In accordance with Article 5 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Laws, consular responsibilities are:
1) To maintain, in the territory of the receiving State, the interests of the sending State and of its citizens, both individuals and bodies corporate, within the limits permitted by international laws.
2) To assist the expansion of commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations between the sending State and the receiving State and the promotion of friendly relations between the two States by other means and within the provisions of the Convention.
3) To be informed of, by using all lawful means, the conditions and the commercial, cultural and scientific developments of the receiving State, reporting thereof to the government of the sending State and giving out information to interested parties.
4) To issue passports and travel documents for the citizens of the sending State as well as visas or respective documents for persons who wish to travel to the territory of the sending State.
5) To help and assist the citizens, both individuals and bodies corporate, of the sending State.
6) To act as notary and civil registrar and in similar capacities and perform certain administrative functions provided that it does not contravene the laws and regulations of the receiving State.
7) To maintain, in the territory of the receiving State, the interests of the citizens, both individuals and bodies corporate, of the sending State regarding inheritance in accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving State.
8) To safeguard, within the laws and regulations of the receiving State, the interests of minors and mentally invalids who are citizens of the sending State, particularly in those cases that they may require guardianship and or trusteeship.
9) With due consideration for the policies and procedures of the receiving State, to represent or arrange for representation of the citizens of the sending State before court tribunals and or other organs of the receiving State in order to request the adoption of provisional measures, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving State, to protect the rights and interests of those citizens who, due to absence or other reasons, are unable to defend their rights and interests at an appropriate time.
10) To transmit judicial and extrajudicial documents or to execute, as the representative of the Judiciary Branch of the sending State, the orders issued by the afore-mentioned Branch in accordance with credible international agreements. In case of the lack of such agreements, to transmit the documents or execute the orders through other means and in conformity with the laws and regulations of the receiving State.
11) To exercise rights of supervision and inspection, as prescribed in the rules and regulations of the sending State, of ships and vessels, which are the property of the sending State, of aircraft, which have been registered in that State, and of their crews.
12) To provide assistance to the ships, vessels, and aircraft, as mentioned in Paragraph 11 of this Article, and to their crews. Also to take statements regarding the voyage of the noted ships and vessels, to verify and stamp the documents of their voyage without infringing upon the powers of the authorities of the receiving State, and make investigations about the incidents occurred during the voyage and resolve any disputes between the captain, the officers, and the sailors as far as the laws and regulations of the sending State permits.
13) To perform other duties entrusted to a Consular post by the sending State which are not prohibited by the laws and regulations of the receiving State and or not subjected to the objection of the receiving State, or to perform those responsibilities which are mentioned in the credible international agreements between the sending State and the receiving State.
The responsibilities and activities of the Consular section are included in the following five areas:
1. SOCIAL AFFAIRS:
- Foreign citizens, who have been either unable to contact or get any news from their relatives in Iran, may refer to and provide the Consular section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Armenia, Yerevan, with the specifications such as name, address, and the occupation of the relatives or the individual in question to inquire about their whereabouts. After receipt of the necessary information, the Embassy shall make an inquiry and pursue the request through the appropriate organs in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Necessary documents for employment of foreign citizens in the Islamic Republic of Iran:
a. The request of the applicant, in writing, stating his/her intention to seek employment in Iran including his/her particulars as registered in the identity card and his/her biographical and professional history (resume and curriculum vitae)
b. Valid documents certifying the level of academic education and the specialty.
c. Certificates confirming the applicant's professional services and the gained experiences.
d. To complete the employment form which will be made available to the applicant by the Consular Section.
Applicants shall present the above-mentioned documents to the Consular section of the Embassy following which the request shall be pursued by the appropriate organs in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In case of receipt of any response, the applicant (s) shall be kept informed by the Consular section.
2. OFFICE OF CITIZENSHIP AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS:
Definition of the term "citizenship":
Citizenship is a spiritual and political bond between an individual and a certain government.
