Persian Citizen Services

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Frequently Asked Questions

We have 5 main categories of FAQs below for your use:

  1. Iranian Passport FAQ
  2. Birth Certificate (Shenasnameh) FAQ
  3. Iranian Marriage Registration FAQ
  4. Iranian Divorce Registration FAQ
  5. Power of Attorney FAQ

Iranian Passport FAQ

Passport General Questions

What is the specification of a passport photo ?

The passport photo must have the following specifications:

  • 35mm to 45mm wide
  • 45mm to 50mm high.
  • Clear, focused image with no marks or 'red eye', visible shoulders
  • Face centred and looking straight at the camera; Non tilted face in any direction
  • Plain white background
  • Uniform lighting (no shadows and no reflections) with proper luminosity
  • No hats, no glasses, no jewellery
  • Women wearing Islamic Hijab
  • Less than six months old
  • Photos are endorsed in the Persian language by name & surname; date of birth & national ID Number

 Acceptable Photo Example:

I am not familiar with computer, and I am unable to register my passport application on the Mikhak portal; is it possible for me to travel to Canberra and fill out the necessary paperwork manually at Iranian Embassy, and then get my passport?
No. You are required to register your application on the Mikhak portal and obtain tracking code.
A friend advised me that I must visit the Iranian Embassy in Canberra in person to apply for a new passport. Is this true?
You can apply for an Iranian passport by mail if your documentations are complete.
I gathered all of the documents requested on the Embassy's website in order to apply for a new Iranian passport, and I registered my application at Mikhak website and obtained a tracking code. How long would it take to receive my new passport?

If you visit the Embassy in person, your Iranian passport will usually be issued the same day, within half an hour to an hour.

Depending on the numbers of the applications, the postal applications might take one to three working days if there are no technical issues.

I am 35 years old and my birth certificate does not have my photo. Can I apply for an Iranian passport with my existing birth certificate?
You can apply for both a passport and a change of birth certificate at the same time. When you complete the documentation for the change of birth certificate, your passport will be issued.
My birth certificate was issued before the Iranian revolution and I immigrated to Australia 45 years ago. I wish to travel to Iran now. Can I apply for an Iranian passport using an outdated birth certificate?
No. You must first change your birth certificate and then apply for an Iranian passport.
I do not have a national card number and I want to apply for my passport, can I get a passport?
You can apply for an Iranian passport without a national ID card, but you must know your national ID number in order to register on the Mikhak website.
My Iranian passport is expired and my current place of residence is listed as Australia. Do I need to pay $ 31 for a new passport to keep my place of residence as Australia?
No, you do not need to pay.
I don't have the original birth certificate and my national ID card, but I have a photocopy of both. Is it sufficient to send a photocopy of these two documents together with the original passport to the Embassy to be given a new passport in Australia?
No. If your documents are in Iran, ask your relatives to submit their originals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran or to the offices of in the selected provinces, and request that they send certified copies of the originals to the Iranian Embassy in Canberra.
My passport listed Australia as my place of residence, and I'm curious as to what benefit this provides me over individuals whose passports identify Iran as their place of residence?

Those who work and live in Australia must have Australia listed as their place of residence on their Iranian passport.

The difference is that if you specify Iran as your place of residence in your Iranian passport, you must go to the Passport Police to obtain permission to leave Iran after your arrival. However, those whose passports list Australia as their place of residence will have an exit permit automatically and will not need to seek one in Iran.

Can I apply for Iranian passport if my birth certificate (Shenasnameh), national ID card or Military service card is in Iran?

If your birth certificate (Shenasnameh), military service or military exemption card or national ID card is in Tehran - Iran, you need to ask your relative or a nominated person to present the original documents to the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran and ask the ministry to forward a copy of the documents to the Iranian Embassy in Australia.

The address of the Iranian Foreign Ministry is:

“Building no 3, Sardar é Bagh Melli, Hasan Abad St, Tehran”

Please make sure that your nominated person get the reference number from the authorities for sending over the documents and include it with your application.

