Iran
Warnings and insurance
Summary
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The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)(FCDO) providesadvises adviceBritish aboutnationals risksagainst ofall travel to help Iran.
British and British-Iranian dual nationals makeare informedat decisions.significant Findrisk outof morearbitrary aboutarrest, FCDOquestioning travelor advice.
FCDO advisesdetention againstin allIran. travelHolding a British passport can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to Iran
target you. If you are detained in Iran, you could face months or years in prison.
YourOur travelability insuranceto couldprovide beconsular invalidatedassistance ifis youextremely travellimited. againstIn FCDOan advice.emergency Consular– supportsuch as serious deterioration in the security situation – it is alsoextremely severelyunlikely limitedthe whereBritish FCDOgovernment adviseswill againstbe travel.
able to evacuate you or provide assistance on the ground in Iran. If you’reyou are a British national already resident in Iran, eitheryou residentshould or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you takeare taking by staying.remaining.
FCDOA advisesnumber againstof all travel to Iran. British and British-Iranian dual nationals arehave atbeen significantarbitrarily riskdetained ofin arbitraryIran arrest,and questioningmade orto detentionserve inlong Iran.prison Holdingsentences. In January 2023 a British passportnational canwas beexecuted reasonafter enoughreceiving for the Iraniandeath authoritiespenalty. toIran questionhas you.also Ifrecently youarrested areand detained innon-Iranian Iran,European younationals couldtravelling faceon monthstourist orvisas. yearsThe incriminal prison.
Findjustice outprocess morefollowed aboutin whysuch FCDOcases advisesfalls againstbelow travel.
Supportinternational forstandards. BritishIf nationalsyou are detained in Iran
ConsularIran supportyour iscase extremelywill limitedbe in Iran.the Ifhands youof needthe consularIranian assistanceauthorities, youwho shouldhave contactshown a pattern of hostility towards the UK and its citizens. Our consular assistance to British Embassynationals in Tehran. Iran is therefore extremely limited.
Dual nationals
The Iranian authorities do not recognise dual nationality. If you’reyou are a British-Iranian dual national and you are detained in Iran, the FCDO will not be informed of your detention by the authorities and will not tellbe FCDO orgranted grant FCDO access to see you.
For IfBritish you’renationals detained,without Iranian dual-nationality, the FCDO may not be informed for some time of your casedetention willand may be indenied theconsular handswelfare visits for long periods of thetime. IranianSee authorities,Safety whoand Security.
The Iranian authorities have shownaccused people with links to the UK of inciting protests. If you are in or near a patternprotest, you are at serious risk of hostilityarrest. towardsMass thearrests, UKincluding of bystanders, is a frequent occurrence. Anyone who is arrested in connection with protests and holds British citizens.
Beforenationality youmay travel
Nocome travelunder canadded besuspicion guaranteedof safe.espionage Reador allworking to undermine the adviceIranian ingovernment, thisincreasing guidethe asrisk wellof aslengthy supportdetention, forcriminal Britishcharges nationalsand/or abroadreceiving whichthe includes:
- advice
death onpenalty. preparingIt foris traveldifficult abroadto predict where protests will take place. The Iranian authorities can restrict internet access and reducingin risks
- information
some forcases women,there LGBT+are internet shutdowns. Mobile data, non-Iranian mobile apps and disabledinternational travellers
Followcalls may not work and contactshould FCDOnot travelbe relied on Twitter,for Facebookpersonal safety.
See ‘Political situation’ on the ‘Safety and Instagram.security’ Youpage canfor alsomore signinformation.
Terrorists upare likely to gettry emailto notificationscarry whenout thisattacks advicein isIran. updated.Attacks could happen anywhere, including in places visited by foreigners.
Travel insurance
If you chooseneed toconsular travel,assistance researchyou yourshould destinationscontact andthe getBritish appropriate travel insuranceEmbassy. Insuranceon shouldtelephone: cover+98 your(0)21 itinerary,6405 planned2000 activities. andSee expensesConsular inassistance an emergency. services.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)(FCDO) providesadvises adviceBritish aboutnationals risksagainst ofall travel to help Iran.
British and British-Iranian dual nationals makeare informedat decisions.significant Findrisk outof morearbitrary aboutarrest, FCDOquestioning travelor advice.
FCDO advisesdetention againstin allIran. travelHolding a British passport can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to Iran
YourOur travelability insuranceto couldprovide beconsular invalidatedassistance ifis youextremely travellimited. againstIn FCDOan advice.emergency Consular– supportsuch as serious deterioration in the security situation – it is alsoextremely severelyunlikely limitedthe whereBritish FCDOgovernment adviseswill againstbe travel.
able to evacuate you or provide assistance on the ground in Iran. If you’reyou are a British national already resident in Iran, eitheryou residentshould or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you takeare taking by staying.remaining.
