Money, phones and rules in Tehran: what the UK and Canada say

For most trips, cash, cards and mobile data are background details. For Tehran they are central, because the UK and Canada both describe a cash-only economy, an internet that has been cut without warning and a set of device and photography rules that can lead to arrest. This page gathers what the two governments say, so readers can see the practical picture in one place. It is a reference, not encouragement to travel: the UK and Canada advise against all travel to Iran, and the decision guide should be read first.

The information comes from the UK's Iran safety, health and getting-help pages, updated on 13 August 2026, and Canada's Iran page, updated on 23 July 2026, both read on 4 October 2026. No rates or prices appear here, because none could be confirmed on an official page.

The two governments describe the same system in similar words. The UK says getting cash in Iran is extremely difficult, that non-Iranian debit and cash cards will not work and that travelers checks usually cannot be changed. It says you can exchange selected foreign currencies in some exchange offices, though you may have problems, and that euros and US dollars are more commonly accepted than British pounds. Canada says the currency is the Iranian rial, that the economy is exclusively cash-based, that credit cards are not accepted and that ATMs exist only for local banking, for the use of Iranians. It adds that international sanctions make it impossible to transfer funds to Iran through the commercial banking system or a money transfer company.

Both governments point to the same conclusion: you would need to bring all the money you need. Canada advises bringing sufficient cash, preferably in US dollars or euros, and says US banknotes must be in crisp condition. The UK says to find out before traveling how you will get enough Iranian rials for your visit legally and that if you cannot, you may need to reconsider your travel plans. It also says it is illegal to change money on the street. The guide to paying in local currency covers card conversion for other trips, but it does not apply where cards do not work.

Cash creates its own risks. The UK says to avoid carrying large amounts of money and to keep your passport safe, and Canada says to avoid showing signs of affluence and to keep passports and documents secure. Note that the figure you would need depends on the length of stay, and that neither government quotes one. A traveler with a sanctions-related bank concern should also read their own government's guidance on sending or carrying funds.

The UK says Iranian authorities have blocked, significantly slowed or shut down landline, internet and mobile services without warning in the past, nationwide or locally, and that this can affect communication and location services on smartphones. It says there is ongoing disruption to communications across Iran, with limitations on internet access. It advises not relying on mobile data, non-Iranian mobile apps or international calls for personal safety, always keeping an alternative means of communication and navigation and making sure friends and family know where you are. Canada says there are connectivity problems in Iran and that it may be difficult to register or contact it from inside the country.

Content is limited as well as access. The UK says many Western streaming services, including Netflix and Prime, are banned. Canada says communications are closely scrutinized by local authorities and that you may face severe consequences if you discuss, share or publish information on the political situation or criticize the regime, including on social media. The UK says that activities such as social media related to politics, journalism or Iran, including creating, liking or sharing content, can put British nationals at greater risk. The practical reading is that a phone is not a private space in Iran, and that a social media history may be examined.

An eSIM bought for another country may not work as expected, and no source consulted for this page confirms how roaming or eSIMs behave in Iran, so this guide does not recommend one. A plan that depends on mobile data being available fails by the UK's own description.

The UK says some activities put people at greater risk, and several of them leave a digital trail. They include involvement with civil society organizations such as charities, labor unions, human rights, environmental or political groups, journalism including blogging, social media related to politics, journalism or Iran, work at economic or academic institutions and think tanks, especially UK-affiliated ones, and links to protest movements. It also lists any current or historical links to the State of Israel or to the US government. Canada gives a similar warning about communications. Before any trip, a traveler in one of these groups should assume that messages, photographs and posts could be read by officers at the border, and should read both pages closely.

The UK says photography near military and other government installations is strictly prohibited, that sensitive government buildings are often difficult to identify and that you can be detained and charged under national security laws. It says the Iranian authorities have arrested foreign nationals for possessing photographic equipment near sensitive sites, and that using a laptop or other electronic equipment in public places can be misinterpreted, especially if the device holds photographs. It says that you may be arrested on serious criminal charges, including espionage, and that it is better to ask before photographing people.

Canada lists what is prohibited to photograph, including with drones: government buildings, security forces, military and police installations and vehicles, and public buildings such as airports, ports, bridges, embassies and power plants. It says such sites are not always well identified and that, in doubt, you should seek permission or refrain. It adds that customs officials may screen electronic devices. The UK says you need permission from the Iranian authorities to import or use equipment like drones or satellite phones, and that using them without permission is illegal and could lead to arrest.

Canada says power outages occur frequently, especially in winter, and can last several hours, affecting public lighting and traffic lights, telecommunications and security systems, stores and food supply, hotels and banks and ATMs. It advises being prepared for prolonged outages, with an emergency kit including several flashlights, a charged phone, power banks and a list of emergency numbers. It also says that drought regularly contributes to severe water shortages in Tehran and several provinces, that local authorities may ration water supplies and that visitors should keep bottled water and purification tablets on hand. The UK says that medical facilities are reasonable in major cities but that there have been shortages of some basic medicines.

The emergency numbers the UK lists are 110 for police, 115 for an ambulance and 125 for the fire service. Because networks can fail, write them down. The UK also says you must carry copies of your passport photo page and visa for identification.

The UK says pre-booked taxis are safer than taxis hailed from the street and that motorcycle taxis should not be used, because they have sometimes taken tourists to quiet locations and robbed them. Canada says most taxis do not have meters and drivers often overcharge foreigners, and advises hiring only official taxis from agencies or hotel-based companies, taking pre-booked taxis, negotiating fares in advance or insisting on the meter, never entering a cab that already has passengers and noting the plate number and driver's name and sending them to family or friends. The UK warns of thieves posing as policemen, and says that if someone claims to be a policeman you should ask to see ID and request a uniformed officer or marked patrol car, and not hand over documents or cash or get into a vehicle.

On the road, the UK says Iran has a high rate of road accidents, that informal roadblocks are sometimes set up in cities and on main highways and that you must carry ID. Canada says motorists are reckless, trucks often run at night without headlights, streets are poorly lit and you should avoid traveling at night. A British driver needs the 1968 international driving permit; see the international driving permit guide.

The first mistake is assuming a card or an ATM will work. The second is relying on mobile data for safety or navigation. The third is photographing something that looks like a tourist view but is a government or military site. The fourth is carrying devices that contain material the authorities might misread. The fifth is trusting a street money changer, which the UK says is illegal.

The biggest mistake of all is letting preparation stand in for the advice itself. Check the Iran travel advice again, compare travel insurance terms and consider whether you could manage if communications and flights were cut for days. For entry rules see Tehran visa and entry. Preparation of this kind is not a reason to go.