Please be advised that your relative or nominated person may present your original documents to the offices of Iran’s Foreign Ministry in the following cities in Iran:

Ardabil - Uromieh - Isfahan - Ahvaz - Bojnourd - Bandar Anzali - Bandar Abbas - Bushehr - Birjand - Tabriz - Chabahar - Zahedan - Zanjan - Sari - Shiraz - Qazvin - Qeshm - Qom - Kerman - Kermanshah - Kish - Gorgan - Mashhad - Yazd

Can I apply for a passport if I do not have military service card?
If you are over 18 and the place of residence in your passport should be written " Islamic Republic of Iran" or you are over 50 years of age, you are not required to provide your military service card or your military exemption card.
What does an Australian valid proof of residency or visa evidence mean?

Australian proof of residency includes any documents which show that you live in Australia.

The documents are included but not limited to:

  • Australian Passport
  • Australian Citizenship Certificate
  • Visa Grant Letter for a temporary or permanent visa
  • Australian Travel Document

If you do not have the above documents or you have any other Australian documents, please contact us on 02 9002 5512.

I am an Iranian student studying in Australia on a student visa and I do not intend to apply for a student loan. Currently, my place of residence is mentioned in passport as Iran. I have not served in the compulsory military service and my passport has expired and I want to apply for a new passport, can I request to change my place of residence in my new passport from Iran to Australia?
If you have a study exemption, it is preferable to list Iran as your place of residence in your passport, as changing to Australia will not benefit you. You can apply to change it to Australia if you do not have an exemption.

Passport for Second Generation of Iranians

I am a 25-year-old man who has never done his military services. I want to travel to Iran when Covid 19 pandemic is over, and a friend advised me to get an exit permit. What is an exit permit, who issues them, and how long do they last? How long am I allowed to stay in Iran?

Exit permits are provided to those individuals who are eligible for doing military conscription and have lived outside of Iran for at least three years and currently reside in Australia.

The validity of exit permits has been extended till the 21/03/2022. Holders of this permission are allowed to visit Iran twice per solar year and remain for a total of three months in Iran.

I am a 16-year-old girl and my mother is Iranian and my father is non-Iranian and Australian. I currently live in Australia. Is it possible for me to obtain an Iranian passport?
According to the new law In Iran, if you obtain your Iranian citizenship and your birth certificate, you can also obtain an Iranian passport.
I am a 35-year-old Iranian-Australian male. My father is Iranian, while my mother is non-Iranian and Australian. My parents' marriage is officially recognised in Australia, but I have no official proof that I am Iranian. Is it possible for me to obtain an Iranian passport? What documents do I need?
You can apply for an Iranian birth certificate and later an Iranian passport if your father is still alive.
I am a 52-year-old man living in Australia and I have not served in the military service in Iran and I do not have a military service card, but I have an Iranian birth certificate. Can I have an Iranian passport without having a military service or military exemption card?

Yes you can. Even those who are eligible for compulsory military service can obtain a passport without having a military service or exemption card.

Moreover those are over 50 are not required to provide military service card when applying for an Iranian passport.

I am a 47-year-old lady with an Iranian father and a non-Iranian mother. I don't have any formal proof that I'm Iranian, and my father is no longer alive, but I do have my father's Iranian birth certificate ( Shenasnameh), which is available, but my father's Iranian marriage to my mother is not shown on the birth certificate ( Shenasnameh) and my name is not on my father' birth certificate ( Shensanameh) . Only my Australian birth certificate mentions my father's name. Is it possible for me to obtain an Iranian passport?
You have to prove the lineage through the judicial authorities in Iran, which of course is not an easy process. In case of receiving the proof of lineage, it will be possible to issue a birth certificate and then receive an Iranian passport.
I am a 28-year-old man born in Australia to an Iranian father and a German mother. I have no official evidence that I am Iranian and my father died in Australia two years ago. I am in contact with my cousins in Iran. My father had lost his Iranian identity card and I have no access to his documents. As far as I know, neither his marriage to my mother was registered in his birth certificate, nor was my name mentioned in his birth certificate. My Australian birth certificate mentions my father's name. Can I obtain Iranian citizenship and an Iranian passport with my Australian birth certificate?
You have to prove the lineage through the judicial authorities in Iran, which of course is not an easy process. In case of receiving the proof of lineage, it will be possible to issue a birth certificate and then receive a passport.
I was born to Iranian parents in Australia but I do not have an Iranian identity card. Can I travel to Iran with my Australian passport?
No. You must obtain an Iranian birth certificate and Iranian passport to travel to Iran.
I am under 18 and my father is not in Australia, how can I obtain his written consent needed for an exit permit to get a passport?

