Service of Foreign Legal and Judicial Documents in Iran
Sending papers to an address in Iran is not necessarily legally valid service. Dadparvaran helps foreign parties and counsel identify the available judicial-assistance route, prepare Persian documents and obtain a usable record of delivery or non-service.
Valid service in Iran is a procedural project, not a courier task. The correct route depends on the originating country and authority, the civil or commercial nature of the matter, the type of document, any bilateral judicial-assistance agreement, Iranian procedure and the rule the foreign court will apply to proof of service. Informal delivery may provide actual notice without satisfying either court's legal standard.
The 1965 Hague Service Convention should not be assumed to supply the route into Iran. Iran is not listed among the Contracting Parties in the HCCH status table reviewed for this service. The originating authority should therefore determine whether a bilateral agreement, letters rogatory or another judicial, diplomatic or consular channel is available and acceptable. Dadparvaran coordinates the Iran-side requirements without certifying the law of the foreign forum.
Document quality affects execution. The request should correctly identify the recipient, Iranian address and legal entity, describe the documents, specify the requested method and include the certifications and Persian translations required by the applicable channel. Names, dates, claim numbers and annexes must be consistent. A request based on an incomplete address or an English trading name may fail even where the underlying proceeding is valid.
Proof must show what actually happened. Depending on the route, the result may record personal delivery, delivery through an authorized recipient, refusal, an address defect or inability to serve. Timing cannot be guaranteed, and alternative service should not be used merely for convenience without authorization from the competent foreign court and consistency with any Iranian rule engaged.
Choose the channel before preparing the package
The originating court or competent authority should identify the lawful route. The Iran-side team then checks recipient details, translations, local execution requirements and the form of return evidence.
- Originating country, court and case type
- Judicial or extrajudicial character of each document
- Applicable bilateral agreement or letters-rogatory route
- Requested method and foreign-court requirements
- Required certificate or proof of non-service
Do not assume the Hague Service Convention applies
The current HCCH status table reviewed for this page does not list Iran as a Contracting Party to the 1965 Service Convention. The route must be checked under other applicable instruments and laws.
Verify the Iranian recipient and address
For a company, the registered legal name and official address may differ from the brand or operating location. For an individual, transliteration variants and incomplete postal details can prevent a reliable attempt.
- Full Persian and foreign-language name
- National or company identifier where lawfully available
- Registered office or verified residential address
- Recipient's legal capacity or company role
- Consistent spelling across request and attachments
Design the return evidence for the foreign proceeding
The requesting lawyer should confirm what the foreign court needs: date, place, method, recipient identity, signature, refusal details or reasons for failure. Iran-side execution should be documented toward that stated requirement.
How Dadparvaran structures service assistance
- Route and authority checklist
- Recipient-identity and address verification
- Translation and document-package review
- Iran-side coordination and defect response
- Service, refusal or failure record for foreign counsel
Our Specialized Services
Documents useful for an initial review
A missing document is not a reason to wait — a short description and whatever records you have is enough to begin. Please send legible copies rather than originals.
Originating-case records useful for an initial review
- Court order, summons, claim and documents to be served
- Originating court's service instructions and deadline
- Request form, letters rogatory or treaty materials
- Foreign counsel's required form of proof
Recipient and translation records useful for an initial review
- Full recipient name and verified Iranian address
- Company extract or identity information where available
- Existing Persian translations and glossary
- Prior delivery attempts and returned-mail records
The goal is not simply delivery in Iran; it is a service record the competent court can legally use.
Send the originating court's instructions, documents, deadline and verified recipient details for an English-language route and package assessment.
Submitting an enquiry does not create a lawyer-client relationship or guarantee any outcome. Whether a legal route is available, and which one fits, is determined after the documents and the position of the case have been reviewed.
Relevant legal framework
These sources are listed for orientation. Article numbers and wording should be checked against the official consolidated text before being relied on.
- HCCH, status table for the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, Contracting Parties checked 28 July 2026 — https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=17
- HCCH, full text of the 1965 Service Convention, including central-authority, translation and certificate framework applicable between Contracting States, reviewed 28 July 2026 — https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/full-text/?cid=17
- Presidential Deputy for Legal Affairs, Iranian Civil Procedure Code, including domestic service and civil-procedure rules, consolidated text reviewed 28 July 2026 — https://qavanin.ir/Law/TreeText/?IDS=502404499976366661
- Presidential Deputy for Legal Affairs, Iranian Civil Code, including rules relevant to legal identity and authority, consolidated text reviewed 28 July 2026 — https://qavanin.ir/Law/TreeText/?IDS=12021850837713548188
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions in this specialty
Can foreign court papers be served in Iran under the Hague Service Convention?
Is sending the documents by courier sufficient?
Do the documents need Persian translation?
Can Dadparvaran choose an alternative-service method?
How long will service in Iran take?
What happens if the recipient refuses the documents?
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