Foreign Travels

Traveling abroad may not be too problematic for individuals who travel frequently, as they are relatively familiar with the challenges and issues that such trips entail. However, first-time travelers may face barriers, problems, and issues that can be somewhat alleviated through study, gaining awareness, and advance planning.

Travel Requirements:

•     Obtaining a passport: According to international treaty laws, a passport is a document issued by the government stating that the holder is a citizen of which country and requests protection and legal assistance from foreign nations while abroad. A passport is a necessary travel document that can be checked by security and immigration officials at borders, where your entry and exit dates are recorded in its internal pages.

•     Obtaining a visa: A visa is your permission to enter your destination country, which must be obtained in advance from the consulate, embassy, or diplomatic representative of the destination country. The visa must correspond to the traveler's purpose (business, tourism, study, scientific, etc.), requiring communication with the consular section of the destination country for details.

    Vaccination against diseases and providing health documentation for entering or passing through a country.

   Currency restrictions (Are you allowed to enter with local currency? Are you allowed to enter with US dollars or euros?)

    Medical certificates required for any prescription medications you intend to carry and information about health services in emergency situations.

   What goods or items are prohibited from entering?

•     Keep the contact numbers of the embassy of the Islamic Republic in the destination country, hotel phone number, your accommodation details, and the mobile numbers of travel companions and group leaders accessible.

•     Obtain the necessary currency from banks or reputable exchange offices (note your currency serial numbers).

•     Gather health information and be aware of the table concerning existing diseases in the destination country (visit the World Health Organization website www.who.int/countries/en/:  for details).

•     To receive the latest updates on the most comfortable accommodations and travel facilities, consult with people who have recently returned from that country.

•     Before traveling, try to gain an overall understanding of the destination country. For this purpose, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.mfa.gov.ir  ) can be utilized to gather general information on population, significant cities' area, climate, customs, type of government, policies, regulations, language, religion, ethnicity, national holidays, currency, etc.

•     Provide a family member or trusted acquaintance with general information about your flight path, flight type and number, estimated travel duration, and approximate return time.

•     Write down your name, phone number, and address, placing it in a designated spot in your bag. Keep your important documents in the carry-on bag you will take onto the plane. Avoid placing your passport and important documents in the large bag you check in.

•     Be cautious with your luggage when checking it for loading onto the plane; ensure that labels are affixed correctly, and that the tear-off part of the labels is attached to your ticket, while avoiding crowded areas in the airport.

•     Locking your luggage is a good precaution against theft or accidental opening.

•     Once you arrive at your destination, have your passport and visa readily available for presentation, and pay attention to the entry and exit stamps and the corresponding dates noted in your passport after its inspection. If there are any discrepancies, follow up quickly.

•     If you have not prearranged a means from the airport to your accommodation, be sure to use an airport taxi and avoid using unofficial transportation, taking greater care when entering taxis. Do not board the first taxi that drives past as it may be waiting for you. Do not hesitate to exit a taxi if you feel unsafe or if the driver seems suspicious; discuss the fare with the driver before reaching your destination, not afterward.

•     Ensure your return ticket is confirmed in advance. Even if your return ticket is okay, do not neglect to get it confirmed, as some airlines may charge additional fees to passengers who have not confirmed their tickets. Additionally, some airlines require you to reconfirm your ticket 24 hours before the flight.

•     Avoid bringing prohibited items to the airport, as security personnel may become suspicious of you.

•     Decline to accept any packages from unknown individuals for delivery to or from the country, as you may unknowingly be given prohibited or smuggled goods, leading to potential detention.

•     During your return, ensure that prohibited items such as knives, scissors, nail clippers, toy guns, remote-controlled toys, cutlery sets, and glass bottles, are placed in checked baggage.

Neglecting human virtues, personal piety, and Iranian dignity may lead to violation of ethical and religious requirements, diverging from the objectives of the trip and result in criminal behaviors, exploitation in various matters, detention, and injury or financial damage. The following are common topics of such harm:

•     - Consequences of engaging in illicit relationships.

•     - Consequences of participating in gambling and similar activities such as lottery tickets.

•     - Consequences of drug use or consumption of prohibited substances.

•     - Consequences of being present in entertainment venues prohibited under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

- Consequences of possessing or smuggling drugs and other prohibited items such as currency, antiques, and illicit medications.

Generally, traveling from one country to another is considered a favorable opportunity for intelligence and security services of the host country.

