Quick Answer
The Shenasnameh (شناسنامه) is Iran's civil identity booklet that records your birth, identity, marriage, divorce, and children. If your Shenasnameh is lost, damaged, outdated, or contains an error, it can be replaced or corrected through the Iranian Interests Section and Mikhak system. Routine updates are administrative; some corrections — particularly those contested by another party — may require legal representation in Iran.
What the Shenasnameh Records
The Shenasnameh is Iran's official civil identity document. It records the holder's full name, parents' names, date and place of birth, Code Melli, and civil-status annotations including marriage, divorce, and children. It is required for most Iranian consular applications.
Lost or Stolen Shenasnameh
If your Shenasnameh has been lost or stolen, a replacement can be requested through the Iranian Interests Section. A replacement application typically requires proof of identity through other Iranian documents, a Mikhak registration, and a written statement. ICS assists with the complete replacement application.
Damaged or Illegible Shenasnameh
A damaged or illegible Shenasnameh can cause problems in consular applications. The original damaged document is typically submitted along with the replacement request. ICS reviews your specific document and helps determine the appropriate application type.
Name or Surname Corrections
Name corrections in the Shenasnameh are divided into routine administrative corrections (typographical errors) and formal legal corrections. A routine administrative correction involves submitting documentation through the consular office. A contested name correction may require civil-court proceedings in Iran and Iranian legal representation.
Birth-Date or Place-of-Birth Corrections
Corrections to birth date or place of birth are formal legal processes that typically require documentation and, in most cases, a court order in Iran. ICS can assist with gathering supporting documentation, but birth-date corrections generally require separate Iranian legal proceedings. Services for this type of matter may be available through Salamat Legal under a separate engagement.
Shenasnameh Annotations: Marriage, Divorce, Children, Death
The Shenasnameh is annotated when the holder marries, divorces, has children, or a holder dies. Adding a missing annotation — for example, registering a marriage or a child born abroad — is handled through the Iranian consular office and Mikhak system. ICS assists with annotation registration applications.
Transliteration Differences Between Iranian and Foreign Records
The Shenasnameh records names in Persian script. When transliterated into English, the spelling may differ depending on the standard used. Common discrepancies can cause problems in consular applications. ICS identifies transliteration discrepancies during document review and helps address them.
Routine Update vs. Contested Correction
It is important to understand the difference:
- Routine administrative update: annotation of a marriage, divorce, birth, or death; replacement of a lost or damaged document; straightforward typographical correction. These are handled through the consular office.
- Evidentiary correction: a correction that requires official documentation to support a change to the recorded information. More complex but typically administrative.
- Contested correction: a change disputed by another party. These typically require civil-court proceedings in Iran and Iranian legal representation. Services of this type may be available through Salamat Legal.
Iranian Legal Advice
Does Your Matter Require Iranian Legal Advice?
ICS can assist with document preparation and consular procedures. If your situation involves inheritance rights, a property dispute, contested family matters, customized legal authority, or representation before an Iranian court or agency, Iranian legal services may be available separately through Salamat Legal.
Salamat Legal engagements are separate from ICS document-preparation services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a replacement Shenasnameh from the United States?
Yes. Replacement Shenasnameh applications can be submitted through the Iranian Interests Section from the United States. The process requires a Mikhak registration and supporting identity documentation. ICS assists with the complete preparation.
My Shenasnameh has the wrong birth date. Can ICS fix it?
Birth-date corrections in the Iranian civil registry are formal legal processes that generally require a court order in Iran. ICS can assist with the documentary preparation, but the legal proceedings themselves require Iranian legal representation. Services of this type may be available through Salamat Legal under a separate engagement.
My marriage is registered in the U.S. but not in Iran. How do I add it to my Shenasnameh?
Registering a foreign marriage in the Iranian civil registry involves submitting the marriage certificate with an official translation and authentication, completing a Mikhak registration, and submitting the application to the Iranian Interests Section. ICS assists with the complete process.
Why does my name appear differently in my Iranian documents than in my U.S. documents?
Transliteration of Persian names into English can vary significantly. ICS identifies these discrepancies during review and advises on how to address them in consular applications.
Last reviewed: August 2026