Iran

Maritime security risks in Iran, the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman are changing rapidly. U.S. Maritime Administration advisory MARAD 2026-011 remains Active, describes elevated attack and navigation-interference risks to commercial shipping, and is set to expire automatically on 8 March 2027. The UK FCDO currently advises against travel to Iran and warns vessels at sea may face seizure, boarding or harassment. These are foreign-government advisories, not Iranian clearance rules or a dedicated risk assessment for private yachts. Before sailing, recheck the latest notices and obtain written confirmation for this vessel, voyage and intended port from Iranian port, Customs and Immigration authorities.

No Iranian ports authorized to receive foreign private yachts could be verified, and no official yacht port-of-entry list was found. A commercial port list, cargo-port information or WHO-listed port-health capacity does not establish that a location can process border, Customs and health formalities for private yachts. Do not enter or berth at an Iranian port without explicit permission. First obtain written confirmation from the Ports and Maritime Organization, Customs and border authorities that this vessel, voyage and designated port are approved.

U.S. MARAD advisory 2026-011 says commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman continues to face serious security risks. A U.S. Central Command notice dated 13 July 2026 says it would resume a blockade of maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports from 14 July. These are foreign-government security/military advisories; they are not a domestic Iranian-law ban on all vessels and do not establish that passage through the strait to non-Iranian destinations is completely closed. Check live notices before planning a voyage.

Sources: MARAD Advisory 2026-011; CENTCOM notice of 13 July 2026.

No verified advance-notice deadline, system, authority contact or mandatory-agent requirement for private yachts arriving in Iran was found. You may prepare vessel registration, flag, name, crew/passenger list, route and ETA, previous-port details and an onboard-goods inventory to ask the authorities about; these are suggested preparation items, not a confirmed statutory declaration list. Before departure, obtain a clear response for this vessel, voyage and port, and check current maritime access restrictions, navigation notices and sanctions impacts.

Sources: Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran (not reliably accessible in this review); Current MARAD maritime advisories; UKMTO.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs eVisa website says online submission is only the first step in the visa process. The application category depends on purpose and other conditions; some nationalities must apply through an embassy or consulate. Crew should check visa category and approval conditions by nationality and purpose using the Ministry’s system and consulates. The website does not describe port entry or shore-leave procedures for private-yacht crew; confirm those separately with the receiving port and Immigration. Online submission does not mean a visa has been issued or entry permitted.

Temporary-import procedures, security amounts, permitted stay, declarations of onboard equipment and departure cancellation requirements for foreign private yachts in Iran could not be confirmed. General Customs temporary-import rules do not establish the specific treatment of private yachts or crew effects. Before departure, confirm vessel registration, crew list, previous-port clearance, onboard-goods declarations, security/permit requirements and how records will be cancelled or settled on exit with Iranian Customs and maritime authorities.

Iran Customs’ official website was not reliably accessible during this review. The Customs Act text located on a reposted website is not an original Iranian government publication and cannot alone serve as verified yacht-law authority.

Sources: Iran Customs traveller information; reposted text of the Iranian Customs Affairs Act (not an original government source).

A health/quarantine/biosecurity procedure for foreign private yachts in Iran could not be confirmed. Before departure, ask the health/quarantine authority at the intended port about vessel health declarations, crew health documents, food and animal/plant products, pets and waste, and whether a ship sanitation certificate or onboard inspection is required. WHO port-health information may help identify the general framework but does not show that a port accepts private yachts or that a yacht has entry permission; do not infer yacht quarantine clearance from commercial-vessel or cargo rules.

Current travel safety: As of 2 November 2026, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) continues to advise against travel to Iran and says maritime traffic is under Iranian control and ports may close at short notice. This is travel advice, not a general Iranian legal ban on all vessels. Recheck current maritime notices and rules applicable to the vessel before departure.

Sources: WHO port-health framework; FCDO Iran travel advice.

A complete current Iranian prohibited/restricted-goods list for foreign private yachts and crew declaration/permit procedures could not be confirmed. Do not treat commercial-cargo import restrictions as a complete list for yacht stores. Before departure, ask Customs and relevant authorities whether firearms/ammunition, controlled medicines, drones, communications/satellite equipment, alcohol, animal/plant products and other items require declaration or permits or are prohibited. These are categories to check in advance, not a claim that all are prohibited.

Also check applicable sanctions based on the vessel’s flag, owner, crew nationalities, counterparties and services. UK sanctions amendments effective September 2026 expanded financial, trade and transport restrictions, including maritime goods, services and vessel-related limits; OFAC also publishes Iran sanctions and transit-fee advisories. Scope depends on jurisdiction, parties and activity; this does not mean all private yachts are automatically unlawful or that an exemption can be assumed.

Sources: Iran Customs traveller information (not reliably accessible in this review); UK Iran sanctions amendment notice; U.S. OFAC Iran sanctions.

A uniform Iranian port check-in, waiting anchorage, communications channel, boarding sequence, pilotage or berthing process for foreign private yachts could not be verified. Do not assume that commercial-vessel procedures or unofficial cruiser accounts apply. As of 2 November 2026, the UK FCDO continues to advise against travel to Iran and says ports or borders may close at short notice; MARAD’s current advisory describes elevated commercial-shipping risks in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM separately announced resuming a blockade of maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports in July 2026. These are security, military and navigation-risk notices, not Iranian local clearance rules or proof that every vessel is subject to the same legal restrictions.

Before any voyage or port call, verify through reliable official channels whether restrictions remain in force and apply to this vessel, and obtain explicit instructions from port and border authorities.

Sources: FCDO Iran travel advice; MARAD Advisory 2026-011; CENTCOM notice.

Current Iranian charges for foreign private yachts—port, berth, pilotage, health, Customs, departure or temporary-import cancellation—could not be verified, and no official uniform yacht tariff was found. Commercial shipping and cargo rates should not automatically be applied to private yachts. Before any authorized voyage, obtain written confirmation through verifiable official channels from the destination port about all applicable fees, calculation basis, payee and departure-release formalities. Regional security and sanctions may affect insurance, payments, agents and port services; do not treat unverified charges or informal payment requests as statutory port dues.

Sources: Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran (not reliably accessible in this review); OFAC Iran sanctions information; OFAC advisory on Strait of Hormuz tolls.