Options for Iran Nationals
Iranian nationals face the most restricted passport and financial access environment of any nationality covered in this guide. Comprehensive international sanctions, near-universal CBI programme exclusions, and the inability to access Western banking make a second citizenship exceptionally difficult to obtain ā yet exceptionally valuable for those who can navigate the process. Turkey, Georgia, and Malaysia remain among the few practical intermediary jurisdictions.
Your Passport
Passport Rank
#100
Visa-Free
43
destinations
not allowed
residence based
Key Considerations for Iran Nationals
- 01Iran does not formally recognise dual citizenship; the Iranian government treats Iranian nationals as solely Iranian regardless of any foreign nationality held, which can create significant complications in consular and legal situations.
- 02International sanctions against Iran ā particularly US, EU, and UK sanctions ā make it nearly impossible for Iranian nationals to access standard Western banking services, open accounts at major international banks, or process international payments through conventional channels.
- 03The overwhelming majority of citizenship-by-investment programmes either reject Iranian applicants outright or subject them to extremely intensive enhanced due diligence that results in very few approvals; this affects Caribbean, Pacific, European, and most other CBI jurisdictions.
- 04Turkish and UAE-based intermediary structures are commonly used by Iranian nationals seeking to facilitate international financial activity, though regulatory risk is substantial and compliance requirements are stringent.
- 05Georgia has emerged as a relatively accessible jurisdiction for Iranian nationals to establish residency and business structures, given its liberal visa policy and open banking environment for those not on sanctions lists.
- 06Iranian tax residents are taxed on worldwide income under the principle of residence; however, the practical impact is limited by the severe restrictions on international financial flows and the difficulty of enforcing obligations on those living abroad.
Program Restrictions
general: Iranian nationals face the most severe restrictions of any nationality group in the global CBI market; most programmes do not accept applications from Iranian passport holders, and those that nominally do will typically decline at the due diligence stage. Legal advice specific to Iranian nationality is essential before pursuing any programme.
Visa Programs Available to You
82 programsPortugal D7 Passive Income Visa
Portugal PRT
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
$820
Citizenship
5y
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa
Portugal PRT
Processing
2mo
Min. Income
$3,280
Citizenship
5y
Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)
Portugal PRT
Processing
6mo
Min. Income
ā
Citizenship
5y
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Spain ESP
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
$2,800
Citizenship
10y
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Spain ESP
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
$2,800
Citizenship
10y
Italy Elective Residence Visa
Italy ITA
Processing
3mo
Min. Income
$33,000
Citizenship
10y
Greece Golden Visa
Greece GRC
Processing
4mo
Min. Income
ā
Citizenship
7y
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
Malta MLT
Processing
6mo
Min. Income
ā
Citizenship
No
Banking That Accepts Your Passport
4 optionsCompany Formation Jurisdictions
17 jurisdictionsUK Private Limited Company (Ltd)
Setup: $50
25% (19% for profits under GBP 50,000; marginal relief between GBP 50,000ā250,000)
Banking: moderate
US Delaware LLC
Setup: $200
0% at state level (no Delaware state income tax on out-of-state activity); federal tax depends on election (pass-through by default or C-Corp election)
Banking: moderate
US Wyoming LLC
Setup: $100
0% at state level (no Wyoming state income tax); federal tax depends on entity election
Banking: moderate
Estonia OĆ (Private Limited Company)
Setup: $265
0% on retained earnings; 20% on distributed profits (unique deferred distribution tax model)
Banking: difficult
Dubai DMCC Free Zone Company
Setup: $8,500
9% UAE Corporate Tax (effective June 2023) on taxable profits over AED 375,000; 0% for Qualifying Free Zone Persons meeting substance requirements
Banking: moderate
Dubai IFZA Free Zone Company
Setup: $5,500
9% UAE Corporate Tax on profits over AED 375,000; 0% for Qualifying Free Zone Persons on qualifying income
Banking: moderate
Singapore Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd)
Setup: $400
17% headline rate; effective rate often 8ā10% due to startup tax exemptions (75% exemption on first SGD 100,000 for first 3 years)
Banking: moderate
Hong Kong Private Limited Company
Setup: $500
16.5% standard; 8.25% on first HKD 2 million of assessable profits (two-tiered regime)
Banking: difficult
BVI Business Company (BC)
Setup: $2,000
0% (no corporate income tax, capital gains tax, or withholding tax)
Banking: difficult
Cayman Islands LLC
Setup: $3,500
0% (no corporate tax, income tax, capital gains tax, or withholding tax; 20-year tax exemption certificate available)
Banking: difficult
Portugal Lda (Sociedade por Quotas)
Setup: $1,200
21% standard IRC; 17% on first EUR 25,000 for SMEs; municipal surcharge up to 1.5%; RFAI and other incentives available
Banking: moderate
Georgia Individual Entrepreneur (IE) with Virtual Zone
Setup: $50
1% on turnover up to GEL 500,000/year (Small Business Status); 0% on IT/software exports for Virtual Zone Person status; standard rate 15% corporate + 5% dividend withholding
Banking: easy
Ireland Limited Company (Ltd)
Setup: $350
12.5%
Banking: moderate
Netherlands BV
Setup: $1,500
19-25.8%
Banking: moderate
Cyprus Limited Company
Setup: $2,000
12.5%
Banking: moderate
Malta Limited Company
Setup: $2,500
5% effective (via refund system)
Banking: moderate
Seychelles IBC (International Business Company)
Setup: $700
0% (offshore income)
Banking: difficult
Citizenship by Investment
10 programsMalta Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment
Malta
From
$690,000
Processing
14mo
Visa-Free
186
Due Diligence
extensive
St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment
St Kitts and Nevis
From
$250,000
Processing
6mo
Visa-Free
157
Due Diligence
enhanced
Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment
Dominica
From
$100,000
Processing
5mo
Visa-Free
144
Due Diligence
enhanced
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment
Antigua and Barbuda
From
$130,000
Processing
6mo
Visa-Free
151
Due Diligence
enhanced
Grenada Citizenship by Investment
Grenada
From
$150,000
Processing
6mo
Visa-Free
148
Due Diligence
enhanced
St Lucia Citizenship by Investment
St Lucia
From
$100,000
Processing
5mo
Visa-Free
146
Due Diligence
enhanced
Turkish Citizenship by Investment
Turkey
From
$400,000
Processing
4mo
Visa-Free
110
Due Diligence
standard
Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment (DSP / VDSP)
Vanuatu
From
$130,000
Processing
2mo
Visa-Free
113
Due Diligence
standard
Egyptian Citizenship by Investment
Egypt
From
$300,000
Processing
6mo
Visa-Free
53
Due Diligence
standard
Jordanian Citizenship by Investment
Jordan
From
$750,000
Processing
9mo
Visa-Free
57
Due Diligence
enhanced