To obtain the citizenship of the Islamic Republic of Iran according to Article 979 of the Civil Law:
1. Eighteen years of age
2. Resided in Iran for five years (consecutively or at intervals)
3. Should not be a deserter of the military service
4. Should not have been convicted for a major crime or for a non-political crime in any country.
3. OFFICE OF REGISTERATION OF IDENTIFICATION CARDS AND PERSONAL AFFAIRS:
Applicants who wish to register their marriage may complete the necessary documents and, by making an earlier appointment, hand them in to the Consular section of the nearest representative office of the Islamic Republic of Iran abroad.
Necessary documents for registration of the marriage of an Iranian man with an Iranian woman:
1. The request of the couple, in writing, regarding registration of their marriage
2. Valid identification cards of the couple
3. An official letter of permission of the father of the wife if it is her first marriage. If both the father and the paternal grandfather are dead, it would be sufficient to include the father's death certificate. Under such conditions, permission of the guardian, the mother, and the brother of the wife would not be required.
4. The certificate of the registration of their local marriage
5. The certificate of their religious marriage
6. The medical records of the couple certifying the negativity of contagious and fatal diseases
7. A document confirming the single marital status of the couple prior to their marriage
8. Three photographs of each of the husband and the wife
9. The fee to cover the expenses.
Necessary documents for registration of the marriage of an Iranian man with a foreign woman:
1. The certificate of the conversion of the wife to the divine religion of Islam if she is not Muslim.
2. The original and a copy of the certificate of their religious marriage.
3. The original and a copy of the certificate of registration of their local marriage.
4. The original and a copy of the identity card of the husband.
5. The originals and copies of the wife's birth certificate and the identity card.
6. The medical records of the couple.
7. Eight photographs of the wife and two of the husband.
8. The fee to cover the expenses.
It is necessary to note that in such marriages, according to Paragraph 6 of Article 976 of the Civil Law, after registration of the marriage with the appropriate organs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the wife automatically becomes an Iranian citizen.
Necessary documents for registration of the marriage of an Iranian woman with a foreign man:
On the strength of Article 1060 of the Civil Law, marriage of an Iranian woman with a foreign man requires a special permission of the government even if there is no legal impediment to such marriages.
1. The request of the couple, in writing, regarding the issuance of a marriage license and registration of their marriage. They are also required to provide their full return address.
2. A certificate from an official organ of the home country of the husband stating the lack of any legal impediment in his marriage to the Iranian woman and the recognition of the officiality of the marriage by that organ.
3. The certificate of the conversion of the husband to the divine religion of Islam if the wife is Muslim and the husband is non-Muslim.
4. The certificate of their religious marriage.
5. The original of the valid identity card of the wife.
6. The passport or the identity paper(s) of the husband.
7. An official letter of permission of the father of the wife if it is her first marriage. If the father is dead, the death certificate should be included.
8. The security clearance record of the husband. (at the wife's request, the husband is obliged to present this document).
9. The financial statement of the husband to indicate his financial ability (at the wife's request, the husband is obliged to present this document)
10. The husband's commitment to pay for the household expenses and for the airfare of his wife and children to Iran (at the wife's request, the husband is obliged to present a document to certify his commitments).
11. The medical records of the couple.
12. Twelve 6x4 photographs of each of the husband and the wife.
13. A document confirming the single marital status of the couple prior to their marriage.
14. The fee to cover the expenses.
Necessary document for registration of divorce:
1. The request of the couple, in writing, regarding registration of their divorce.
2. The original identity cards of the couple.
3. The original certificate of the religious formalities of the divorce.
4. The certificate of their local divorce.
5. The simultaneous presence of the couple or their lawyers at the Consular Section of the Embassy by making an appointment in advance.
6. Two Iranian witnesses to the case.
7. The fee to cover the expenses.
4. OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS:
To open a student file at the Embassy the following documents are required.
1. The registration proof of the student at a certain university specifying the beginning and the end of the curriculum, the degree and the specialty to be obtained, and the duration of the academic education.
2. Copies of the pages of the passport of the student and of the persons accompanying the student which contain particulars, certain notes, remarks, observations, and stamps.
