Iran’s Parliament Approves Fines of Up to €10,000 and Deportation for Foreign Nationals Residing Illegally in the Country

According to the Iranian parliamentary news agency Khaneh Mellat, lawmakers agreed on Sunday, the third of Aqrab/Aban, to amend Article 23 of a bill aimed at countering the infiltration of intelligence services, foreign governments, and foreign entities into Iran.

Under the amended Article 23, the illegal entry or residence of foreign nationals within the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, where it is not attributable to a valid excuse or delays in administrative procedures for renewing residence permits, shall be punishable by deportation and a monetary fine of up to €10,000, in addition to the recording of biometric data. The amount of the fine will be determined by the competent judicial authority, taking the individual’s financial means into account.

The article further stipulates that foreign nationals who have entered Iran legally may also face deportation and a monetary fine if they engage in activities against national security, violate public order, or undertake activities that substantially conflict with the restrictions specified in their residence permits or visas.

A note attached to the article states that if a foreign national commits another ta’zir offence within Iranian territory, the applicable punishment will be increased by one degree. Ta’zir refers to a category of discretionary punishment under Iranian law.

During the same parliamentary session, lawmakers also approved an additional note to Article 22. Under this provision, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are required to compile and publicly release a list of media outlets covered by the article within a maximum of three months after the law is formally promulgated. Any subsequent changes to the list must also be made public.

Note: According to the text of the approved provision cited in the report, fines of up to €10,000 and deportation are envisaged for specified cases. However, illegal entry or residence resulting from a valid excuse or delays in administrative procedures for renewing residence permits is excluded from the scope of this provision.