Iran

Last Updated: 2026-04-01

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Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	5 years of continuous residence
Language requirement	Knowledge of the Persian (Farsi) language
Civics test	No formal examination
Processing time	12—36+ months; highly bureaucratic
Naturalization fee	Varies; set by the Council of Ministers
Dual citizenship	Not officially recognized, but Iran does not recognize renunciation — creating de facto dual nationality for millions
Citizenship by birth in Iran	Limited jus soli; primarily through paternal descent
Citizenship by descent	Automatic through the father; maternal descent recognized since 2019 amendments
Governing law	Civil Code of Iran (Articles 976—991), as amended through 2019

Dual Citizenship

Iran occupies a unique position in nationality law: it does not recognize the renunciation of Iranian citizenship by its nationals, and simultaneously does not formally recognize dual citizenship.

The practical effect:

Any person born to an Iranian father is an Iranian citizen for life in the eyes of the Iranian government, regardless of whether they have naturalized elsewhere or attempted to renounce.
Iran does not have a functioning renunciation procedure. Article 988 of the Civil Code technically allows renunciation with Council of Ministers approval, but this approval is virtually never granted.
Dual nationals entering Iran are treated exclusively as Iranian citizens. Foreign consular access may be denied.
This creates serious complications for Iranian-Americans, Iranian-Canadians, Iranian-Europeans, and others who hold second nationalities. Several dual nationals have been detained in Iran, with the government refusing to acknowledge their foreign citizenship.
Foreign nationals who naturalize in Iran are required to renounce their prior nationality, though enforcement depends on bilateral relations.

Travel advisory: Most Western governments advise dual nationals of Iranian origin to exercise extreme caution when traveling to Iran, as they may be subject to compulsory military service, exit bans, or detention.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Iran applies a very limited jus soli provision:

A child born in Iran to foreign parents does not acquire Iranian citizenship at birth.
However, a person born in Iran who has resided continuously in the country until age 18 may claim Iranian citizenship within one year of reaching adulthood (Article 976(5) of the Civil Code).
A child born in Iran whose parentage is unknown is presumed Iranian.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Iranian citizenship is primarily patrilineal:

A child born to an Iranian father acquires citizenship automatically, regardless of place of birth. This is absolute and irrevocable.
2019 reform (maternal descent): A landmark amendment to Article 976 now allows children born to Iranian mothers and non-Iranian fathers to apply for Iranian citizenship upon reaching age 18. Previously, maternal descent conferred no citizenship rights. The mother may also apply on behalf of a minor child.
The 2019 amendment was driven by the plight of approximately one million children of Iranian women married to Afghan and Iraqi men who had been effectively stateless.
There is no generational limit on paternal descent-based citizenship.

By Adoption

Iranian law, based on Shia Islamic jurisprudence, does not recognize formal adoption. Guardianship arrangements do not confer citizenship. However, under the 2013 Child Protection Law, a limited form of legal guardianship may be established, but it does not affect nationality.

By Marriage

A foreign woman who marries an Iranian man acquires Iranian citizenship automatically upon marriage (Article 976(6)). This is one of the few remaining countries where marriage alone confers citizenship.
A foreign man who marries an Iranian woman does not acquire citizenship through marriage. He must apply for naturalization through the standard process.
An Iranian woman who marries a foreign man retains her Iranian citizenship (Iran does not recognize renunciation).

By Naturalization

Requirement	Details
Residence	5 years of continuous residence in Iran
Age	At least 18 years old
Character	No conviction for serious crimes; good moral standing
Military	Must not have deserted from military service in any country
Financial	Ability to support oneself; must have a means of livelihood
Renunciation	Must renounce prior nationality (on paper)
Approval	Granted by the Council of Ministers

Naturalization is discretionary and rare. Iran does not actively encourage immigration-based naturalization. The Council of Ministers must approve each case individually.

Loss and Renunciation

Iran does not recognize the renunciation of citizenship in practice. This is the defining characteristic of Iranian nationality law.

Article 988 of the Civil Code theoretically allows a citizen to renounce Iranian nationality if: (1) they have reached age 25, (2) the Council of Ministers approves, (3) they have fulfilled military service obligations, and (4) they have arranged for the transfer of their Iranian property and financial affairs.
In practice, the Council of Ministers has not approved renunciation requests for decades. Applications are either ignored or denied.
Iranian embassies abroad will not process renunciation requests.
Involuntary loss is technically possible if a person enters the military service of a foreign government without Iranian authorization, but enforcement is sporadic.
Women who acquired Iranian citizenship through marriage to an Iranian man may theoretically lose it upon divorce, but only if they apply and the Council of Ministers approves (which it rarely does).

Net effect: Once Iranian, always Iranian, as far as Iran is concerned.

Restoration of Nationality

Former Iranian citizens (in the rare cases where loss was formally processed) may apply for restoration:

Application to the Council of Ministers through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or through an Iranian consulate abroad
Must demonstrate prior Iranian citizenship through shenasnameh or other civil registration records
Restoration is discretionary and requires Council of Ministers approval
Given that Iran rarely processes loss of citizenship in the first place, restoration cases are extremely uncommon
Processing time is indeterminate; the bureaucracy is slow and the pathway is poorly defined

Women who lost Iranian citizenship upon marriage to a foreign national (under older provisions, now largely obsolete) may have their citizenship restored upon the death of the husband or dissolution of the marriage.

Practical note: Because Iran does not recognize renunciation, the concept of “restoration” is largely theoretical. In the vast majority of cases, Iran considers the individual to have never lost citizenship at all, rendering restoration unnecessary from the Iranian government’s perspective.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Iran is not a party to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

A child of unknown parentage found in Iran is presumed to be Iranian (Article 976(4)).
The large population of Afghan refugees in Iran (estimated 3—4 million) includes a significant number of stateless or undocumented children. The 2019 maternal descent amendment was intended to address some of these cases.
Iran hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations, but pathways to citizenship for long-term refugees remain extremely limited.

Document Checklist

Sources

Civil Code of Iran, Articles 976—991 — Primary nationality provisions. Available through the Islamic Parliament Research Center: https://rc.majlis.ir/en
2019 Amendment to Article 976 — Maternal descent reform. Official Gazette of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
National Organization for Civil Registration (NOCR) — Birth registration and identity documents: https://www.sabteahval.ir/
UNHCR Refworld — Iran — Background on nationality law and statelessness: https://www.refworld.org/country/IRN
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran — Consular services: https://en.mfa.gov.ir/

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