a-Y(IO3)3 and b-Y(IO3)3 are transparent until 12.8 and 13.4 mm, respectively; thus they are interesting as a potential laser matrix in the mid- and beginning of the far-infrared. So, in order to investigate the properties of lanthanides- doped anhydrous yttrium iodate, polycrystalline samples of a-Y1 xNdx(IO3)3 (0.01pxp0.05), b-Y1 xNdx(IO3)3 (0.001pxp0.1), a-Y1 xYbx(IO3)3 (0.01pxp0.33) and b-Y1 xYbx(IO3)3 (0.01pxp0.25) were synthesized. For Nd3+ ions, fluorescent emissions from the 4F3/2 multiplet were observed at 300 K under pulsed laser excitations at 750nm and for Yb3+, fluorescent emissions from the 2F5/2 multiplet were observed at 300 K under pulsed laser excitations at 980 nm. The decays of all these emissions were measured. They are exponential and the fluorescence lifetimes are in the range 0.093-0.193ms for Nd3+ and 0.370-0.541ms for Yb3+, depending on the nature of the host and the concentration of doping.