As far as we know Iran is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents are notarised in Iran, legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then attested by the Embassy of India in Tehran or a Consulate. Iranian citizens need RBI permission to acquire or transfer immovable property in India. Iran is not a reciprocating territory, and India and Iran have a tax treaty. Payments involving Iran must be screened against sanctions and banking restrictions.
- Document route
- Iranian notary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation, then Indian mission attestation
- Time difference
- IST is 2 hours ahead of Iran all year
- Foreign judgments in India
- Not reciprocating: fresh suit
- Apostille with India
- Not in force as far as known: consular attestation (check current status)
Iranian business in India and Indians in Iran
Iranian traders buy Indian tea, basmati rice, sugar, pharmaceuticals and machinery, and sell dry fruits, saffron and petrochemicals to India. Payments have run through special rupee arrangements with designated Indian banks because of international sanctions on Iran, which makes payment disputes common and recovery complicated. Iranian students study in Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi, Iranian patients travel to India for treatment, and Indian engineers and traders work in Tehran, Bandar Abbas and Chabahar.
We help with trade contracts and payment terms that work under current banking conditions, recovering money from Indian buyers, property questions for Iranian citizens, marriage registration, succession and powers of attorney.
Signing documents in Iran for use in India
Iran is not, as far as we are aware, a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents follow the legalisation route. Confirm the current procedure with us before you sign. The usual chain is:
- Sign before a notary public office (daftar-e asnad-e rasmi) in Iran with your passport or national card, often with an official translation into English by a sworn translator.
- Have the document and translation legalised by the Ministry of Justice and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran.
- Have it attested by the Embassy of India in Tehran or the Consulates General in Bandar Abbas or Zahedan, then courier it to India and stamp it within three months.
Indian citizens can usually sign before the Indian consular officer instead. Persian documents need a certified English translation, and Indian offices prefer translations done by sworn translators in Iran before legalisation.
Most requested services from Iran
These six services cover most of what people and businesses in Iran need from an Indian lawyer. Each page explains the route from Iran, including the sanctions and banking points, and what then happens in India.
Power of Attorney
A power legalised in Iran and attested by the Indian mission lets someone act for you in India.
Commercial Contracts
Trade contracts with payment mechanisms that work under current banking conditions.
Money Recovery from India
Iranian exporters recover unpaid dues from Indian buyers, including rupee-channel disputes.
Buying & Selling Property
NRIs in Iran sell Indian property; Iranian citizens first need RBI permission.
Marriage Registration
Indian and Iranian couples register their marriage for visas and property.
Succession Certificate
Heirs in Iran claim deposits and shares of relatives who died in India.
Sanctions, banking and payments
India does not apply unilateral sanctions of other countries as law, but Indian banks screen transactions involving Iran very carefully, and UN Security Council measures on Iran that India implements were restored in 2025. Trade has largely run through rupee vostro accounts with designated Indian banks. When a contract is drafted, the payment mechanism, the bank and what happens if the channel closes must be agreed in writing; many disputes arise because they were not. Remitting Indian sale proceeds or recovered money to Iran may not be possible, so we plan where funds will be received before starting.
Property, FEMA and the tax treaty
Under the FEMA (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules 2019, a citizen of Iran living outside India needs prior RBI permission to acquire or transfer immovable property in India, other than a lease of up to five years. Iranian students and families usually lease homes. Indian citizens living in Iran are NRIs and can buy and sell Indian property, other than agricultural land and farmhouses, freely. India and Iran signed a double taxation avoidance agreement in 2013; Iranian tax residents can claim treaty benefits on Indian income with a tax residence certificate and Form 10F.
Iranian judgments, contracts and family matters
Iran has not been notified as a reciprocating territory under section 44A of the Code of Civil Procedure, so an Iranian judgment can only found a fresh suit in India, subject to section 13. Iran is a party to the New York Convention, so arbitration awards can in principle be enforced in India, though payment under an award may still face banking limits. Marriages between Indian and Iranian partners are recognised in India if valid where performed; Iranian law requires government permission for an Iranian woman to marry a foreign man, so we check that the marriage was valid in Iran before relying on it.
All services for clients in Iran
NRI Property Law
- Property Disputes
- Encroachment & Illegal Possession
- Partition of Family Property
- Buying & Selling Property
- Title Search & Due Diligence
- Tenant Eviction
- Builder Delay & RERA
Inheritance & Documents
Cross-Border Family Law
- Divorce for NRIs
- International Child Custody
- Maintenance & Alimony
- Marriage Registration
- 498A & Dowry Case Defence
- OCI Card Issues
Doing Business in India
- Company Setup for Foreigners
- Indian Subsidiary Setup
- Branch & Liaison Office
- FDI & FEMA Compliance
- Trademark Protection in India
- Commercial Contracts
- Employment Law for Foreign Employers
- GST for Foreign Businesses
- Investing in Indian Startups
- Legal Advisory for NRI Investors
Disputes & Enforcement
- International Arbitration
- Enforcing Foreign Judgments
- Money Recovery from India
- Shareholder Disputes & NCLT
- Accident Compensation Claims
- Cyber & Investment Fraud
- Criminal Defence & Look Out Circulars
Cross-Border Tax & Money
Indian missions in Iran
The Embassy in Tehran and the Consulates General in Bandar Abbas and Zahedan provide passport, consular and attestation services.
- Embassy of India, Tehran
- Consulate General of India, Bandar Abbas
- Consulate General of India, Zahedan
Frequently asked questions
Does Iran issue apostilles for documents going to India?
As far as we know Iran is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents are legalised by the Iranian ministries and attested by the Indian mission.
Can an Iranian citizen buy a flat in India?
Only with prior RBI permission. Leases of up to five years need no permission.
Can an Iranian company sue an Indian buyer for unpaid invoices?
Yes, through a power of attorney. How the money is paid out must be planned in advance because of banking limits.
Do sanctions stop Indian courts from hearing Iranian claims?
No, Indian courts hear claims by Iranian parties, but payment may be affected by banking and sanctions screening.
Is there a tax treaty between India and Iran?
Yes, signed in 2013.
Is a marriage registered in Iran valid in India?
Yes, if valid under Iranian law, including any permission Iranian law requires.
Can I sign a power of attorney at the Consulate in Bandar Abbas?
Yes, if you hold an Indian passport, before the consular officer.
How do we communicate?
Over video calls, email and WhatsApp messages. Iran is 2 hours behind India.