A
State Department Travel Warning is currently in effect for U.S.
citizens traveling to Iran. Those who do choose to enter Iran must have
a passport with six months validity beyond the intended departure date
and an Iranian visa for all areas except Kish Island. Travelers will
not be permitted to transfer to mainland Iran from Kish unless they
have a visa. To obtain a visa, contact the Iranian Interests Section of
the Embassy of Pakistan located at 2209 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington,
DC. 20007; tel. 202-965-4990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 99, fax 202-965-1073,
202-965-4990 (Automated Fax-On-Demand after office hours). You can also
apply through a private visa expediting service.
U.S. citizens will have their
fingerprints taken when they enter Iran. U.S. citizens must obtain a
visa ahead of time. Even with a valid Iranian visa, U.S. citizens have
occasionally been denied entrance without explanation. U.S. citizens do
not need a visa to visit Kish Island from the United Arab Emirates and
Dubai.
The Iranian government does not recognize dual American-Iranian
nationality. If U.S. citizens were born in Iran, became a naturalized
Iranian, or were born to Iranian parents, they will be considered
Iranian citizens and subject to Iranian law unless the government has
recognized a formal renunciation of citizenship. Under those laws,
anyone considered an Iranian citizen must enter and exit the country on
an Iranian passport.
U.S. citizens have encountered trouble in Iran due to their
professional occupations. Academics, scientists, journalists, and some
others may be suspected of subversive activity and be subject to
detention, interrogation, or imprisonment. U.S. citizens of Iranian
origin have also been targeted for detention or harassment by Iranian
officials.
Dual nationals are advised to secure an Iranian passport and
secure visas for onward travel in their Iranian passport in case their
U.S. documents are confiscated. If necessary, they can depart the
country with their Iranian documentation and apply for a replacement
passport at their subsequent destination.
The U.S. interests section of the Embassy of Switzerland is the
U.S. protecting power in Iran. If dual nationals lose their U.S.
passport, they may apply for "Confirmation of Nationality which would
allow them to apply for third-country visas at embassies in Tehran. The
Swiss Embassy must be able to confirm U.S. citizenship, and the
statement may take some time to process. In the case of dual nationals,
Iranian authorities may deny them access to the Swiss Embassy's U.S.
Interests Section for the sole reason that they do not recognize dual
nationality.
Non-resident U.S. citizens must have an exit permit for stays
longer than 12 months. Iranian residents with U.S. citizenship must have
an exit permit each time they leave the country, even for periods of
stay less than 6 months. Visitors exiting Iran must pay a departure tax
unless they have dual U.S.-Iranian nationality.
Women who are not Iranian citizens become naturalized
automatically upon marriage to an Iranian national. The woman's U.S.
passport will be confiscated if the marriage occurs within Iran. The
wife will not be permitted to leave the country without her husband's
permission or the permission of the local prosecutor, and the U.S.
Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland can provide only
minimal support to her in the event of marital problems or difficulty
leaving the country.
Foreign-born women may denounce their Iranian citizenship upon
the death of their husbands or after divorce, but any children will
have automatic and irrevocable Iranian citizenship. Divorce must be
carried out in Iran or in accordance with Sharia law in order to be
recognized. Women are typically granted guardianship of the children
until age seven at which point full custody reverts to the father. If
the father is an unsuitable parent, custody may go to the mother or
paternal grandfather. Women are rarely granted true custody, and must
almost always have the permission of the father or grandfather for any
legal decisions regarding the children. Iran has not signed the Hague
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
In a hurry? Apply online for expedited visa service
A
State Department Travel Warning is currently in effect for U.S.
citizens traveling to Iran. Those who do choose to enter Iran must have
a passport with six months validity beyond the intended departure date
and an Iranian visa for all areas except Kish Island. Travelers will
not be permitted to transfer to mainland Iran from Kish unless they
have a visa. To obtain a visa, contact the Iranian Interests Section of
the Embassy of Pakistan located at 2209 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington,
DC. 20007; tel. 202-965-4990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 99, fax 202-965-1073,
202-965-4990 (Automated Fax-On-Demand after office hours). You can also
apply through a private visa expediting service.
U.S. citizens will have their
fingerprints taken when they enter Iran. U.S. citizens must obtain a
visa ahead of time. Even with a valid Iranian visa, U.S. citizens have
occasionally been denied entrance without explanation. U.S. citizens do
not need a visa to visit Kish Island from the United Arab Emirates and
Dubai.
The Iranian government does not recognize dual American-Iranian
nationality. If U.S. citizens were born in Iran, became a naturalized
Iranian, or were born to Iranian parents, they will be considered
Iranian citizens and subject to Iranian law unless the government has
recognized a formal renunciation of citizenship. Under those laws,
anyone considered an Iranian citizen must enter and exit the country on
an Iranian passport.
U.S. citizens have encountered trouble in Iran due to their
professional occupations. Academics, scientists, journalists, and some
others may be suspected of subversive activity and be subject to
detention, interrogation, or imprisonment. U.S. citizens of Iranian
origin have also been targeted for detention or harassment by Iranian
officials.
Dual nationals are advised to secure an Iranian passport and
secure visas for onward travel in their Iranian passport in case their
U.S. documents are confiscated. If necessary, they can depart the
country with their Iranian documentation and apply for a replacement
passport at their subsequent destination.
The U.S. interests section of the Embassy of Switzerland is the
U.S. protecting power in Iran. If dual nationals lose their U.S.
passport, they may apply for "Confirmation of Nationality which would
allow them to apply for third-country visas at embassies in Tehran. The
Swiss Embassy must be able to confirm U.S. citizenship, and the
statement may take some time to process. In the case of dual nationals,
Iranian authorities may deny them access to the Swiss Embassy's U.S.
Interests Section for the sole reason that they do not recognize dual
nationality.
Non-resident U.S. citizens must have an exit permit for stays
longer than 12 months. Iranian residents with U.S. citizenship must have
an exit permit each time they leave the country, even for periods of
stay less than 6 months. Visitors exiting Iran must pay a departure tax
unless they have dual U.S.-Iranian nationality.
Women who are not Iranian citizens become naturalized
automatically upon marriage to an Iranian national. The woman's U.S.
passport will be confiscated if the marriage occurs within Iran. The
wife will not be permitted to leave the country without her husband's
permission or the permission of the local prosecutor, and the U.S.
Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland can provide only
minimal support to her in the event of marital problems or difficulty
leaving the country.
Foreign-born women may denounce their Iranian citizenship upon
the death of their husbands or after divorce, but any children will
have automatic and irrevocable Iranian citizenship. Divorce must be
carried out in Iran or in accordance with Sharia law in order to be
recognized. Women are typically granted guardianship of the children
until age seven at which point full custody reverts to the father. If
the father is an unsuitable parent, custody may go to the mother or
paternal grandfather. Women are rarely granted true custody, and must
almost always have the permission of the father or grandfather for any
legal decisions regarding the children. Iran has not signed the Hague
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
In a hurry? Apply online for expedited visa service
