Skip to main content
Guidance

Iran: country policy and information notes

Guidance used by UK Visas and Immigration to make decisions in asylum and human rights applications.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published:
9 December 2016
Last updated:
26 August 2026
Show all updates

  1. Published an updated country policy and information note on military service in Iran.

  2. Published an updated version of the country policy and information note on Christians and Christian converts.

  3. A new country bulletin on Kurds and Kurdish political groups has been added.

  4. Published an updated version of the country policy and information note on 'Zina' (sex outside of marriage and adultery).

  5. Added country bulletins on the protests of December 2025 to January 2026 and the security situation in Iran.

  6. Updated note on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

  7. Updated the note on 'illegal exit'.

  8. Published the country policy and information note: Kurds and Kurdish political groups, Iran, October 2025.

  9. Added country policy and information note: smugglers, Iran, September 2025.

  10. Updated the notes on women - early and forced marriage, and women fearing 'honour' based violence.

  11. Added the country policy and information note: social media, surveillance and sur place activities, Iran, April 2025.

  12. Updated the country policy and information note: medical and healthcare issues, Iran, June 2024.

  13. Country policy and information note on medical and healthcare issues updated.

  14. Removed document 'Country policy and information note: background information, Iran, November 2019' as it is no longer relevant.

  15. Updated the information on Military service.

  16. Updated country policy and information note on Christians and Christian converts.

  17. Removed Country policy and information note: actors of protection, Iran, November 2019 as it is out of date.

  18. Updated information on 'Zina' (sex outside of marriage and adultery) published.

  19. Updated information on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression published.

  20. Removed: Country policy and information note: fear of punishment for crimes committed in other countries (‘double jeopardy’ or re-prosecution), Iran, January 2018 and Country policy and information note: Ahwazis and Ahwazi political groups, Iran, January 2019 - these documents are out of date.

  21. Added accessible version of Kurds and Kurdish political groups, Iran, May 2022.

  22. Updated information about Kurds and Kurdish political groups added.

  23. Updated information on 'illegal exit' published.

  24. Updated information on women fearing 'honour' based violence, and early and forced marriage.

  25. Information on social media, surveillance and sur place activities added.

  26. Information on smugglers updated.

  27. New country policy and information note on Women fearing ‘honour’ based violence, March 2021.

  28. Information on early and forced marriage published.

  29. Removed the document 'Country information and guidance: Kurds and Kurdish political groups, Iran, July 2016'.

  30. Updated military service note.

  31. Updated 'Iran: Christians and Christian converts' country policy and information note.

  32. Updated to add medical guidance, update background and actors of protection guidance, and remove Baha'i, human rights defenders, journalists and internet media, women fearing domestic abuse and Zoroastrians guidance

  33. Updated version of country policy and information note: adulterers, Iran, October 2019 added.

  34. Added Iran CPIN on smugglers for 2019

  35. Updated Country Policy and Information Note - Iran: Sexual orientation and gender identity or expression

  36. Updated Christians and Christian converts guidance

  37. Updated Country Policy and Information Note on Iran: Illegal exit

  38. Added policy note: Iran: Kurds and Kurdish political groups

  39. New country policy and information note on Ahwazis and Ahwazi political groups.

  40. New country policy and information note on women fearing domestic violence for September 2018.

  41. Updated guidance: Iran: Background information, including the accepted recommendations from the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI).

  42. Added CPIN for Iran, June 2018

  43. Removal of country information and guidance for women.

  44. Version 4 (March 2018) of policy and information note: Christians and Christian converts uploaded and previous version 3 removed.

  45. Information note on 'double jeopardy' published.

  46. Removed v3 of Country information and guidance: background information, including actors of protection, and internal relocation, Iran, now superseded by v4.

  47. New country policy and information note on background information, including actors of protection and internal relocation.

  48. Information on honour crimes published.

  49. New country policy and information note on forced marriage.

  50. New guidance on women fearing domestic violence.

  51. New country policy and information note on forced marriage.

  52. New country policy and information note on Zoroastrians.

  53. Updated guidance: Christians and Christian converts, Iran, February 2017.

  54. First published.

Documents

Country policy and information note: military service, Iran, August 2026 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: military service, Iran, August 2026

PDF, 962 KB, 67 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: Christians and Christian converts, Iran, June 2026 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: Christians and Christian converts, Iran, June 2026

PDF, 1.5 MB, 83 pages

Country bulletin Iran: Kurds and Kurdish political groups, May 2026 (accessible)

HTML

Country bulletin Iran: Kurds and Kurdish political groups, May 2026

PDF, 297 KB, 22 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: ‘Zina’ (sex outside of marriage and adultery), Iran, April 2026 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: ‘Zina’ (sex outside of marriage and adultery), Iran, April 2026

PDF, 774 KB, 51 pages

Country bulletin Iran: security situation, March 2026 (accessible)

HTML

Country bulletin Iran: security situation, March 2026

Ref: IRN-002-03-26

PDF, 2.32 MB, 46 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country bulletin Iran: protests of December 2025 to January 2026 (accessible)

Ref: IRN-001-02-26

HTML

Country bulletin Iran: protests of December 2025 to January 2026

Ref: IRN-001-02-26

PDF, 663 KB, 35 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, Iran, December 2025 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, Iran, December 2025

PDF, 729 KB, 72 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: illegal exit, Iran, December 2025 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: illegal exit, Iran, December 2025

PDF, 447 KB, 38 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: Kurds and Kurdish political groups, Iran, October 2025 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: Kurds and Kurdish political groups, Iran, October 2025

PDF, 1.56 MB, 88 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: smugglers, Iran, September 2025 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: smugglers, Iran, September 2025

PDF, 1.02 MB, 50 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: women - early and forced marriage, Iran, June 2025 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: women - early and forced marriage, Iran, June 2025

PDF, 873 KB, 64 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: women fearing ‘honour’ based violence, Iran, June 2025 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: women fearing ‘honour’ based violence, Iran, June 2025

PDF, 692 KB, 42 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: social media, surveillance and sur place activities, Iran, April 2025 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: social media, surveillance and sur place activities, Iran, April 2025

PDF, 814 KB, 61 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Country policy and information note: medical and healthcare issues, Iran, June 2024 (accessible)

HTML

Country policy and information note: medical and healthcare issues, Iran, June 2024

PDF, 597 KB, 50 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Country policy and information notes (previously known as country information and guidance reports) are used by UK Visas and Immigration officials to make decisions in asylum and human rights applications.

The notes also give information on asylum seekers’ countries of origin.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Related content