Quick Answer
Children born outside Iran to at least one Iranian parent must be registered with Iranian civil registry authorities. From the United States, registration is done through the Iranian Interests Section at 2209 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007. The registration must be completed within one year of the child's birth. Required documents include the U.S. birth certificate, parents' Iranian passports, Kart Melli, and Shenasnameh. Late registration is possible but involves additional steps.
Why Iranian Birth Registration Matters for Children Born in the U.S.
Under Iranian law, a child born to at least one Iranian parent — regardless of where the birth occurs — is an Iranian citizen. To formally record that citizenship and assign the child a Code Melli (national ID number) and Shenasnameh entry, the birth must be registered with Iran's Civil Registry Organization. Without this registration, the child cannot obtain an Iranian passport, cannot access Iranian government services, cannot inherit Iranian property, and does not have a legally recognized Iranian identity. Even if the child is also a U.S. citizen by birth, their Iranian citizenship must be separately registered to be exercised.
The One-Year Deadline
Iranian law requires that births of children of Iranian citizens born outside Iran be registered within one year of the birth date. Registration within this window is straightforward. Registration after one year (late registration) is still possible but requires additional documentation, approval from higher authorities in Iran's Civil Registry Organization, and typically takes longer. The sooner you register after birth, the simpler the process.
Required Documents for Birth Registration
To register a child's birth at the Iranian Interests Section, gather the following documents:
- Original U.S. birth certificate, certified by the state vital records office (not a hospital-issued certificate) — apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state where the birth occurred
- Official Persian translation of the U.S. birth certificate by a certified translator
- Iranian passport of the Iranian parent(s) — original and photocopy of the biographical page
- Kart Melli of the Iranian parent(s) — original and photocopy of both sides
- Shenasnameh of the Iranian parent(s) — original and photocopies of relevant pages
- Parents' Iranian marriage certificate if parents are married (or documentation of civil status if applicable)
- Two passport-size photos of the child (same Iranian consular specifications: 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm or 2×2 inches, white/off-white background, neutral expression, printed on photo paper — infant photos must show the child's face clearly)
- Completed birth registration application form with the registering parent's Mikhak reference number
- Money order for consular fees payable to the Iranian Interests Section
Step-by-Step Birth Registration Process
- Obtain the certified U.S. birth certificate from your state's vital records office.
- Have the birth certificate apostilled by the Secretary of State of the state where the birth occurred.
- Obtain a certified Persian translation of the apostilled birth certificate from a certified translator.
- Register on the Mikhak system at mikhak.msrt.ir if not already registered (the parent submitting the application must have an active Mikhak account).
- Complete the Iranian birth registration application form.
- Compile all required documents including photos, parent identity documents, and money order.
- Submit the complete package to the Iranian Interests Section at 2209 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 via trackable mail.
- The Interests Section forwards the registration to Iran's Civil Registry Organization.
- Upon approval, the child receives a Code Melli and their birth is recorded in the Iranian civil registry. A Shenasnameh entry is created for the child.
- After birth registration, the child can apply for their own Iranian passport and Kart Melli.
What Happens After Registration Is Complete
Once the Iranian Civil Registry Organization processes the registration, the child's birth is recorded and they are assigned a Code Melli. A notification or confirmation is sent back through the Interests Section. With the Code Melli, the child can then apply for a Kart Melli and an Iranian passport — both are separate applications submitted after the birth registration is confirmed. The child will also be added to or issued their own Shenasnameh.
Late Registration: If More Than One Year Has Passed
If the child's birth was not registered within the first year, late registration is still possible. The late registration process requires:
- All standard birth registration documents (see above)
- A written explanation of why the registration was not completed within the one-year window
- Additional documentation that may be requested by Iran's Civil Registry Organization
- Approval from the Civil Registry Organization's supervisory level — this can add significant time
- In some cases, a court order from an Iranian family court may be required to complete a very late registration
Special Circumstances: Unmarried Parents or Fathers Who Are Not Iranian
Iranian citizenship rules apply differently based on parentage. If the child's mother is Iranian but the father is not, or if the parents are not married, the applicable rules differ. Under Iranian law in effect as of 2025, children of Iranian mothers (regardless of the father's nationality) may be entitled to Iranian citizenship under certain conditions. These cases require specific documentation and may involve additional review. Contact the Interests Section or consult a qualified attorney for situations involving non-Iranian fathers or unmarried parents.
How Iranian Citizen Services Can Help
Iranian Citizen Services (ICS), based in Irvine, CA, assists families with the Iranian birth registration process for children born in the United States and Canada. ICS helps compile the required document package, coordinates the apostille process, assists with certified translation arrangements, ensures Mikhak registration is current, and reviews the application for completeness before submission. ICS charges a consulting fee; consular and government fees are paid separately. ICS is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child was born in the United States and is already a U.S. citizen. Do I still need to register their birth with Iran?
If your child has at least one Iranian parent, they are also an Iranian citizen under Iranian law regardless of their U.S. citizenship. Whether you choose to register their birth with Iran is a personal decision. However, if your child ever wishes to use their Iranian citizenship — to obtain an Iranian passport, visit Iran, inherit property in Iran, or access Iranian government services — the birth registration will be required. It is easier to complete registration early rather than years later when the need arises.
Can both parents be listed on the Iranian birth registration even if the father is not Iranian?
The father's information is included in the birth registration documentation. Whether the child receives Iranian citizenship through the mother when the father is a non-Iranian national depends on current Iranian law, which has evolved in recent years. As of 2025, Iranian law provides pathways for children of Iranian mothers and foreign fathers to claim citizenship, subject to review. This situation requires careful handling — contact the Interests Section for current guidance.
Does the child need to be present for birth registration?
No. The birth registration is a documentary process — the child does not need to appear in person. The parent or guardian submits the required documents on the child's behalf. The child's photo is required to accompany the application, but no in-person appearance is needed.
Our child's name is spelled differently on the U.S. birth certificate vs. how we want it in Persian. How do we handle this?
The Persian-language registration will use the Persian rendering of the child's name as the parents specify in the application. The translated birth certificate shows the English-language name. The Interests Section records the child's name in Persian as declared by the parents. If there is a specific concern about name spelling or variation between the Persian and English versions, note this in your application and the certified translator should reflect the correct transliteration. ICS can help ensure consistency across documents.