Staying Online in Iran: SIM, VPN & IMEI Guide
In today’s Iran, your phone is your map, translator, taxi-hailer and lifeline home. If you don’t want to use an international eSIM, you depend on getting a local SIM card, tools to bypass censorship, and — if you stay longer — a basic understanding of IMEI registration so your phone doesn’t suddenly drop off the network.
Site Content:
⯈ Use an international eSIM
⯈ How to get an Iranian SIM card
⯈ How to circumvent internet censorship (VPN & V2Ray)
⯈ How to register a phone IMEI for longer stays
Use an international eSIM
An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your device, eliminating the need for a physical card. Instead of inserting a SIM, you download a network profile—usually by scanning a QR code—which installs the carrier’s credentials onto your phone. Once activated, the eSIM functions like a normal SIM, connecting to mobile networks for data, calls, and SMS. Multiple eSIM profiles can be stored and switched in settings, but connectivity still depends on the provider’s agreements with local networks.
Many providers also give a guarantee: if the eSIM is not working for some reason, you can get your money back. You therefore don’t take too much risk.
Especially if you plan to stay only for a short time in Iran or don’t need much data, an eSIM is a great option to fully enjoy Iran without worrying about connection.
| Aspect | eSIM | Local SIM |
|---|---|---|
| Internet censorship | ✅ No censorship (foreign IP) | ⚠️ Subject to Iranian internet restrictions |
| Connection speed | ✅ Usually faster and more stable | ⚠️ Often slower, especially during peak hours |
| IMEI blocking | ✅ Phone IMEI is not blocked | ❌ Phone may be blocked after 30 days |
| Setup & registration | ✅ No local registration required | ❌ Requires Iranian sponsor and registration |
| Activation flexibility | ✅ Can be activated anytime, even while in Iran | ❌ Must be purchased and registered locally |
| IP location | 🌍 Appears as a foreign country | 🇮🇷 Appears as Iran |
| Cost | ❌ Significantly more expensive | ✅ Very cheap |
| Phone calls & SMS | ❌ No local number (data only) | ✅ Local calls and SMS available |
| Hotspot usage | ⚠️ Often limited data for hotspot | ✅ Usually unlimited hotspot usage |
Get an Iranian SIM Card
Cost. Getting a SIM card in Iran is very affordable. Both major operators — Irancell and Hamrah-e-Aval (MCI) — offer cheap data packages with plenty of gigabytes and call minutes. Official stores for both brands are available in all major cities.
As of November 2024, foreign tourists cannot buy a SIM card completely on their own. An Iranian citizen must vouch for you during registration. The process usually takes place in an official shop and requires:
- Passport
- Visa
- A short video verification where you state your personal details
Registration usually takes 1–2 days and is free. Note that one Iranian can only vouch for one foreigner at a time.
Due to the new rules, many tourist SIMs deactivate after a short period or show a message requesting additional documents. If this happens, visit an official store of your SIM card provider. Staff can usually reactivate your line or re-process the registration.
Network coverage. Internet speed is often slow, but coverage is generally decent in cities and along main roads. You will rarely experience complete blackouts in urban areas. However, Iran is vast, so expect little or no coverage in remote deserts, mountains, and sparsely populated regions.
Circumvent Internet Censorship
Most major websites and apps are blocked in Iran (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, YouTube and many more). Notable services that usually work without a VPN are WhatsApp and Google products such as Maps, Translate, Drive, or Meet. Unless you intentionally take a break from the screen, you will need a way to bypass censorship. Virtually all Iranians do this, and as a foreigner you do not need to fear consequences for using these tools.
Because Iran uses deep packet inspection and aggressive filtering, classic VPNs are often unreliable. An effective alternative is using a V2Ray tunnel network. Here’s the difference in simple terms:
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a specific server, routing all your traffic through that server and giving you a foreign IP address. It’s simple and secure when it works, but mainstream VPNs are easy for governments to recognise and block because their server IPs and traffic patterns are predictable. In Iran, this often results in unstable connections or complete blocking, especially during periods of increased filtering.
V2Ray, by contrast, is not a single VPN app but a flexible tunnelling framework designed specifically to bypass censorship. It disguises your data to look like normal HTTPS or WebSocket traffic, making it very difficult for systems like Iran’s to detect or block. V2Ray can adapt its protocols, blend into everyday internet traffic, and stay functional even when regular VPNs fail. For travellers in Iran, this usually makes V2Ray more reliable than typical commercial VPN services.
To use V2Ray, you first download and install a client app (the ones marked in bold in the download lists above). Then you import a V2Ray configuration link. The app automatically loads the required servers and settings. Once imported, you simply tap “Connect”, and the app routes your traffic through encrypted tunnels that look like normal browsing. A configuration link can easily be purchased in Iran and typically costs only a few euros for a defined amount of data (for example 20 GB). This makes V2Ray one of the easiest and most reliable tools for bypassing internet restrictions in Iran.
Comparison of paid Options
| Option | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Phone registration | • Use your phone without any limitations |
• Expensive • Must find a specialist for registration |
| Buy a modem | • Cheapest option |
• No phone calls or SMS • Another device to carry and charge |
| Buy a cheap phone |
• Can be sold again later • Possibly cheaper than registration |
• Might be unreliable • Another device to carry and charge |
| Buy a new SIM card | • No real advantage |
• Does not activate the phone again • Does not work as a solution |
Register a Phone IMEI
If you plan to stay in Iran for less than 30 days, you can safely skip this section. For longer stays, however, IMEI registration becomes important, because unregistered phones are eventually blocked from the mobile network.
- What is the IMEI? Every smartphone has a unique IMEI number (dual-SIM phones have two). When a phone connects to a mobile network, this IMEI is automatically submitted — this is standard practice worldwide. You can find your IMEI in your phone’s settings or by dialling *#06#. Phones sold inside Iran have their IMEIs pre-registered, which is why many locals are unfamiliar with the process.
- Iran gives foreign phones a 30-day grace period from the moment they first connect to any Iranian mobile network. After that, if the IMEI is not registered, the phone will no longer connect to the network and you won’t be able to use mobile internet, calls, or SMS (the device itself remains fully functional on Wi-Fi).
- Changing SIM cards does NOT reset the 30-day timer. The countdown continues even if you stop using the phone or leave the country and come back later.
Free, but temporary workarounds
- Use the second SIM slot. Dual-SIM phones have two IMEIs. If the first IMEI gets blocked, you can switch to the second SIM slot for another 30 days of network access. Do NOT move your SIM to the second slot before the first IMEI is blocked.
- Use a second phone. If you travel with a backup phone, its IMEI gives you another 30 days of usage once it first connects to the Iranian network.
Paid but permanent solutions
- Register your phone. This can sometimes be done at immigration or at mobile centres in major cities. The cost depends on the phone model — from around €50 for older/cheaper phones to several hundred euros for premium models. Registration usually takes less than 24 hours and allows you to use this IMEI in Iran permanently.
- Buy a modem. Modems with SIM card slots are widely available in Iran. Their IMEIs are pre-registered and work long-term. Devices typically cost between 25€ and 50€. The modem acts as a hotspot that you can connect to with your phone or laptop; you regain internet access, but cannot use the Iranian SIM for regular calls or SMS on your phone.
- Buy a cheap phone. Purchase a second-hand phone inside Iran. Its IMEI is already registered, so it won’t be blocked. You can then use it as your “Iran phone” for calls, messages and data.
