Iran

VISA REGIME

ENTERING AND LEAVING THE COUNTRY
Iran has several types of visas ― individual and travel visas (tourist), business visas for companies, travel and tourist visas for agencies and government organisations, travel visas with an invitation letter. All visas are issued electronically, i.e. online. Instructions on the issuance of these visas can be found on the website of the Embassy of Iran in Belgrade, listing precisely what documents are required for which type of visa. Visas can also be obtained at international airports in Iran, but this requires a prior approval for the issuing of a visa. Therefore, all travellers to Iran are advised to obtain a visa from the Embassy of Iran in Belgrade to avoid any issues with obtaining a visa at one of the Iranian international airports. The website of the Embassy of Iran in Belgrade is https://serbia.mfa.gov.ir/en.
The issuing of tourist visas is currently suspended. Holders of diplomatic and official passports do not require a visa for a stay of up to 30 days, whereas holders of national passports and other travel documents do. Holders of emergency travel documents in transit also require a visa.
Applying for a visa requires having a passport which is valid of at least another 6 months. Note that travellers with an Israeli visa in their passport are prohibited from entering Iran. Foreigners residing in Iran for work must obtain an exit visa when leaving the country. The exit visa is obtained after the Office of the Foreigners’ Police is provided with a certificate from the competent Iranian bodies that all tax obligations had been settled.
When entering Iran, foreign nationals must declare amounts of foreign currency exceeding USD 5,000. Otherwise, they risk having the money confiscated by customs bodies when leaving the country. Having a travel health insurance is recommended. If the traveller is coming from an area infected by yellow fever, it is necessary to have a certificate, the so-called “yellow card”. There is no obligation to have a certain amount of funds per day of stay. It is permitted to bring into the country cigarettes and perfume in “reasonable amounts” for personal use, along with gifts with a value of up to USD 80. Bringing pets is allowed, with the exception of dogs, if they have an International Veterinary Certificate listing the vaccines they have received. The date on the certificate may not be more than 14 days prior to travel. The pet must be vaccinated against rabies, at least 30 days prior to arriving to Iran.
It is prohibited to bring into the country weapons, alcohol, narcotics, pornographic material, video and audio material, pork, gambling items and material which presents Iran in a negative light. Punishment for smuggling narcotics can be drastic (the death penalty). When leaving Iran, travellers may take with them: one hand-woven rug with a size of a maximum of 12 m², objects made of silver, without precious stones, up to 3 kg, objects made of gold, without precious stones, up to 150 grams, 10 kg of pistachios, and a maximum of 200 grams of saffron. It is prohibited to export antiquities, original artwork, hand-written books, lithographs, works of calligraphy, miniature artwork, and antique coins.

SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
No social security agreement has been signed.

USEFUL INFORMATION

HEALTH SITUATION — Medical services are of high standard, and medical assistance can be requested and medicines can be obtained at any time. Many healthcare institutions and pharmacies operate 24 hours per day. Iran is supplied with both domestic and foreign medicines. The air in Tehran is highly polluted, particularly during the winter months, and persons with respiratory or cardiovascular issues should keep this in mind.
Contact information for healthcare institutions providing quality services:
•Tehran University of Medical Sciences, telephone: [98] (21) 88 95 30 01, e-mail: emamiraz@tums.ac.ir, website: http://medicine.tums.ac.ir/en/,
• Day General Hospital, Vali Asr Avenue, Tavanir, Tehran, tel: [98] (21) 87 97 111,
• Iamat Center, Physicians, Building 7th Floor, Keshvarz Boulevard, Tehran, telephone: [98] (21) 65 51 28,
• Outside of Tehran: Esfahan, Alzahra Hospital, Darvazeh Shiraz, Hezar Jarib Avenue, telephone: [98] (31) 16 92 180,
• Chamran Hosptial (cardiology), Bozorgmehr bridge, 2nd Moshtagh Avenue, telephone: [98] (31) 16 00 961/5,
• Shiraz: Dena Hospital, Zargari Cross, Sattarkhan Square, telephone: [98] (71) 16 28 041/2.

SECURITY SITUATION — The overall security situation throughout the territory of Iran is under control, but it is recommended that Serbian citizens consult the representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Iran before planning a trip.
In cities, particularly large tourist centres, there are no security risks (except those which are common in such cities worldwide) . Travellers are advised to carry copies of their passports with them and leave the original passports at the hotel. There are no thefts in hotel rooms, since everything is under video surveillance.
While moving large gatherings should be avoided, particularly if they are protest gatherings. Travellers from the Republic of Serbia, when visiting Iran, should pay particular attention to their personal documents, money and mobile telephones, especially in bazaars and large crowds and not to photograph gatherings.
Women are advised to observe the Islamic dress codes for women. There are no rules about dress for men, except for not wearing shorts other than in the islands where this is common.
Journalists and photojournalists are not recommended to travel to Iran for reporting purposes unless they have obtained previous approval from the competent Iranian authorities. It is especially not recommended to use cameras or other recording devices if they do not have permission from their host, and are not accompanied by the host.
Regarding natural disasters, note that Iran is in one of the seismically most active areas with frequent earthquakes.
Contact telephone numbers of the competent national emergency services: police ― 110, ambulance/medical ― 125, fire brigade ― 115.

TRANSPORT — Air transport, with the well-developed network of international and local airports, is the most important form of passenger transport. The interior railway transport network is well developed, and Iran is connected by rail to Turkey in the west and Pakistan in the east. Road transport is also developed, the main roads are of solid quality. However, due to inappropriate driving, no use of signals, and a large number of vehicles (particularly older ones) and small motorcycles, approximately 30,000 people are killed in traffic in Iran per year, one of the highest rates in the world.
When entering Iran, it is necessary to have vehicle insurance (carnet de passage) and an international driving permit (it is desirable to have a translation of it into Farsi). A vehicle can be rented for approximately EUR 45 per day. Numerous taxi vehicles (minibuses) are in broad use at relatively favourable prices, for transportation both within towns and between them.
International driving permits are accepted in Iran. It is possible, in accordance with current regulations, to obtain an Iranian driver’s licence based on a national one, while a national driver’s licence is accepted during a period of 6 months after entry to Iran.

OTHER — The local currency is the rial (IRR). Prices are expressed in rials (official currency) and tomans, more frequently used by the local population during financial transactions (1 toman = 10 rials). There is no option of using foreign payment cards. Money is exchanged only in exchange offices. A passport will be requested most of the time to exchange money in an exchange office, but it is not a rule. Money can be exchanged in the hotels where the traveller is staying.
Iran is an Islamic country, with strict Islamic law in force. Women must have head cover, although not all of the hair needs to be covered. Women may not wear short sleeves, always top-coats, for winter during the winter and for summer during the summer. Make-up can be applied freely, including nail polish. The code of behaviour prohibits handshakes between men and women, but today this is only observed in institutions, while in other places men and women may freely greet one another. During the month of Ramadan ― the month of fast ―, it is not permitted to eat, drink, or smoke in public, but there are numerous hotels where all of this is permitted. It is also permitted in case a person is on the road. There are separate carts for women in trains, and separate areas in buses. Caution should be exercised when taking photographs. It is not permitted to take photographs of military or state buildings, nor be in their proximity. Serbian citizens can use the mobile network with the dial code 064.

Contact information
During your stay in Iran, for consular assistance and protection you may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Tehran (address: Sahrak E Qouds, North Falamak Street, 4th Alley, Building No 3, P.O. Box 19858, TEHRAN, IRAN), at the following telephone number: 00 98 21 88 09 15 29, or e-mail: serbembteh@neda.net.