If you are under 18, you need to have written consent of your father/ paternal grandfather or your guardian to apply for an Iranian passport.

If your father is in Iran, you can ask him to go to the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran and give his written consent to make you eligible to apply for a new passport as this is required according to the Iranian laws.

The address of the Iranian Foreign Ministry is:

“Building no 3, Sardar é Bagh Melli, Hasan Abad St, Tehran”

Please make sure that your father obtains the registration number of his written consent from the authorities as you need to include it with your application.

Please be advised that your father can give his written consent to the offices of Iran’s Foreign Ministry in the following cities in Iran:

Ardabil - Uromieh - Isfahan - Ahvaz - Bojnourd - Bandar Anzali - Bandar Abbas - Bushehr - Birjand - Tabriz - Chabahar - Zahedan - Zanjan - Sari - Shiraz - Qazvin - Qeshm - Qom - Kerman - Kermanshah - Kish - Gorgan - Mashhad - Yazd

Alternatively, if your father is living in another country, he can visit the consular section of the Iranian Embassy at his place of residence to give his consent for your passport.

I am over 15 and my photo is not attached to my birth certificate (Shenasnameh), can I apply for a new Iranian passport?

If you are over 15, and your birth certificate (Shenasnameh) does not have your photo or you do not have your national ID card, you are required to get your photo stamped to your birth certificate, then apply for a passport.

Please click on this link to find more about how to attach your photo or change your birth certificate.

Passport for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

I am a 35-year-old man who has not served in the military service and left Iran and unlawfully crossed the border and came to Australia .Is it possible for me to obtain an Iranian passport? If so, in which country will my passport state that I live? Is it possible for me to travel to Iran and then return to Australia?
First, you must resolve the issue of your unauthorised travel, which you must do through the Mikhak system. Your request will be sent to Iran, and once Iran responds, a decision will be made to grant a passport and specify your place of residence. It is usually not a problem, and you will receive a passport indicating that your residency is in Australia.
My friend and I arrived in Australia by sea and now have three-year and five-year temporary visas from Australia, but we have lost our Iranian passports. Is it possible for us to apply for an Iranian passport for administrative reasons? What country will be indicated in our passports as our place of residence?
If you have legal residency in Australia, you can apply for an Iranian passport. Your passport will indicate Australia as your place of residence.
I came to Australia by sea and my visa application was rejected and I lost my passport years ago. I do not have a visa at the moment and I am living in Australia in a state of uncertainty. I need an Iranian passport for administrative reasons. Can I apply for an Iranian passport?
No. You must have legal residency status in Australia. To return to Iran, you can request a permit from the Iranian Embassy in Canberra.
I came to Australia by sea and lost my passport. The Australian Department of Immigration has refused my visa application and I am now waiting for my case to be heard in an Australian Federal court and I have a bridging visa. I do not intend to return to Iran in the near future, but due to some administrative matters I need a valid identity document. Can I apply for an Iranian passport with my current residency status and having a bridging visa?
It should be checked based on your previous circumstances and how you have entered Australia. If you are in the process of applying for a refugee visa, it will not be issued.

Passport for Iranian women

I am an Iranian woman whose passport has expired. Although I am officially married, my husband has abandoned me for many years and I am not in contact with him anymore. He is not willing to go through the formal divorce process and he is harassing me. What can I do to get my husband’s written consent to obtain my passport?
If your husband resides in Australia and you can provide valid proof of his residency status in Australia, you do not need to provide your spouse's written consent to obtain an Iranian passport.
My husband currently lives in Iran and I live in Australia. What should I do to get my husband's written consent to get a passport?

If your husband is in Iran, you can ask him to go to the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran and give his written consent to make you eligible to apply for a new passport and/or change your place of residence to Australia as this is required according to the Iranian laws.

The address of the Iranian Foreign Ministry is:

“Building no 3, Sardar é Bagh Melli, Hasan Abad St, Tehran”

Please make sure that your husband obtains the registration number of his written consent from the authorities as you need to include it with your passport application.

