The Iranian birth certificate, the shenasnameh, is often the first document requested when an Iranian citizen applies abroad for a visa, a residence permit, a marriage or citizenship. Here is what it contains, what a correct translation looks like and how to prepare it for foreign authorities.
What the shenasnameh contains
The shenasnameh is issued by the National Organization for Civil Registration of Iran. Besides the holder's name, the names of the parents and the place and date of birth, it shows the certificate number and the national ID number (code melli). The following pages record marriages, divorces, children and, eventually, death. Most foreign offices want a translation of every page that contains an entry, not only the first one.
Three details that make or break the translation
- Dates: Iranian documents use the Persian solar calendar. A good translation keeps the original date and adds the Gregorian equivalent, for example "15 Mehr 1370 (7 October 1991)".
- Names: names must be spelled exactly as in the passport, otherwise the authority may think they belong to different people. Send us a copy of the passport together with the certificate.
- Stamps and notes: stamps, handwritten notes and marginal annotations are translated too, with a short description where needed.
Free tool to check any date:
Persian and Islamic date converter
Legalisation: plan it before the translation
Iran is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so Iranian documents used abroad usually need legalisation: first by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the embassy or consulate of the destination country. Some countries also require a sworn translation made locally, such as the asseverazione before an Italian court. Requirements change from country to country and from office to office, so always ask the authority that will receive the document which steps it expects.
How we work
Send us a clear scan of all the pages and of the passport. We translate the certificate with dates, names and stamps checked against the original, and we can arrange the certified or sworn version required in your country. You receive our quote within 24 hours on business days.
This article gives general information and is not legal advice.
