Iran: Knowledge Base profile
Published 19 July 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
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Version 2.0
About: Iran
This document contains useful information about Iran which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.
Contacts
If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.
If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.
Publication
Below is information on when this version of the document was published:
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version 2.0
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published for Home Office staff on 15 July 2024
Changes from last version of this document
This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.
Iran: names
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Iran.
Names in Iran consist of a:
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forename
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surname
Birth registration confirms the name of the child.
In Iran it is the father’s responsibility to register the child and they are given his surname. If the father (his father or grandfather) does not register the birth, the child will receive the mother’s surname when she registers the birth.
Change of name
A married woman keeps her maiden name after marriage.
Iran: nationality
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Iran.
Dual nationality is not recognised in Iran.
Iran: legitimacy and parental responsibility
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy and parental responsibility in Iran.
Legitimacy
Iran recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.
A child will be considered:
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legitimate:
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if born less than 6 months before the date of marriage
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if parents are married at the time of birth
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if parents are divorced and child is born less than 10 months after the date of the divorce
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illegitimate if parents never marry
Parental responsibility
The father has sole responsibility for children in Iran.
Iran: adoption
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Iran.
Adoption is legal in Iran.
Iran: surrogacy
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Iran.
Surrogacy is legal in Iran.
Iran: gender recognition
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Iran.
Transgender citizens are recognised in Iran. A birth certificate can be issued to show a gender change in Iran.
Iran: civil partnerships and marriage
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Iran.
Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not recognised in Iran.
Polygamy is legal in Iran.
Iran: documents
This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Iran.
Births, marriages and deaths are registered with the National Organisation for Civil Registration. In some local districts, there are no facilities to register life events.
Birth certificates
All births in Iran must be registered within 15 days of the birth. Late registrations are not allowed.
When a birth is registered a birth book (SHEASNAMEH) is issued. The father is responsible for registering the birth and getting the birth book. A person’s gender does not appear on the birth book.
The birth of a child in Iran is registered by an official representative of the Birth Registration Organisation of Iran. For a child born outside of Iran the birth will be registered by an official representative of the consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Book for Registry of All Event.
A birth certificate can be issued to show a gender change in Iran.
Marriage certificates
When a couple in Iran get married, they are issued a marriage book. The marriage book is 18 pages.
Death certificates
After a death in Iran a certificate is issued. Late registrations are allowed. Family members and people who have legal permission can get a death certificate.
Identity documents
Every person who is aged 15 years old or over who is resident in Iran must hold a valid National Identity (NID) Card (Persian:کارت ملی).
Examination certificates will always be signed by someone with the title of “Bursar”.