Intelligence agencies and groups opposing the regime await opportunities for extracting information or recruiting travelers as news sources. Their areas of interest can be issues that fellow travelers may view as ordinary information. In this context, university presidents, deputies, managers, professors, students, and government employees are regarded as valuable to intelligence services. Security and intelligence agencies of the host country view individuals from the moment they apply for a visa and interview at the embassy as both a threat and an opportunity. After verifying the legitimacy of individuals' stated purposes (study, scientific visits, pilgrimage, participation in scientific conferences, etc.) through monitoring, interviewing, and investigation, they continue to keep them under surveillance and attention of relevant services based on the individual's significance and access to information. This may involve actions such as installing hidden microphones or cameras in their accommodation, secretly checking personal belongings, monitoring phone communications, identifying vulnerabilities for exploitation (money, opposite gender, authority, etc.), using coercion or bribery (by fabricating charges, staged confrontations, and summons by the police, hiding prohibited items within belongings, etc.), discreet tracking and surveillance, etc.

•     Avoid displaying documents and money in public and crowded places.

•     Avoid attracting attention and refrain from traveling alone at night or in deserted or suspicious areas, and do not use anything other than public transportation vehicles.

•     Do not sell jewelry, rings, watches, and other ornaments and steer clear of persons who approach you to buy; when purchasing, be cautious to buy only permitted goods.

•     Upon entering the destination country, unfamiliar individuals, occasionally Iranians, may approach you under various titles such as translator, guide, etc., and offer to assist you. It is recommended not to trust them, and do not disclose your travel purpose to them.

•     Considering that the embassies of the Islamic Republic are aware of the regulations of the destination country, in case of any problems or if you need assistance, do not hesitate to refer to embassies for guidance and support.

•     Do not under any circumstances share your identification or travel documents like passports, identity cards, etc., with unknown individuals, as any problems arising from these documents' misuse by others will be your responsibility.

•     If you have surrendered your passport for travel to a transport company, be sure to get a receipt noting the time you hand over the passport.

•     If, for any reason, you are detained by local police, immediately ask the authorities to contact the embassy or the nearest Iranian consulate citing Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and if you do not understand the local language, refrain from signing any documents.

•     If you encounter intoxicated individuals, try not to pay attention to them; if that is impossible, distract them and continue on your way, remembering that they may not actually be drunk but may be thieves or pickpockets.

•     Do not disclose your nationality and use main streets with heavy traffic while traveling in groups.

•     Follow the instructions of the group leader or head of the accompanying delegation throughout your trip.

•     Avoid placing identification cards, passports, and money in the back pockets of your trousers; keep them in secure inner pockets that have buttons and zippers. If possible, use fanny packs or bags that hang around the neck and fit inside your clothing.

•     Do not venture out to markets or streets alone; group outings enhance your safety and that of your friends.

•     In scientific or sports trips, an identification card will be issued by the organizers; make sure to have it with you at all times.

•     Before leaving the hotel, ask for your hotel card from the reception so that if lost, you can show it to the police or taxi driver to return to the hotel.

•     Remember the name of the hotel, the main street of the hotel, and the name of the station where you boarded or disembarked from the bus or metro in the local language.

•     Avoid establishing contact with opposition groups and anti-revolution elements.

•     Exchange currency at official banks in the destination country and refrain from exchanging currency in the black market.

•     Do not take your passport with you around the city unless absolutely necessary. Passport theft is a common street crime.

•     Ensure that someone is aware of your whereabouts when going out, so they can be concerned if something happens to you.

•     Avoid approaching scenes such as accidents, conflicts, gatherings, street protests, fires, etc.

•     Always adhere to regulations prohibiting photography in restricted areas. When encountering certain facilities, both signposted and unmarked, like police, military, religious, cultural centers, and ministries, be aware that photographing them is forbidden, and doing so may lead to arrest and fines.

•     Do not express sympathy for host country nationals who may voice dissatisfaction with their nationality for various reasons, nor engage in political discussions or prompt host country citizens into political debates.

•     Avoid contacting unauthorized individuals (those without specific professions).

•     Do not enter crowded streets and disreputable neighborhoods. Sometimes even the police avoid entering these areas.

•     Do not engage with nationals from other countries residing in the host country who are unknown.

•     Do not exceed the maximum radius designated in the host country.

•     Upon entering the hotel, try to familiarize yourself with emergency exits and secure areas.

•     After entering your room, be sure to lock the door from the inside.

•     When using the toilet or shower, if you are alone in your room, leave the bathroom door open.

•     In most cases, hotel refrigerators are stocked with beverages that will be charged upon check-out if consumed.

•     After leaving the room, lock the door and return the key to the reception.

•     If the hotel has a mixed sauna and swimming pool, avoid going to these places.

•     When leaving the hotel, refrain from leaving behind documents, passports, money, and jewels in your room; try to entrust them to the hotel safe and get a receipt. (Remember that hotel staff will definitely enter your room for cleaning.)

•     If you carry important scientific or administrative documents, never part with them, and if they are classified, do not even entrust them to the hotel safe, as they may be exploited.

•     Avoid inviting foreigners to your room.