GoIran Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

1、 Chinese citizens holding diplomatic or official passports are exempt from visa requirements when traveling to Iran, with a stay period of 30 days.

2、 Starting from July 16, 2019, Iran has implemented a unilateral visa free entry policy for Chinese citizens traveling to Iran. Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports valid for more than 6 months can enter Iran without a visa and stay for 21 days. This visa free policy applies to tourism, sightseeing, and business visits to Iran. Foreigners with Israeli visas or entry and exit seals on their passports will be refused entry by Iranian customs.

3、 If visa extension is required after entry, an application must be submitted to the Iranian Immigration Police before the expiration of the stay period. Overdue stay will result in fines. Iran prohibits illegal employment and does not allow visa free entry for work. If suspected of illegal work, fines or more serious legal consequences must be paid.

4、 Iran implements a departure control system for work and study visas, and the above-mentioned individuals must apply for a departure visa from the immigration police before leaving the country. Address of Tehran Immigration Police Station: Nabshe Parastoo Alley，Vali-Asr Street，Tehran。 Phone: 0098-21-8880000088804648.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

1、 Please pay attention to the relevant regulations of Iranian customs on carrying items in and out of the country and consciously abide by them. Do not carry prohibited or excessive items in and out of the country to avoid obstruction of entry and exit and unnecessary losses, and even bear corresponding legal responsibilities.

2、 Items that are not allowed to be carried in or out of the country include: alcoholic beverages, pork and related products, gambling equipment, hallucinogenic drugs, weapons, ammunition, explosives, pornographic books and periodicals, all books and audiovisual products that defame Islam and Iran's national image, and other items prohibited by Iranian law. Iran prohibits the possession and smuggling of alcoholic beverages, and violators may face fines, imprisonment, or caning.

3、 Iranian customs regulations on the carrying of several major items:

1. Saffron and dried fruits: You can bring no more than 100 grams of saffron and 10 kilograms of dried fruits out of the country.

2. Caviar: Caviar weighing no more than 125 grams purchased through legitimate channels (with invoice) can be taken out of the country.

3. Carpet: Carpets not exceeding 20 square meters can be carried out of the country, and carpets with special national and historical value are also prohibited from being carried out of the country. It is strictly prohibited to bring carpets to Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.

4. Currency: It is allowed to carry no more than 5000 euros or equivalent foreign currency out of the country. If it exceeds 5000 euros, it is necessary to declare to Iranian customs or provide a bank certificate.

5. Gold and silver: A maximum of 150 grams of gold and 3 kilograms of silver jewelry can be carried out as personal belongings, except for those with special historical value. If the jewelry is set with gemstones such as diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds, the total weight cannot exceed 1 carat.

6. Cultural relics: It is illegal to carry items of significant cultural, artistic, and archaeological value out of the country, such as antiques, art treasures, manuscripts, calligraphy works, and precious coins.

Residency and Naturalization

Iran does not recognize dual citizenship. According to the Iranian Civil Code and the revised Nationality Law in October 2019, the citizenship requirements for foreign citizens are as follows:

1、 Foreign women who marry Iranian men are eligible for citizenship.

2、 One of the parents is Iranian and can choose to apply for citizenship independently.

3、 Individuals who have resided in Iran for more than 10 years are eligible to apply for citizenship.

public security

The situation in the Middle East is complex and volatile, with incidents of robbery, theft, and other incidents occurring among Chinese citizens in Iran. It is recommended that Chinese citizens in Iran raise their awareness of security precautions, closely monitor the development of the situation, respect relevant laws and religious customs in Iran, strengthen self-protection, and ensure personal and property safety. Pay attention to the following points:

1、 Properly safeguard property. Avoid storing or carrying large amounts of cash and valuable items in your residence or car, and do not show off your wealth to avoid becoming a target for criminals. Make sure your personal belongings are not far from your eyes or hands, and try to travel together when going out. Do not make phone calls on the street or with the car window open to prevent car robberies.

