Iran: Information on passport procedures for women; including the issuance of passports and exit permits for unaccompanied Iranian women and children, specifically the requirements for consent by the husband/father or other male relative (2003-2005)

Specific information about the issuance of passports and exit permits for unaccompanied Iranian women and children was limited among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Iranian women must obtain permission from their husbands in order to acquire a passport (IPS 8 Mar. 2004; WFAFI 2005; Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 2d; CATW 1999). Two human rights sources noted that the husband's permission to obtain a passport is a legal requirement stipulated under Article 18 of the country's passport law (ibid.; WFAFI 2005). Moreover, according to Country Reports 2004, permission for a woman to obtain a passport could also be provided by "their father, or another male relative," however, "[m]arried women must receive written permission from their husbands before being allowed to leave the country" (28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 2.d.).

According to the Website of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London, United Kingdom (UK), a woman resident of Iran would need to obtain an "agreement form from the consulate, which has to be signed by [her] husband in order to get [an] exit permission from Iran" (Iran n.d.). The embassy of Iran Website also states that those wishing to add the names of children to their passport must obtain an agreement form "from the consulate for exit permission" and a travel permit from the UK Home Office (ibid.). In addition, if names of the passport applicant's wife or children "were added to the passport, the exit permission should be corrected" to read as such (ibid.).

Moreover, the United States (US) Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs noted that "[m]inor children (under the age of 18) of Iranian citizens must have the father's permission to depart Iran, even if the mother has been granted full custody by an Iranian court" (US 25 Aug. 2005).

General passport procedures and information

The Website of the embassy of Iran in London, UK also provides general information about passport procedures, including passport renewal, issuing a new passport, reissuing a passport, exit permission, and change of residency status (Iran n.d.). While there are some differences among various passport procedures, generally, those wishing to obtain a passport must submit the following to the consulate section of the embassy of Iran in the UK:

– Original passport with valid visa;

– Completion of the General Form (A1);

– Between one and four photos "with identification on the back without hat and glasses for men, and with [veil] (Hejab) for ladies. In the case of having companions the photo of those who are more than 2 years old should be enclosed";

– Clear photocopies of pages 2 to 9 of passport and "the last page showing exit stamp from Iran" ;

– Payment of £40.00 ($CAN 83.00 [Bank of Canada 7 Nov. 2005a]) by credit card, bank draft, or postal order (ibid.).

For passport re-issuance, the Website of the Embassy of Iran notes that, in addition to the general procedure described above, applicants should also bring their original birth certificates and those of their companions as well (ibid.). Passport re-issuance requires a payment of £56.00 ($CAN 116.19 [Bank of Canada 7 Nov. 2005b]) (Iran n.d.).

Generally, new passports take "at least 4 weeks" to process and they are valid for five years (ibid.). As well, an Iranian resident applying for "exit permission" in Iran must present his or her original birth certificate (ibid.).

The US Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs partially corroborated the preceding information, mentioning that

[a]ll Iranian nationals, including American-Iranian nationals, should have an exit permit stamped in their passports. The stamp is affixed to page 11 or 13 of the Iranian passport when it is issued and remains valid until the expiration date of the passport (25 Aug. 2005).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Bank of Canada. 7 November 2005a. Daily Currency Converter. [Accessed 7 Nov. 2005]
_____. 7 November 2005b. Daily Currency Converter. [Accessed 7 Nov. 2005]

Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW). 1999. "Iran." Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation. [Accessed 7 Nov. 2005]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004. 28 February 2005. United States Department of State. [Accessed 14 Nov. 2005]

Iran. N.d. Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, London, United Kingdom. "Passport." [Accessed 3 Nov. 2005]

Iran Press Service (IPS). 8 March 2004. Safa Haeri. "Authorities Refused Iranian Women Demonstrations." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2005]

United States (US). 25 August 2005. Consular Information Sheet. "Iran." Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. [Accessed 7 Nov. 2005]

Women's Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran (WFAFI). 2005. "Official Laws Against Women in Iran." [Accessed 1 Nov. 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted

Attempts to obtain information from the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ottawa were unsuccessful.

Internet sites, including: Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ottawa, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Factiva, Foreign Affairs Canada, United Kingdom Immigration and Nationality Directorate, World News Connection (WNC).