COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Iran (27 November Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Foreign nationals are allowed to enter Iran, however tourist visas are not being issued.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Health screening procedures, including temperature checks, are at every entry point for all travellers.

• Travellers holding diplomatic or other special passports or those travelling on official duty may not need to obtain a COVID-19 certificate prior to travel. However, on arrival, these travellers will be subject to medical screening, COVID-19 PCR test, and quarantine.

• Nationals of Iran who stayed longer than two weeks abroad and do not have a medical certificate stating the negative COVID-19 molecular test may undergo a PCR test on arrival.

• All travellers with a medical certificate issued older than 96 hours (if not expired during flight duration) will also undergo a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival at their own expense.

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes

• Test certificates issued outside or Iran are accepted. The certificate must be in English or approved by an Iranian consulate.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• All travellers are required to have a negative PCR COVID-19 molecular test certificate issued by the country of departure conducted within 96 hours prior to entry into Iran.

• Non-Iranian nationals without a medical certificate with negative molecular test are not allowed to enter Iran.

• Travellers with a negative COVID-19 test certificate obtained before departing Iran, do not require to provide a new test report if they re-enter Iran within 14 days.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Passengers with a valid test certificate are not required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

• Any passenger who demonstrate symptoms of COVID-19 or are tested on arrival and have a positive result will be quarantined for 14 days at a designated location at their own expense.

• Iranian nationals entering the country without negative test certificates are subject to quarantine for 14 days at a designated location at own expense.

• Violation of quarantine measures may lead to fines and other penalties.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Travellers must present a completed self-declaration form upon arrival. The form can be accessed here.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• Airports are open. Commercial flights are very limited. The gradual reopening of air travel with different countries depends on ongoing bilateral and multilateral negotiations. Passengers are requested to contact their airline or travel agent for flight availability.

• Domestic flights can now operate up to full capacity.

• Airlines such as Qatar Airways and Iran Air are operational; however, many airlines have suspended flights to and from Iran.

• Flights to and from Iraq have resumed and will be operated by Qeshem Airlines.

Border restrictions

• Significant

• An e-visa can be obtained online using this link.

• Tourist, pilgrimage, and visas granted on arrival are not available.

• Issuing Schengen visas to Iranian citizens is currently prohibited.

• Some land and sea borders are open to the movement of goods.

• The land border with Turkmenistan is closed. The movement of goods by rail is allowed.

Curfew restrictions

• Significant

• Iran is divided into white, yellow, orange, and red regions based on the number of COVID-19 cases. Restrictions are being imposed or lifted depending on case numbers.

• 150 towns and cities have been declared as “red” zones by the Iranian authorities after a sudden increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the country, including the following: Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, East Azerbaijan, South Khorasan, Semnan, Qazvin, Lorestan, Ardabil, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Gilan, Bushehr, Zanjan, Ilam, Razavi, Khorasan, Mazandaran, Chaharmahal, and Bakhtiari, Alborz, West Azerbaijan, Markazi, Kerman, North Khorasan, Kurdistan, Hamadan, and Yazd.

• 150 cities have been designated “orange” zones and 155 have been designated “yellow” zones.

• Due to the rise in infection rates throughout the country, each province may introduce restrictions to respond to peaks in infections. This may include lockdown and restriction of movement and may be introduced with little warning.

• Currently, a full lockdown including closure of non-essential businesses and reduced workforce in essential establishments has been imposed in high-risk red zones. This will remain in effect until at least 4 December.

• In “orange” zones, a partial lockdown with few restrictions in terms of reduced workforce in offices have been imposed; few non-essential shops are allowed to operate until 18:00 hours.

• A curfew is in effect from 21:00 to 04:00 hours in all 31 provincial capitals and will remain in effect until 11 December.

• Effective from 28 November, all government offices will remain closed and will be operated with essential staffs only.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• All gatherings of over ten people in seminars and funerals are banned.

• Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Wearing a face mask on public transport is mandatory.

• Travel restrictions in Tehran, Karaj, Mashhad, Isfahan and Urmia have been imposed. Only the cars belonging to the citizens of these cities are allowed to enter their hometown. Other vehicles will be denied entry, unless they prove they live in one of these cities.

• A ban on inter-city travel has been lifted; however, the restrictions on movement of private cars in all provinces will remain in effect until 10 December.

• In Western Iran, departure of local cars with personal license plates and the entry of non-native cars with personal license plates are not permitted.

• Until further notice, diplomats are not permitted to travel within Iran for tourism or official purposes.

Non-essential shops open?

• No with exceptions

• Most shops, markets, and leisure activities are open in “orange” and “yellow” zones. They may have restrictions on how many people are admitted at one time.

• Workshops, factories, bazaars, and shopping malls have opened.

• All non-essential businesses in “red” zones will remain closed.

Accommodations open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Some hotels and accommodations are allowed to open; however, many of the hotels remain.

Restaurants open?

• Yes with exceptions

• There are no country-wide restrictions in place on restaurants except for curfew hours. Some restaurants may have restrictions on capacity and business hours, depending on the zone they operate in.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes with exceptions.

• Beaches and tourist sites of some provinces are open but under strict social distancing protocols. However, restrictions may be imposed anytime without prior notice.

• Tourist centers in Western Iran will remain closed.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• No

• Museums and historical sites will remain closed until further notice.

Personal care services open?

• No

• Beauty salons, as well as other businesses that are considered to be of high-risk, will remain closed until further notice.

Places of worship open?

• No

• Religious venues are not allowed to open.

Events allowed?

• No with exceptions

• Large events, such as concerts and sports matches, remain either cancelled or held behind closed doors. Cultural venues will also remain closed in all provinces.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Wearing a face mask is compulsory in public spaces. Violation may lead to fines and penalties.

Other

• Government offices are allowed to open with reduced workplace capacity.

• Gyms will remain closed until further notice. Entertainment and recreational facilities are also not permitted to open.

• Some of the schools have reopened; however, schools in the red zones will remain closed.

Advice

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.