2、 Comply with local laws and customs. Iran is an Islamic country with clear laws prohibiting alcohol and alcoholic beverages from entering or leaving the country. Chinese citizens coming to Iran are not allowed to carry prohibited items such as alcohol, and are not allowed to purchase alcohol from the local black market, especially homemade alcohol. Chinese citizens in Iran are required to abide by local laws and regulations, and cherish their life safety and physical health.

3、 Pay close attention to the situation in the Middle East, pay attention to government announcements and media reports, strengthen personal safety precautions, cautiously go to densely populated areas and areas with poor security, avoid going to sensitive locations, stay away from crowds, and in case of group or security incidents, avoid crowded roads, do not watch, do not take photos, do not argue, and ensure personal and property safety. Once an emergency occurs, it should be dealt with calmly, with personal safety as the top priority. While ensuring one's own safety, it is important to evacuate in a timely manner and report to the police as soon as possible (the embassy cannot act on behalf of the police).

4、 In order to ensure security, try not to choose land entry and exit from Türkiye, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Iran.

natural disaster

Iran is an earthquake prone area, and tourists visiting Iran should have earthquake prevention knowledge and take preventive measures. Iran experiences hot and humid summers, so it is important to pay attention to heatstroke prevention. Winter is very cold, rainy and snowy. It rains a lot from October to April of the next year. In case of heavy snow and rainstorm, flights may be grounded and traffic may be stopped. Please know the weather conditions in advance and pay attention to travel safety before traveling.

FDA

Iranians pay attention to hygiene and rarely have infectious diseases caused by food hygiene issues.

Urgent Help

Police: 110.

First aid: 115.

Phone inquiry: 118.

Fire alarm: 125.

Traffic accident: 197.

Nighttime emergency: 191.

Weather forecast: 111.

air traffic

1、 The direct routes between China and Iran include Urumqi Tehran (China Southern Airlines); Beijing Tehran, Shanghai Tehran, Guangzhou Tehran, Shenzhen Tehran (Iran Mahan Airlines)

2、 Major domestic city airports:

（1） Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA): Located in the south of Tehran, about 40 kilometers from the city center and 70 kilometers from our embassy in Iran, this airport is the largest international airport in Iran. Phone: 0098-21-5100118

（2） Tehran Mehrabad Airport (THR): Located in the southwest of Tehran city, it mainly operates domestic flights. Phone: 0098-21-61021

（3） Shiraz International Airport (SYZ): Iran's second largest international airport. Phone: 0098-71-37115000

（4） Isfahan Airport (IFN): mainly operates domestic routes, and also operates some routes to Gulf countries. Phone: 0098-31-35275050

（5） Mashhad Airport (MHD): mainly operates domestic routes, and also operates some routes to Central Asian countries and Persian Gulf countries. Phone: 0098-51-33400001

3、 The domestic airlines in Iran include Iran Air, Mahan Air, Osaman Air, etc. Due to long-term Western sanctions, most of the aircraft of Igor Airlines are in over age service and have average safety.

4、 All major airports in Yige have rental stations with thoughtful services and reasonable charges.

land transport

1、 Highways: Iran has well-developed road transportation, with passenger and freight transportation mainly relying on road transportation. The total length of the Yi Highway is over 2021 million kilometers, including 80000 kilometers of trunk and branch roads, and 12.13 million kilometers of rural roads.

2、 Railway: The total length of the Iran Railway is about 13000 kilometers. The railway passenger transportation situation is poor, with few train numbers, slow speeds, and few routes. The main operating routes are Tehran Mashhad, Tehran Tabriz, Tehran Avaz, Tehran Abbas Port, and Tehran Isfahan Shiraz.

3、 Iran uses left-hand drive vehicles and cars drive on the right side, with traffic rules similar to those in China. Chinese driver's license cannot be used locally in Iran. If necessary, a local driver's license must be applied for. The Chinese driver's license cannot be used in Iran. Few local car rental companies are willing to provide car rental services to foreigners. At the same time, considering the high traffic accident rate in Iran, please carefully choose to drive in Iran.

water communication

The main ports in Iran include Khorramshahr, Bushehr, Abbas, Khomeini, and Chabahar ports in the Persian Gulf region, as well as Anzari and Noshar ports in the Caspian Sea region. Hark Island is Iran's largest crude oil export port. There are four main shipping companies, namely the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Company, Iran India Shipping Company, Valfagal Shipping Company, and Caspian Shipping Company.