Please be advised that your husband can give his written consent to the offices of Iran’s Foreign Ministry in the following cities in Iran:

Ardabil - Uromieh - Isfahan - Ahvaz - Bojnourd - Bandar Anzali - Bandar Abbas - Bushehr - Birjand - Tabriz - Chabahar - Zahedan - Zanjan - Sari - Shiraz - Qazvin - Qeshm - Qom - Kerman - Kermanshah - Kish - Gorgan - Mashhad - Yazd

Alternatively, if your husband is living in another country, he can visit the consular section of the Iranian Embassy at his place of residence to give his consent for your passport.

I am an Iranian woman whose husband died of natural causes in Australia last year and I have an Australian death certificate. I want to apply for my expired passport, but I do not know what to do to get the written consent of my husband, which is one of the required documents, please help.

Register your spouse's death at the Iranian Embassy in Canberra, in which case the spouse's written consent is not required.

I am an Iranian woman married to a non-Iranian man, and our birth certificate makes no mention of this. Is my husband’s written consent required to apply for an Iranian passport?
No. You do not need to provide a written consent from your husband.
What does exit permit for married women & children under 18 mean ?

According to Iranian laws, the husband should give written consent to his wife for leaving the country when applying for a passport.

Also, children under 18 need to have written consent from their father to obtain a new passport.

We can arrange the exit permit only if the father or husband attending at our office and signing the relevant forms.

Birth Certificate (Shenasnameh) FAQ

My passport has expired, can I provide another document to apply for a new birth certificate?

If you do not have a valid Iranian passport, one of the official documents with photo, such as an Australian passport, residence card, driver's licence or student card must be presented.

In case of a change of name and surname in the abovesaid official documents, a copy of the Change of Name Certificate should be submitted.

It is recommended that you apply for a new passport at the same time as your birth certificate.

In order to apply for a duplicate birth certificate, I was asked to send a copy of two valid Iranian documents with my photo on it , what documents are accepted?

You can provide any of the two following documents:

  • Iranian passport
  • Driver's licence
  • Military service card or military exemption card
  • Educational certificate
  • Identity cards
  • National ID card
  • Birth certificate of father, mother, spouse or children
Which signed documents from my parents are accepted to issue my birth certificate?

A JP certified copies of the Australian or Iranian passport from your parents are acceptable documents.

Both signatures on the birth certificate application form and your JP certified documents should be the same.

My parents changed their name on my Australian birth certificate, what proof do I have to provide to get a birth certificate?
Please include Change of Name Certificate if your parents have changed their name on your Australian birth certificate.
Do I need to get approval from from Iran's National Organisation for Civil Registration for my child's name?

According to Article 20 of the Iranian Civil Registration Law ratified in 1976, the right to choose a name for the children is given to the declarant (parents). Nonetheless, certain names are considered inappropriate because the name is inconsistent with the baby's sex or has been deemed illegal in Iranian law.

Iran’s National Organisation for Civil Registration prepared a list of both allowed and unauthorised names. Parents can check this link to find out whether their preferred child's name is allowed for registration purposes or not.

If the chosen name is deemed to be unauthorised for the child and the child has already been issued an Australian birth certificate, the parents may choose an alternative and authorised name and write on the back of the Australian birth certificate “ I wish to apply for a birth certificate for my child under the name ….. “and sign this statement.

Also, parents have the option to request from Iran’s National Organisation for Civil Registration to approve the preferred name and obtain a permit, then parents can use their desired name for the child. Parents can lodge their request through this link.

Note: Religious minorities (official religions in Iran’s constitution) can choose any name for their children in accordance with their culture and religion.

My child was born outside Australia, is the original birth certificate accepted?
If the child was born outside Australia, the original birth certificate must be approved by the representative office of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the country of birth.
What does an Australian valid proof of residency or visa evidence mean?

Australian proof of residency includes any documents which shows that you live in Australia.

