There was a time not long ago when ordinary
everyday items from the west would get you into trouble at customs in Iran:
books, DVDs CDs, newspapers and magazines (not only The Economist, Time and
Green Left Weekly, but fashion mag’s with pictures of women in western
clothing)! Thankfully, not so much anymore….
Not Allowed IN
Leave the stash
of Playboy magazines at the back of the wardrobe at home, and if the cover on
the men’s magazine has the latest Hollywood “it” girl in a skimpy bikini… leave
it on the plane. Newspapers, news magazines, books - they're all fine.
I’d also leave behind any products with Hebrew
writing on them. Iranians and Israelis don’t get along too well. Those pesky
Israeli passport stamps are a problem, too.
Bringing in alcohol will get your
visit off to a bad start – a very bad start.
But surprisingly getting alcohol in Iran is
not that hard. There’s a thriving black market, or some friendly but not
religiously strict Iranians may offer you a drink in their home, and then
there’re the legendary parties that carry on behind closed doors.
But remember, if you make a fool of
yourself while drunk, the alcohol will become an issue.
Behind
Closed Doors is a big thing in Iran. The official
government rules are strict and censorious, but the Iranian people really
couldn’t care less about what you get up to in the privacy of your room…. They
might even come and party with you.
Not Allowed OUT:
You… if you’re Iranian, and here’s the
trap, you might not know you are!
If your husband is Iranian, even though
you’re not – you’re Iranian.
If your father is Iranian, even though you were
born in another country – you’re Iranian.
If your mother is Iranian – you’re Iranian.
Iran does not recognize dual nationality, and
their definition of nationality is stacked in their favour. A whiff of
Iranian-ness and they’ll claim you.
So there you are feeling very British or
Canadian or Calathumpian with your British/Canadian/Calathumpian passport that
is now worthless. You are Iranian, and suddenly subject to a whole stack of
laws and regulations you know nothing about. For example, you will not be
allowed to share a hotel room with your Iranian husband.
Terribly distressing, but there’s a way
around this and it has advantages. Get an Iranian passport. You’ll be able to
enter the country as often as you like without the hassle of getting a visa.
You’ll be able to sleep in a hotel room with your husband, because you’re Iranian!
A Dutch woman married to an Iranian
explained it online this way:
“With
a marriage certificate and a health certificate you will be able to apply for
the Iranian birth certificate/identity pass, the shenasnameh, and
with this document you will be able to apply for Iranian citizenship (so you
will have dual citizenship). You will get an Iranian passport, which allows you
to travel as much as you like. Having
the Iranian passport, you will be recognized as the wife of your husband and
will be able to travel freely with him.”
Other countries recognize your dual
nationality, so you can leave your home country on your western passport, use
your Iranian passport to enter and leave Iran, whipping out the western
passport when you’re back at immigration at home.
Just one complication… if you are an
Iranian mother and want to leave Iran with your children, you’ll need an
official notice stating that you have custody of the children (under Iranian
law, they belong to your husband).
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