Urban transportation

There are currently over 4 million motor vehicles and over 3 million motorcycles in the capital city of Tehran. During peak hours in the morning and evening, traffic is congested, and many drivers do not follow traffic rules, leading to frequent competition for lanes. Due to factors such as sanctions, there are many old and long-term service vehicles driving on the streets of Iran. In addition, cars do not have the habit of avoiding pedestrians. Please pay attention to safety when crossing the road.

The Tehran metro system is the largest metro system in the Middle East, currently consisting of 5 lines with a total design length of nearly 150 kilometers and nearly 110 underground platforms. The core lines are Line 1 and Line 2, which run north-south and east-west respectively, forming a huge "cross" shaped underground transportation system.

Taxis are ubiquitous on the streets of Tehran, and most of them do not have meters installed. The government tacitly allows private cars to participate in operation, and the cost must be agreed upon when boarding. Multiple people can carpool, and the price will be cheaper.

major city

1、 Tehran: The capital of Iran, located in the north central part of the country, situated at the southern foot of the Alborz Mountains on the northern edge of the Iranian plateau, with an altitude of 1200 to 1800 meters, an area of approximately 1300 square kilometers, and a population of approximately 9.5 million (as of 2023). The urban streets are wide and well landscaped. In February 2014, Tehran became a sister city with Beijing, China.

2、 Mashhad: the second largest city in Iran and the capital of Razavikhorasan Province. Located in northeastern Iran, 900 kilometers away from Tehran, with an area of 475 square kilometers and a population of approximately 3.36 million (as of 2023), at an altitude of 985 meters, the climate is mild and dry. Mashhad means' place of martyrdom ', named after the eighth Imam of the Shia sect who was killed here in the early 9th century AD, and has since become one of the pilgrimage centers of the Shia sect in Islam. On November 15, 2012, Mashhad established a sister city relationship with Urumqi, China.

3、 Isfahan: Iran's third largest city, located in the central region of the country. It is the capital of Isfahan Province, with a population of approximately 2.25 million (as of 2023) and an elevation of 1590 meters. The city has a long history and was founded during the Achaemenid dynasty. Multiple dynasties have established their capitals here, and the scenery is beautiful. It has various Islamic style buildings from the 11th to the 19th century. In 2006, it was elected as the "Capital of Islamic World Culture" and "Capital of Iranian Civilization and Culture", and is a famous tourist destination in Iran. Isfahan is also the center of Iran's textile industry and handicraft manufacturing. In history, it was once the richest in the world and a key station on the southern route of the ancient Silk Road. Iranian people are known as "Isfahan half the world". On May 7, 1989, Isfahan became a sister city with Xi'an, China.

4、 Shiraz: The capital of Fars Province in central southern Iran. It was the center of the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC and is one of the oldest cities in Iran. It is located over 900 kilometers from Tehran, at an altitude of 1600 meters, and has a population of approximately 1.72 million (as of 2023). Shiraz is one of the cultural and tourist cities in Iran. The main industries include chemical, cement, sugar, light machinery, and automotive assembly. Its handicrafts such as silverware manufacturing and carpet weaving are also well-known. On October 11, 2005, Shiraz became a sister city with Chongqing, China.

Commodity prices

1、 Iran is rich in resources, mainly producing wheat, barley, pistachios, caviar, sugar beets, apples, grapes, dates, wool, carpets, etc. The supply of goods in the market is relatively sufficient.

2、 The official currency of Iran is the Riyal, and Iranians also use the Toman as their currency unit in daily life. 1 Toman equals 10 Riyals. When shopping, it is necessary to ask whether the price is in the Toman or Riyal. Due to Western sanctions, credit cards and traveler's checks issued by foreign countries such as Visa and Master cannot be used in Iran. In some hotels and shops, cash such as US dollars and euros can be used directly. There are many legal currency exchange points in the Iranian market. The main settlement currencies are US dollars, British pounds, euros, Türkiye lira, etc. A small number of currency exchange points also accept RMB. Iran's Tehran Khomeini International Airport may allow for a small amount of currency exchange, but there are restrictions on the currency, time, and quantity of exchange. If converted to US dollars, most currency exchange points only accept US dollars issued after 2013. Daily exchange rates can be found at www.bonbast.com.

