response to these challenges, the UK government has prioritized critical diplomatic and security needs, ensuring that vital travel flows can continue while managing the evolving geopolitical situation.

Visa services at VFS Global’s Dubai centre are slowly returning to normal, but the resumption remains limited, with services currently available only for specific countries. VFS Global has partially resumed its operations amid the ongoing regional disruptions, allowing some applicants to submit new visa applications. However, the centre is only processing applications for certain destinations, while for others, the focus is primarily on returning passports to applicants.

According to VFS Global, applicants for some countries can now proceed with their visa applications. As per a statement on its website, VFS Global noted that the UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) in the UAE resumed accepting visa applications starting March 4. The update came as a relief to many applicants who had been waiting for the resumption of services. VFS Global further clarified that applicants who had previously confirmed appointments during the closure period would be contacted by the staff to reschedule their appointments. These applicants will receive notifications via email or phone to arrange new dates for submission, ensuring minimal disruption to their plans.

However, not all countries are following this same procedure. VFS Global has confirmed that Germany is not accepting any new applications for visas at the moment. The German visa application process remains on hold, with the centre only focused on returning passports to individuals who had already submitted their applications prior to the disruptions. This limitation is a result of the ongoing challenges faced by the visa centres in the region, particularly those impacted by the political and regional instability.

In an official statement, VFS Global confirmed that several other countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, and the Netherlands, are also currently limiting their operations. For these countries, VFS Global is not processing new applications, and the only service being offered is the return of passports to those who have previously submitted them.

These restrictions highlight the ongoing challenges faced by VFS Global and other visa centres in the Middle East due to the heightened tensions in the region. Despite the limited resumption of services, the situation remains fluid, and applicants are urged to stay updated on the status of visa processing for their specific countries.

Amidst these challenges, the UAE has maintained a stance of non-intervention, rejecting any military solution and instead calling for peaceful dialogue. The UAE government has been vocal in its support for diplomatic efforts and has emphasized its commitment to stability and peace in the region. Despite this, the Gulf states, including the UAE, have found themselves heavily affected by the fallout from the ongoing regional tensions, even though they had initially assured that their airspace and territories would not be used in any military actions against Iran. The escalation of the situation has led to significant disruptions, particularly for the aviation sector and international travel.

The Ministry of Defence of the UAE confirmed that Iranian forces had targeted the UAE with a substantial number of missiles and drones. As of the most recent updates, a total of 186 ballistic missiles, eight cruise missiles, and 812 drones were launched towards the UAE. The severity of these attacks underscored the vulnerability of the region during periods of heightened tensions. However, the UAE’s air defence systems successfully intercepted most of the incoming threats, preventing any major damage or loss of life.

Despite the successful interception of many of the threats, the disruption has had a ripple effect on several industries in the UAE, including the tourism and visa application sectors. As a result, visa services at the Dubai centre of VFS Global have been affected, leading to delays and cancellations for many applicants. The partial resumption of services is a positive step forward, but the situation remains unpredictable, and applicants are encouraged to monitor the latest updates on the status of their applications.

While VFS Global’s Dubai centre is slowly regaining its operational capacity, the ongoing disruptions continue to pose challenges for the visa application process. Applicants are advised to check the status of their visa applications regularly through official channels and remain patient as the situation continues to evolve. The current state of affairs in the region has made international travel more complicated, with visa application processes facing delays and restrictions.

For now, the best course of action for applicants is to stay informed and avoid any unnecessary cancellations, as doing so may affect their ability to reschedule appointments or secure refunds. VFS Global has committed to keeping customers updated on any changes, but it is clear that the broader political climate will continue to influence the pace at which full operations are restored. The ongoing instability in the region means that visa services will likely remain subject to further delays and limitations for the foreseeable future.

As the situation progresses, it is important for travelers and visa applicants to remain flexible and understand that the process may take longer than expected. VFS Global has assured its customers that it is doing everything it can to resume normal operations as quickly as possible, but applicants should be prepared for some uncertainty in the coming weeks.

The United Kingdom, alongside Germany, Hungary, South Africa, Israel, Sweden, Lithuania, Austria, and Norway, has resumed limited visa processing due to ongoing global conflicts disrupting international travel, ensuring critical diplomatic and security needs are met.

In the meantime, the UAE government’s stance of peaceful dialogue and its efforts to defend its airspace and territory highlight the region’s complex geopolitical environment. While the Gulf states may have been impacted by the regional conflict, their commitment to stability and diplomacy remains unwavering, with hopes that peaceful negotiations will eventually lead to a resolution.