The documents are included but not limited to:

  • Australian Passport
  • Australian Citizenship Certificate
  • Visa Grant Letter for a temporary or permanent visa
  • Australian Travel Document

If do not have the above documents or you have any other Australian documents, please contact us o n02 9002 5512

Iranian Marriage Registration FAQ

Can I register my marriage with my duplicate birth certificate?
If your birth certificate (Shenasnameh) is a duplicate, you must first obtain a single status certificate from Iran
My father is not in Australia, how can I obtain my father's permission to register my marriage?
If the bride's father is not in Australia, he should apply to the Iranian embassy at his place of residence to prepare the permit document, and if the bride's father resides in Iran, he should apply to the official registries to prepare the permit document.
My marriage certificate has not been issued in Australia, is this document acceptable for registering a marriage?
If the marriage has taken place in a country other than Australia, the marriage certificate must first be authenticated and certified by the government of the country where the marriage took place and by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
What does an Australian valid proof of residency or visa evidence mean?

Australian proof of residency includes any documents which shows that you live in Australia.

The documents are included but not limited to:

  • Australian Passport
  • Australian Citizenship Certificate
  • Visa Grant Letter for a temporary or permanent visa
  • Australian Travel Document

If do not have the above documents or you have any other Australian documents, please contact us on 02 90025512

Iranian Divorce Registration FAQ

What does an Australian valid proof of residency or visa evidence mean?

Australian proof of residency includes any documents which shows that you live in Australia.

The documents are included but not limited to:

  • Australian Passport
  • Australian Citizenship Certificate
  • Visa Grant Letter for a temporary or permanent visa
  • Australian Travel Document

If do not have the above documents or you have any other Australian documents, please contact us on 02 9002 5512

How long after the divorce decree has been issued, can I register my divorce?
The registration of a reciprocal Islamic divorce is subject to the expiration of three months and ten days from the date of issuance of the Islamic Divorce Decree and the establishment of a non-recourse order.
I have an Australian divorce certificate, do I need to get an Iranian divorce?
If your marriage is registered in Iran, your divorce must also be registered in Iran, and a divorce under Australian law alone may not be acceptable.

Power of Attorney FAQ

Do I have to travel to Canberra to sign a power of attorney?

In accordance with the law and in view of the importance of the granting of the power of attorney, the confirmation of the applicant 's signature under the documents should be carried out under the supervision of the responsible officer and the applicant is required to sign the documents at the embassy.

According to the information on the website of the Iranian Embassy in Australia, certain power of attorney can be exercised in absentia, but it is clearly mentioned that in any case the embassy shall investigate and decide that the applicant must travel to Canberra and sign the document in person.

Does your office provide legal advice on the content of the powers of attorney?

In Mikhak website, there are a number of predefined power of attorneys samples that can be modified and edited. .

In case of a change of name and surname in the abovesaid official documents, a copy of the Change of Name Certificate should be submitted.

Keep in mind that the responsible officer at the Iranian embassy in Australia is solely responsible for confirming the signature of the applicant and it is recommended that you discuss your case with one of the notaries or your lawyer in Iran and make the necessary points in the while granting attorney power.

I want to give a friend the power of attorney to sell my house in Iran. What information should I have with me?
In order to sell a property, its details, such as address, land registration number, etc., must be mentioned in the the power of attorney.
I want to give a friend the power of attorney to sell my car in Iran. What information should I have with me?
In order to sell a car, its details, such as plate number, chassis number, etc are required to be mentioned in the the power of attorney.
I want to give a friend the power of attorney to sell my phone line in Iran. What information should I have with me?
In order to sell a phone line , its details such as phone number is required to be mentioned in the power of attorney.
I want to give a friend the power of attorney to sort out my banking affairs in Iran. What information should I have with me?
To sort out banking matters, include the branch name, branch name, and account number, etc. in the attorney's power script.
I want to give a friend the power of attorney to sort out inheritance affairs in Iran. What information should I have with me?
The name of the deceased and its relationship with the applicant must be mentioned in the power of attorney of inheritance.
What does an Australian valid proof of residency or visa evidence mean?

Australian proof of residency includes any documents which shows that you live in Australia.

The documents are included but not limited to:

  • Australian Passport
  • Australian Citizenship Certificate
  • Visa Grant Letter for a temporary or permanent visa
  • Australian Travel Document

If do not have the above documents or you have any other Australian documents, please contact us on 02 9002 5512.

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Disclaimer: Persian Citizen Services is an independent legal entity and there is no legal or administrative connection with any Iranian government organisations. Iranian Embassy in Canberra is the authority to accept the applications and issue the requested documents.

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