Insurance Medical

1、 There are approximately 800 large comprehensive hospitals and medical centers throughout Iran. The main hospitals in Tehran include: Tehran Clinic Hospital (phone: 0098-21-88712931); Milad Hospital (phone: 0098-21-82039); Iran Mehr Hospital (phone: 0098-21-22009071); Nikan Hospital in Tehran (phone: 0098-21-29121060).

2、 Foreigners in Iran do not enjoy medical insurance. According to Iranian government regulations, travel insurance is available with a maximum coverage of approximately 30000 US dollars. It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before departure.

Customs taboos

1、 Iran is an Islamic country. Chinese tourists are requested to abide by the local laws and customs of Iran and travel in a civilized manner. Iranian mosques generally implement separate entry for men and women, or require women to wear full body veils. Consent must be obtained before entering.

2、 In Iran, do not film them without their permission, especially women. Do not post related videos or images on social media at will, as violators may be held legally responsible.

3、 Iran prohibits taking photos in sensitive areas such as government and police departments, military management zones, and protest venues. Do not use GPS, walkie talkies, or other devices, as they may result in fines or even arrest.

4、 Iran prohibits gambling and prostitution, and women are not allowed to engage in professions such as singing and dancing.

5、 Iran's public transportation adopts gender separation measures. The women's section of buses is generally located in the back half of the vehicle, while the subway has women's only carriages. Men are not allowed to enter, but women can take men's carriages. You can mix taxis.

Communications Power

1、 Iran's mobile communication uses the GSM standard. If your Chinese phone has enabled international roaming service, you can use call and international data services upon arrival in Iran. When making calls from Iran to China, you should add "0086", such as "0086-13345657898". To make a phone call from China to Iran, you should dial "0098+city area code+landline phone number", such as "0098-21 (Tehran area code) -22291250" or "0098+mobile phone number", such as "0098-9058077564".

2、 According to Iran's relevant policies, foreign tourists who stay in Iran for more than 3 weeks are required to complete the mobile phone registration procedures and pay the mobile phone tax to the customs department, otherwise their mobile phones will be suspended. To ensure the normal use of your phone, please complete the relevant operations at the airport or online in advance.

contact information

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:http://www.mfa.gov.ir/(English, Persian)

Iran Customs:http://www.irica.gov.ir/(English, Persian)

Iran Tourism Organization:http://www.itto.org/

Central Bank of Iran:http://cbi.ir/default.aspx

Embassy Information in Iran

Embassy in Iran: http://ir.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/

Location: No. 73rd, Movahed Danesh Ave., Aghdasiyeh, Tehran, Iran.

External office hours：    

(Excluding domestic holidays)

Chinese Citizen Consular Document Consultation Hotline (Chinese): 0098-9058077264

Consular document consultation hotline (English, Persian): 0098-21-22802772

Consultation phone answering time: Sunday to Thursday 9:00-12:00 13:30-17:30 (excluding domestic holidays)

Chinese citizen consular protection hotline: 0098-912176035

E-mail consulate_irn@mfa.gov.cn

WeChat official account: Chinese Embassy in Iran

Consulate General in Abbas

Territory:Chahamahal, Khuzestan Province-Bakhtiari Province, Kogiluye BouweAhmed Province, Fars Province, Bushehr Province,Kerman Province, Hormuzgan Province, Sistan Balochistan Province

Office location: Hormuzgan Province, Abbas Port City, Islamic Republic Avenue, Customs Street, Orchard West Lane 2 (English address: No.2 West Bostan Alley,Koy-e Gomrok,Johoori-e Eslami Blvd,Bandar Abbas City,Hormozgan Province,Iran）

Office hours: Saturday to Wednesday, 08:30-12:30, 15:30-19:30

Consulate General in AbbasConsular protection and assistancephone：+98-9914240393