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The official Iranian currency is the Iranian rial, exchanging at approximately 35000 rials to the U.S. dollar and 39,000 rials to the Euro in July 2016.

Iranian Currency and Exchange: Banknotes in Iran

Apart from the many zeros involved in any transaction, foreign visitors need to be aware that prices are always quoted in rials when written, but are quoted in Tumans in speech.

Iranian Currency and Exchange – Iranian Rial

One tuman is equal to ten rials. The tuman unit has no official standing, but has the obvious practical use of getting rid of one zero.

Banknotes are used a lot, but in recent years the use of local credit cards is rising.

Paper money comes in denominations of 10000, 20000, 50000 and recently 100000 rials, which are too small for substantial purchases.

Visa and Mastercard in Iran

International credit and debit cards cannot be used in Iran since the US trade embargo on the country. Visitors cannot draw cash on credit or bank cards (such as Cirrus or Maestro).

Iran does have a network of ATMs but these are for use with locally-issued bank cards such as the Mellat Card, Melli Card issued by local Banks in Iran.

Chek-pul (check money)

In recent years a useful method also has been adopted which does away with the need to carry bags of money when going shopping. It is called chek-pul (check money) and works like a traveler’s check but doesn’t have a name written on it, so it functions as a large denomination bill.

Rial Iran

The most common denominations of chek-puls are 500000 and 1000000 rials, but even higher ones are used in large transactions.

They can be bought from any bank and, after the streamlining of the financial system, they are accepted everywhere.

At present, Iranian currency can only be bought in some Middle East countries, so if you are coming from anywhere else, you will need to buy rials after you arrive.

Currency exchange offices (Money changers in Iran)

There is a currency exchange office at the new Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran as well as several more in the center of Tehran and other big cities.

A network of currency exchange offices operate in Tehran and in major cities under the licence of Iranian National Bank.

Many banks also offer foreign exchange facilities, but not in all branches. Your host and hotel staff should be able to advise you further.

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Iranian Currency and Exchange