Middle East and North Africa

Iran
Still current at: 25 November 2009 Updated: 21 October 2009

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and to the Terrorism & Security section (suicide bombing in Sistan-Baluchestan). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer)

Travel advice for this country

General

Insurance

You should ensure that you have comprehensive medical and travel insurance. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See Travel insurance for more details.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

Consular Access

The Iranian authorities have in many cases failed to meet their international obligations to notify the relevant Embassies immediately that their nationals have been detained and to provide adequate consular access when asked to do so by the individual.

Money

Credit cards are very rarely accepted and should not be relied upon as a means of payment. There are no cash machines or ATMs in Iran that accept British bank cards. It is also usually not possible to change travellers’ cheques. You should bring sufficient hard currency with you (US$ or Euros are the most useful). It is illegal to change money on the street.