overview
Islamic Republic of Iran
country information
Flag
capital
Tehrān
DRIVING SIDE: Right
INTERNET CODE: .ir
TIME ZONE: UTC +4h30m
COUNTRY CODE: +98
Borders on Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman (2.815km of coastline)
Neighbours
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Iraq
Pakistan
Turkey
Turkmenistan
population
82.1 million
religion
Islam 99.5%
Other (incl. Christianity, Bhuddism, Judaism) <7%
president & parliament
Supreme Leader of State: Ali Khamenei
Head of State: Pres. Hassan Rouhani
Ruling Party: Moderation & Development Party
minority & majority groups
Persians (incl. Gilaks & Mazandaranis) (61%); Azerbaijanis (16%); Kurds (10%); Lurs (incl. Bakhtiari people); Turkmens (and other tribal Turks in Iran) (2%); Arabs (2%); Baloch (2%) Others 1%
LANGUAGE
Persian (Farsi)
Other regional languages: Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Lori, Mazandarani, Gilaki, Balochi and Arabic
Hello: سلام – Salam
Yes: Sim
No: Não [Now]
Thank you: مرسي (As the French term Merci) or ممنونمم Mamnūnam
C U R R E N C Y &
E X C H A N G E R AT E
Iranian Rial (IRR)
1USD = 42,105.00 IRR
1 ZAR = 2,853.69 IRR
Subject to change
VACCINATIONS
No compulsory vaccinations
Recommended/up-to-date: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot
For more info: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/iran
ELECTRICITY
Voltage Requirements: 230 V
Standard Frequency:
50 Hz
Power plugs & sockets are of type C & type F
For Iran’s electricity restrictments/ conditions, see: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436178/Iran-electricity-issue-should-we-expect-blackouts-again
TEMPERATURE
Winter: min. 2 °C – max. 11 °C
Summer: min. 18 °C – max. 30°C
DIPLOMATIC TIES / AIRPORTS / CARRIERS / NGO’S
EMBASSY / CONSULAR PRESENCE
South Africa Embassy in Tehran
No 5 Yekta Street
Vali-e-Asr Avenue
Tajrish
P O Box 11365-7476
Tehran
Iran
Head of Mission: Mr W. M. P. Whitehead, Ambassador
(+98) 21 2270 2866
MAIN AIRPORT(S)
Mahrabad International Airport
Mashhad International Airport
Imam Khomeini International Airport
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Valid Passport with min. 60 days remaining until expiry date with sufficient pages (minimum 2 blank pages) for entry and exit stamps
The main reason for Iranian visa refusal is when there is proof you have travelled to Israel and the government’s refusal based on your career (journalists, media workers etc.)
See: https://www.bordersofadventure.com/travel-to-iran-things-to-know/#Proof_of_Travel_to_Israel
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS & CARRIERS
IranAir
IranAir Tour
Taban
Hesa
Zagros
Aseman Mahan
Caspian
Kish Air
Ata
For more information, see: https://www.persiatravelmart.com/en/flights?page=9
NGO’S OPERATING IN COUNTRY & CONTACT DETAILS
This document is a directory listing NGOs in Iran. Provided by UNODC, it incl. the address, phone no., contact person, areas of activity and other information about individual NGOs: http://www.unic-ir.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40&Itemid=156&lang=en
Pew Research Center. Iran. Available from: http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/iran#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010®ion_name=All%20Countries&restrictions_year=2016
Looklex Encyclopaedia. Iran: Languages. Available from: http://looklex.com/e.o/iran.languages.htm
Electrical Safety First. Iran Travel Adaptors. Available from: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/advice-for-you/when-travelling/travel-adaptor-for-iran/
Trading Economics. (2020). Iran Population. Available from: https://tradingeconomics.com/iran/population
Climates to Travel. Iran. Available from: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/iran
Last Updated 18 May 2020