3. Three photographs
4. Copies of the documents verifying the student's residence permit.
5. PASSPORT AND VISA OFFICE:
The conditions and the documents required for the change of the place of residence:
a. Resided at the location for three to six months consecutively.
b. Valid residence permit from the country of residence.
c. The written request of the individual stating the change of his/her place of residence.
d. One photograph
Issuing entry visa permits for foreign specialists on invitation of State organs:
If the State organs and the affiliated enterprises, companies, and institutions require the expertise of foreign specialists for negotiations, conclusion of agreements, and installation of machinery and its timely delivery, they may apply for entry visas for such individuals through the Passport and Visa Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. After verification of the application by the said office, the necessary permits shall be sent to the corresponding agencies.
Entry visa for foreign specialists requested by the private sector:
Private companies may apply for entry visas for foreign specialists by referring to the Passport and Visa Office to fill in the necessary application forms. The Passport Office will also require the commercial photo-card or the notice of registration of the company. After verification of the documents and within maximum ten days the necessary permit shall be sent to the company in question.
Issuing visa permit with the right of employment:
For those specialists who will be required to stay longer than six months in the country, the respective organ shall present the application for visa permit to the Employment Office for Foreign Citizens of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. After making the necessary verifications, the above-mentioned Ministry shall notify the Passport and Visa Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran of its views. Thereafter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall send the visa permit to the corresponding agency.
Issuing visas in lieu of invitation letters:
Foreign citizens -- both those who have given up their Iranian citizenship and those who have established family ties in Iran by marriage -- may travel to Iran to visit their immediate relatives. However, their Iranian relatives should personally refer to the Passport and Visa Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran to fill in the necessary application forms and hand in the required documents to apply for visa permits. After verification of the case, the Passport Office shall send the necessary permit within ten days to the relatives in question.
Those foreign citizens who have no immediate relatives in Iran but wish to travel to the county as tourists may obtain tourist visas through those travel agencies which have agreements with authorized domestic agencies.
For the attention of tourists traveling to the Islamic Republic of Iran:
All citizens of the Republic of Armenia, who travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran, while observing the moral, Islamic and the national values of the country, should take the following into consideration.
1. Ladies are required to fully observe the Islamic dress code upon entry and during their stay in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
2. It is forbidden to take musical instruments, alcoholic drinks, and addictive drugs of any kind into the country.
3. It is forbidden to import video and audio tapes and unethical pictures.
4. Visitors, whose behaviour may run counter the Islamic ethics, shall be treated in accordance with the regulations; while it may lead to their expulsion from the country, their future request for visa to Iran shall be rejected.
In accordance with the announcement of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the regulations pertaining taking in or out of the country of foreign currency and Iranian Rials by passengers are as follows:
A. Foreign Currency
1. There is no restriction to the amount of foreign currency -- except for the forbidden currencies* -- that both Iranian and foreign visitors may bring into the country. However, upon entry, all passengers will be required to declare the amount of the currency they take into the country. The Iranian banks located at the ports of entry will then register the foreign currency in a Foreign Exchange Declaration Form or in the passport of the passenger(s) and tourist(s).
2. Passengers are authorized to take up to US$1,000.00 (one thousand) cash or travelers' cheque out of the country. Foreign currencies up to the amount imported and declared may be exported in accordance with the conditions stated at the latter part of the above item.
3. Should the visitors or passengers sell their currencies to the banks at the ports of entry or in the country and are in possession of a receipt for the transaction, can purchase and export Iranian manufactured goods for the equivalent amount provided that the goods are not included in the index of the market regulation plan.
4. Should the visitors or passengers not declare their currency upon arrival at the ports of entry, the Customs officials will forbid the export of the currency. Should it lead to the discovery of the currency, the Customs officials shall take action according to the regulations.
5. Export documents of goods of tourists are unusable and invalid for the import of their goods.
B. Rials
All passengers, both Iranians and foreigners, are allowed to take up to 200,000 Rials banknotes (20,000 Tomans) into and out of the country.
* The forbidden currencies are the national currencies of Syria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
The visiting days and hours:
1) The Consular Section is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 11:30 a.m. to take and deliver documents from and to the applicants. Please note that the Consular section is closed on Fridays and the official holidays of the two countries and on weekends (Saturday and Sunday).
2) Applicants may arrange for an appointment to meet the Consul or the consular attache' on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 2:00 p.m. to
4:00 p.m.
3) The employees of the Consular Section could be reached by phone at 31931378,
31931391, 31934637 for your comments and suggestions.