FCDOA advisesnumber againstof all travel to Iran. British and British-Iranian dual nationals arehave atbeen significantarbitrarily riskdetained ofin arbitraryIran arrest,and questioningmade orto detentionserve inlong Iran.prison Holdingsentences. In January 2023 a British passportnational canwas beexecuted reasonafter enoughreceiving for the Iraniandeath authoritiespenalty. toIran questionhas you.also Ifrecently youarrested areand detained innon-Iranian Iran,European younationals couldtravelling faceon monthstourist orvisas. yearsThe incriminal prison.
Findjustice outprocess morefollowed aboutin whysuch FCDOcases advisesfalls againstbelow travel.
Supportinternational forstandards. BritishIf nationalsyou are detained in Iran
ConsularIran supportyour iscase extremelywill limitedbe in Iran.the Ifhands youof needthe consularIranian assistanceauthorities, youwho shouldhave contactshown a pattern of hostility towards the UK and its citizens. Our consular assistance to British Embassynationals in Tehran. Iran is therefore extremely limited.
Dual nationals
The Iranian authorities do not recognise dual nationality. If you’reyou are a British-Iranian dual national and you are detained in Iran, the FCDO will not be informed of your detention by the authorities and will not tellbe FCDO orgranted grant FCDO access to see you.
For IfBritish you’renationals detained,without Iranian dual-nationality, the FCDO may not be informed for some time of your casedetention willand may be indenied theconsular handswelfare visits for long periods of thetime. IranianSee authorities,Safety whoand Security.
The Iranian authorities have shownaccused people with links to the UK of inciting protests. If you are in or near a patternprotest, you are at serious risk of hostilityarrest. towardsMass thearrests, UKincluding of bystanders, is a frequent occurrence. Anyone who is arrested in connection with protests and holds British citizens.
Beforenationality youmay travel
Nocome travelunder canadded besuspicion guaranteedof safe.espionage Reador allworking to undermine the adviceIranian ingovernment, thisincreasing guidethe asrisk wellof aslengthy supportdetention, forcriminal Britishcharges nationalsand/or abroadreceiving whichthe includes:
- advice
deathonpenalty.preparingItforistraveldifficultabroadtopredictwhereprotestswilltakeplace.TheIranianauthoritiescanrestrictinternetaccessinrisks - information
someforcaseswomen,thereLGBT+areinternetshutdowns.Mobiledata,non-Iranianmobileappsinternationaltravellers
Followcalls may not work and contactshould FCDOnot travelbe relied on Twitter,for Facebookpersonal safety.
See ‘Political situation’ on the ‘Safety and Instagram.security’ Youpage canfor alsomore signinformation.
Terrorists upare likely to gettry emailto notificationscarry whenout thisattacks advicein isIran. updated.Attacks could happen anywhere, including in places visited by foreigners.
Travel insurance
If you chooseneed toconsular travel,assistance researchyou yourshould destinationscontact andthe getBritish appropriate travel insuranceEmbassy. Insuranceon shouldtelephone: cover+98 your(0)21 itinerary,6405 planned2000 activities. andSee expensesConsular inassistance an emergency. services.
Update history
2025-03-12 11:18
Updated information about the current risks and political situation in Iran (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2024-10-26 08:05
Information on an Israeli military attack on Iran (Warnings and insurance)
2024-10-02 03:33
Updated information on the conflict affecting Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)
2024-09-28 23:58
Updated information on the conflict affecting Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)
2024-09-28 22:54
Updated information on the Conflict in Lebanon (Safety and Security Pages)
2024-08-03 10:49
Factual update on the regional situation (See ‘Safety and Security’ page).
2024-07-19 16:00
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2024-04-29 14:13
Information on a previous terrorist attack in Iran in April 2024 (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-04-26 12:35
Removal of some language on military activity in the region (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-04-19 08:07
We are aware of reports that on 19 April Israel attacked sites in Iran
2024-04-14 08:17
13 April 2024 – drones and missiles fired from Iran into Israel (‘Warnings and Insurance’ page). FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Iran
2024-04-12 20:01
Information on regional risks (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-03-16 12:55
Travel advice updated to reflect an increased threat from terrorism in Iran
2024-01-19 09:55
Information about an airstrike in Sistan-o-Balochistan, Southeast Iran on 18 January 2024 (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-01-12 00:24
Update to Safety and Security page
2024-01-05 10:33
Information about a terrorist attack in Kerman, southern Iran, on 3 January 2024 (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-01-03 09:16
Removal of information that Emergency Travel Documents cannot be applied for in Iran (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-11-06 15:54
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-06-22 10:47
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages
2023-05-25 13:16
Information on safety for mono and dual British nationals in Iran and rewritten advice to aid readability (‘Summary’, ‘Safety and security’, ‘Local laws and customs’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2023-02-22 15:29
Updated information on protesting in Iran and COVID-19 entry requirements and additional information on difficulties with exchanging GBP (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’, ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Money’ pages).
2022-10-02 01:45
“Updated information on protests in Iran (See ‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security pages’)
2022-05-13 10:55
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises British nationals against all travel to Iran (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).