Updated November 2026 This guide now reflects the January 2025 decision to lift restrictions on registering imported phones, and the current 30-day grace period for travellers.
Iran’s mobile phone registry scheme means that every handset used on an Iranian network must be registered against its IMEI number. If a phone is not registered, it will stop connecting to mobile networks once any grace period ends, even though Wi-Fi keeps working. For visitors and new arrivals, the key things to know are how long you can use a phone before registering, what registration involves and what it costs.
What the registry is and why it exists
The scheme was introduced in 2017 to tackle phone smuggling, which had been costing the state customs revenue. Every phone sold legally in Iran is registered by the importer before it reaches the shop, and every phone brought in from abroad has to be declared and, if it is to be used long term, have customs duty paid on it. The registry is run by HAMTA, an agency under the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade.
Phones that were already in use on Iranian networks before the scheme began were automatically exempted, so the rules mainly affect new handsets and phones brought in from abroad.
The 30-day grace period for travellers
If you are visiting Iran, you can put an Iranian SIM card into your own phone and use it normally for 30 days from the first time it connects. After that, calls, texts and mobile data are cut off until the phone is registered. The clock does not reset if you leave Iran and come back, so a second trip with the same phone may mean registering it straight away.
If you keep your home SIM and use roaming, the registry does not apply, but roaming charges in Iran can be steep and some foreign operators do not offer data roaming there at all.
Registering a phone for a longer stay
If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you will need to register the phone. In practice, this means declaring it through the customs system for travellers’ phones, paying customs duty based on the phone’s model and value, and then paying a smaller registration fee to HAMTA, which sends an activation code by text message. You will need:
- The phone’s IMEI number (dial *#06# to see it; dual-SIM phones have two).
- An Iranian SIM card registered in your name with your passport.
- Your passport details and, for visitors, your visa information.
- An Iranian bank card or a tourist debit card to pay the fees, since foreign cards cannot be used in Iran.
The online systems are mostly in Persian, so it helps to have a Persian-speaking friend, your hotel or a SIM card shop guide you through the process. Each traveller can usually register only a limited number of phones a year, typically one. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide on how travellers register a phone in Iran, and our explainer on the Hamta app.
iPhones and other high-end models
For a time, the newest iPhone models could not be registered in Iran at all. In January 2025 the government lifted restrictions on registering imported phones, allowing all smartphones in the country to be registered on payment of customs duty, according to IntelliNews. Duty on expensive phones remains high, so registering a new flagship handset can cost a significant sum. Check the latest position before you travel with a recent model.
Buying a second-hand phone
The registry applies to used phones too. Before you hand over any money, check that the phone is properly registered, and make sure the seller transfers ownership to you through HAMTA once the sale is agreed. A phone bought from an unofficial source may be unregistered or smuggled and could be blocked from the network.
Tips
- Buying a phone in Iran from an official retailer avoids the registration issue entirely, as the importer will already have registered it. Compare current prices on our Iran mobile phone prices page, and see our advice on where to buy a mobile phone in Tehran.
- Keep the phone’s box or note its IMEI before you travel, in case you need it for registration.
- If your phone suddenly loses signal around a month after you arrived, the grace period has probably ended.
