Moving to Tehran - Living in Tehran (LiT) Forum

Jobs in Tehran: how did you find work?

LiT Team — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:25:05 +0000

Finding work in Tehran as a foreigner or returnee often comes down to contacts, but there are other routes too. How did you find your job: a transfer from an employer abroad, an embassy or international organisation, teaching, or a local company?

Share what worked, what did not and anything you wish you had known about contracts and pay. Please don't name individuals or post anything confidential about an employer.

Schools for expat and returning families

LiT Team — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:25:05 +0000

Choosing a school is one of the biggest decisions for families moving to Tehran. Tell us what you chose, whether an international school, a bilingual school or the Iranian system, and how it has worked out for your children.

Fees, the language of teaching, the commute and how easily children settled in are all useful to hear about. Please don't post children's names or photos.

Air pollution days: how do you cope?

LiT Team — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:25:05 +0000

In autumn and winter Tehran has days when the air quality is poor enough for schools and offices to close. How do you deal with it: air purifiers, masks, staying indoors, or getting out of the city for the weekend?

Recommendations for purifiers and filters that are easy to find locally are especially welcome.

Your first week in Tehran: what to sort out first

LiT Team — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:25:04 +0000

The first few days set the tone for everything else, so here is a starting list. Add your own tips below.

A local SIM card. Hamrah-e Aval (MCI) and Irancell are the main networks, and tourist SIMs are sold at Imam Khomeini Airport. You will need your passport.
Cash. Foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard cards do not work in Iran, so arrive with enough euros or dollars and change them at a licensed exchange office.
Apps. Snapp or Tapsi for taxis, and Neshan or Balad for maps, both of which work better locally than international alternatives.
Internet access. Many international sites and apps are blocked, so set up what you need before you arrive.

What would you add, and what did you get wrong in your first week?

Moving to Tehran in the next year? Say hello here

LiT Team — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:18:48 +0000

If you are planning a move in the coming months, this is the place to compare notes with others doing the same. Share roughly when you are going, whether you are moving alone or with family, and what is worrying you most.

People who have already made the move: your experience is gold here, so please jump in.

What do you wish you had known before you moved?

LiT Team — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 17:18:48 +0000

Every move teaches you something the hard way. It might be paperwork you should have sorted at home first, something you should have packed (or left behind), or how long things really take once you arrive.

Share the lesson you wish someone had told you, and please mention roughly when you moved, as things change.