You must have a visa to enter Iran. Russian citizens are issued a tourist visa upon arrival at the international airports of Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz or Kish Island and if they have a return air ticket for up to 14 days. Be sure to answer the question about the purpose of your trip, you should answer that the purpose of the trip is tourism. You will then be escorted to the Visa Desk where you will pay a fee of €60 and receive your tourist visa. You should have 1 photo with you (3×4 color, a photo in a headscarf is desirable for women, but not necessary) and a passport with a validity period of at least 6 months, hotel reservation is desirable, but not necessary. A tourist visa can be extended for 15 days at any passport office for foreign citizens.
Import and export of local currency is limited to 500 thousand Iranian rials. Import and export of foreign currency is not limited. Duty-free, you can bring a reasonable amount of cigarettes and perfumes for personal use into Iran, as well as gifts and souvenirs in an amount not exceeding 80 US dollars. It is strictly forbidden to import into the country all types of alcoholic beverages, video products of erotic and propaganda content, printed materials in Hebrew, pork products, berries, fruits, tubers and seedlings of plants, seeds, soil, all types of wild animals and birds (including products from skin and feathers), drugs and weapons, and the import and export of drugs are punishable by death. Duty-free export of Persian carpets is possible only if their total area is up to 12 square meters. m. The export of antiques is prohibited, which are any valuables that are more than 50 years old.
Iran, Russian Embassy in the country:
Tehran, st. Neauphle-le-Chateau, 39
Tel: (98-21) 6670-1161, 6670-1173.
Fax: (98-21) 6670-1652.
Communication in Iran
On the streets of large cities, you can see yellow booths with pay phones. Street pay phones work with both coins and calling cards. Calling cards can be purchased from telephone company offices. International payphones can be found in major tourist centers, banks, hotels and airports.
In order to call from Iran to Russia, you need to dial 00 – 7 – area code – subscriber number.
In order to call from Russia to Iran, you need to dial 8 – 10 – 98 (country code) – area code – subscriber number.
If you want to make a call within the country, but between cities in different regions, then you must dial 0 before the city code.
Emergency Phones in Iran
Police – 110
Ambulance – 115
Fire Department – 125 Roadside
Assistance – 197
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
February 11 – Day of the Islamic Revolution of 1979
March 20 – Nationalization Day of the oil fields
April 1 – Islamic Republic Day
June 4 – Anniversary of the death of Imam Khomeini
June 5 – Anniversary of the anti-Shah uprising
The official day off in Iran is Friday. Iran celebrates many religious holidays throughout the year. Their dates vary from year to year, as the celebrations take place according to the lunar calendar. On religious holidays, most institutions are closed. The main religious holidays of Iran: Eid al-Ada (Sacrifice Festival) (December-January), Islamic New Year (December-February), Eid Gadir-Hom (the day Muhammad named his successor Imam Ali) (January), Ashura (the day of commemoration of the Imam Hussein) (January-February), Nouruz (Iranian New Year) (late March-early April), Arbain (Suffering of Imam Hussein) (March-April), Imam Ali’s birthday (August-October), Imam Mahdi’s birthday (September -November), Suffering of Imam Ali (September-December), Laylat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet) (October),
USEFUL THINGS
In general, Iran is a safe country to travel. On the streets of cities you can always see the police, however, they may require documents confirming the identity of the tourist. In this regard, you should always have a copy of your passport and a document confirming your stay at the hotel with you. There are incidents when scammers introduce themselves as police officers and demand documents. To avoid this, it is necessary to ask the guards of the law to present a police card. Also, the police can be identified by the presence of a nearby police car. Despite the low crime rate, it is still not worth carrying large sums of money with you, walking along the outskirts of cities and attending demonstrations.
In Iran, it is forbidden to photograph government institutions, palaces, military installations and local women.
Traveling near the borders with Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan is not safe.
SHOPS
According to ehuzhou, shops are open from Saturday to Thursday from 09:00 to 20:00 with a lunch break from 13:00 to 16:00.
The best place for shopping and buying souvenirs in Iran are its street bazaars. They can be found in every city.
Tipping Tipping
is not customary in Iran. However, with good service, you can leave about 10% of the amount indicated on the bill in the restaurant, and 2000-3000 rials for maids and porters.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Iranians are friendly and sociable, but require special respect for Islamic laws. Iranians strictly observe the laws of Islam and wish that the guests of the country also strictly follow them. Coming to Iran, you need to remember this. Do not behave defiantly: make noise and actively gesticulate when talking. When leaving the hotel, men should be dressed in trousers and shirts or T-shirts with sleeves, and women – in long skirts, long-sleeved sweaters, and their heads should be covered with a scarf. Men and women in public transport must ride in different salons, the entrance to buildings and even the queues are divided into men’s and women’s. Showing signs of attention to the opposite sex in public places is prohibited. Drinking alcohol is prohibited, smoking in public places is also punishable by law.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH
In Iran, first aid and emergency treatment is provided to tourists free of charge, but the prices for further treatment are quite high, so tourists are strongly advised to take out international insurance before traveling. In the period from March to November in the southern regions of the country there is a risk of contracting malaria, therefore, before traveling to the southern regions, during travel and after it, prophylaxis against malaria should be carried out. Also, before traveling to Iran, vaccinations against cholera, typhoid, yellow fever, polio, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tuberculosis, tetanus and rabies are recommended.
Bottled water should be used for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice. Meat and fish should be consumed only after preliminary heat treatment, vegetables – thoroughly washed and scalded with boiling water, and fruits – peeled. In Iran, the level of insolation is high, so it is worth using sunscreen, wearing sunglasses and hats, and carrying a bottle of drinking water with you.
