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A Carnet de Passage (CDP) is an international customs document that allows you to temporarily import your vehicle into foreign countries without paying import duties or taxes. Think of it as a passport for your vehicle. A CDP can be issues by an automobile club, for example the ADAC. Iran requires a CDP for your vehicle when entering the country.
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⯈What is a CDP
⯈Where can I get a CDP
⯈CDP Extension
⯈Alternative: TIP
What is the Carnet de Passage?
A CDP is valid for one year, and you can choose the start date freely. Applications can be submitted months in advance, but no later than one month before entering a CDP country. All documents can be submitted online, so you can apply while traveling. The CDP is a physical booklet and can be shipped to an address of your choice (e.g., Turkey or Armenia) for an extra fee. If your trip spans close to a year through CDP-required countries, set the start date to the exact moment you need it, not when you leave home.
Iran is not the only country that demands a CDP. Other countries in the region that require it include:Iraq, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Oman, the UAE, and Lebanon. In countries like Saudi Arabia, a CDP simplifies vehicle entry. There are different CDP categories depending on the countries you plan to visit, so make sure your CDP covers all destinations on your route.
The following is required to get a CDP:
- CDP Fee: a fee which will not be returned. The fee is standard, independent of your vehicle. With the ADAC, the standardfee for a CDP is 350€.
- CDP Deposit: a deposit which will be fully returned when the CDP has been returned. The deposit amount depends on the value of the vehicle: (rule of thumb: minimum 66% of vehicle value). With the ADAC, deposits for motorcycles start from 3,000€, for cars from 5,000€. The deposit for expensive caravans can be in the ten-thousands.
- Online application form
- Copy of passport
- Copy of the vehicle registration document
- For expensive caravans: an additional current proof of value
The CDP is not a vehicle insurance. Most international policies do not cover Iran — but we can arrange official Iranian vehicle insurance (car or motorcycle) before your arrival. More info on a vehicle insurance for Iran here.
Where can I get a CDP for Iran?
National automobile clubs issue the CDP for vehicles registered in their respective country. Clubs within the European Union usually issue the CDP for other member countries as well. Exceptions exist but are limited and not always reliable.
Here a short (and incomplete) overview on major automobile clubs worldwide:
- Europe: ADAC (Germany), AA (UK), UAMK (Czechia)
- Asia: JAF (Japan), KAA (South Korea), AAS (Singapore), ATCUAE (UAE), TACI (Iran)
- Australia / NZ: RACA (Australia), NZ-AA (New Zealand)
ADAC or UAMK? Most Europeans get their CDP from either the ADAC or the UAMK. With the ADAC, the process is transparent and hassle free. The fees for the CDP are also lower with the ADAC. With the ADAC, the deposit is returned within days; some travellers have reported that the UAMK needs months to return their deposit. Yet, for some, the UAMK is a valid alternative because the required deposit is significantly lower than with the ADAC.
Cost overview with ADAC Germany:
- 250€ for members
- 350€ for non-members (annual membership is 54€, so joining is cheaper)
- Shipping the CDP to a non-EU address costs an additional 90€.
Since the UAMK is difficult to be contacted directly, here contact details of an agency which can arrange the CDP in Czechia:
Contact Details Czech UAMK
Susan El-Sibaiova: zuzana.sibaiova@autoturist.cz
Ivana Masáková: ivana.masakova@autoturist.cz
Monika Madejová: monika.madejova@autoturist.cz
Tel: (+420) 261 104 414, GSM: (+420) 724 750 009
www.autoturist.cz
CDP Extension
In most cases, your CDP is valid for Iran as long as your visa. This means, when you extend your visa, you should also extend your CDP. If you do not extend your CDP you must pay a fine when leaving the country. The fines have varied in the past, but are said to be fixed to 15€ penalty per day that you CDP has expired for Iran. The expiration date of your CDP gets written in Farsi on the back of the CDP page.
For the CDP extension, you need to go to another, separate office in one of the province capitals.
For the extension of the CDP, the following documents are required:
- Passport (bring 3 copies)
- Visa print with extension (bring 3 copies)
- Vehicle passport (bring 3 copies)
- CDP
- Fee: free
Generally, customs officers do not seem to be very experienced with the extension of the CDP. The same rule applies as elsewhere in Iran, stay friendly but confident. They may tell you that it’s not possible to extend the CDP, or that you should come back another day. Try to be persistent and you will likely get what you want.
The Temporary Import Permit (TIP) for Iran
There is one alternative to the CDP, getting a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) at one of the Iranian borders. A TIP can be issued for cars, motorcycles, vans and trucks.
An Iranian TIP is only valid for Iran and its duration matches the visa duration. If you plan to enter other countries which require a CDP, make sure to get a CDP instead.
Fees and conditions are unclear, no clear rules exist, but one can expect to pay at leat 800€ for the TIP; money which will not be returned. The fee for the TIP increases with value of the vehicle.
Not all borders issue a TIP. Travellers crossing at Bazargan, Kapıköy (Türkiye) and Nordooz (Armenia) report to have gotten the TIP there; but there is no guarantee.
Exit from Iran, especially at smaller borders or by ferry, may involve extra checks, deposits or delays for TIP holders.
Our opinion: A CDP remains the safest option for entering Iran with your own vehicle. Even though technically possible, no one is able to guarantee that you are able to get a TIP at the border, how much it will cost, and whether you can leave the country without problems again.
