Iran customs
Apply for visa
Free import
• Used travel goods and personal effects, as long as they are not for commercial use.
• A reasonable quantity of cigarettes.
• A reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use.
• New goods and gifts worth up to USD 80 in total, once a year, free of duty, as long as they are not commercial and not prohibited. Duty and taxes are charged on the value above this amount.
Currency
• Declare the foreign currency you bring in to customs (and the airport bank) on arrival and keep the declaration: taking larger amounts of foreign currency out of Iran again requires this declaration or a bank certificate.
• The amount of Iranian rials that may be carried in or out is limited. Check the current limits with the Iranian embassy before you travel.
Prohibited
• Alcoholic beverages
• Pork and pork products
• Illegal drugs
• Firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks and bladed weapons
• Gambling equipment
• Publications, pictures, films and photos judged to be against the religious or national values of Iran
• Any writing against the official religion of Iran or against public order and decency, including pornographic material
• Other goods banned by Islamic law or Iranian law, or listed as prohibited in the customs tariff
Restricted
• Drones and satellite phones may be brought in and used only with permission from the Iranian authorities. Using them without permission is illegal and can lead to arrest.
• Iranian customs runs a passenger mobile phone registration system (IMEI registry) for phones brought in from abroad. Ask customs on arrival whether your phone needs to be registered before you use it with an Iranian SIM card.
• Fruit, vegetables, plants and plant parts, seeds, bulbs and soil, and living insects, fungi or bacteria, may not be brought in without authorisation from the Iranian plant protection authorities.
• Live animals, including pets and birds, and animal products need prior authorisation from the Iranian veterinary authorities. Ask the Iranian embassy which health and rabies documents are required.
• Species protected under CITES need CITES permits.
• Declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to duty or tax. Electronic devices may be screened by customs on arrival and departure.
• Used travel goods and personal effects, as long as they are not for commercial use.
• A reasonable quantity of cigarettes.
• A reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use.
• New goods and gifts worth up to USD 80 in total, once a year, free of duty, as long as they are not commercial and not prohibited. Duty and taxes are charged on the value above this amount.
Currency
• Declare the foreign currency you bring in to customs (and the airport bank) on arrival and keep the declaration: taking larger amounts of foreign currency out of Iran again requires this declaration or a bank certificate.
• The amount of Iranian rials that may be carried in or out is limited. Check the current limits with the Iranian embassy before you travel.
Prohibited
• Alcoholic beverages
• Pork and pork products
• Illegal drugs
• Firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks and bladed weapons
• Gambling equipment
• Publications, pictures, films and photos judged to be against the religious or national values of Iran
• Any writing against the official religion of Iran or against public order and decency, including pornographic material
• Other goods banned by Islamic law or Iranian law, or listed as prohibited in the customs tariff
Restricted
• Drones and satellite phones may be brought in and used only with permission from the Iranian authorities. Using them without permission is illegal and can lead to arrest.
• Iranian customs runs a passenger mobile phone registration system (IMEI registry) for phones brought in from abroad. Ask customs on arrival whether your phone needs to be registered before you use it with an Iranian SIM card.
• Fruit, vegetables, plants and plant parts, seeds, bulbs and soil, and living insects, fungi or bacteria, may not be brought in without authorisation from the Iranian plant protection authorities.
• Live animals, including pets and birds, and animal products need prior authorisation from the Iranian veterinary authorities. Ask the Iranian embassy which health and rabies documents are required.
• Species protected under CITES need CITES permits.
• Declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to duty or tax. Electronic devices may be screened by customs on arrival and departure.