International adoption country guide
Iran: adoption records and family tracing
Practical guidance for adoptees based in the UK who were adopted in Iran, were born there and adopted in the UK, or have a birth parent from there.
Research last refreshed: September 2026
Ask the Adoptee Rights Assistant
Start by identifying the records and rules that apply
Province, court, welfare office, institution, original and later shenasnameh details, and the precise date are critical. Iran is not listed as a party on the HCCH 1993 Adoption Convention status table.
Some preliminary enquiries can be made remotely, but official Iranian pages are mainly in Persian and access may require identity proof, an authorised representative or local legal advice. Do not send originals unless required.
Check the current procedure before applyingThis guide explains the likely process, but forms, contact details, eligibility and access rules can change. Check the linked source before sending identity documents or paying a fee.
Choose the situation that describes you
Adopted in Iran
What applies: First establish the date and place of the legal adoption or guardianship in Iran, and identify the original birth/civil, court, agency, welfare and institution records separately.
How to look for records: First establish whether the Iranian arrangement was guardianship/custody or an adoption recognised elsewhere. Keep Welfare Organization, court, institution, civil registration and UK immigration/receiving records separate.
How to look for family: No verified nationwide Iranian adult adoptee origins or tracing service was identified. Begin with the State Welfare Organization (Behzisti) and the provincial office or institution involved, the issuing court, the National Organization for Civil Registration/shenasnameh trail, and UK receiving, immigration and adoption records. Current official descriptions do not use one consistent English legal label: UK guidance describes adoption as legal, while US operational guidance describes custody/guardianship supervised by Welfare and the court. Preserve the original order's wording and date rather than converting it into a stronger category.
Important: Do not assume that access to one Iran record repository gives access to the whole file. Historic law, territorial rules and record survival may differ from the current process.
Born in Iran and brought to the UK to be adopted
What applies: First establish whether the legal adoption was completed in Iran or in the UK, or whether the country of origin order was guardianship/custody. If unknown, keep the procedures open.
How to look for records: Use the Iran birth/civil and before adoption or guardianship procedures described for this country, while separately tracing the UK adoption/receiving-agency, local authority, court and immigration trail.
How to look for family: No verified nationwide Iranian adult adoptee origins or tracing service was identified. Begin with the State Welfare Organization (Behzisti) and the provincial office or institution involved, the issuing court, the National Organization for Civil Registration/shenasnameh trail, and UK receiving, immigration and adoption records. Current official descriptions do not use one consistent English legal label: UK guidance describes adoption as legal, while US operational guidance describes custody/guardianship supervised by Welfare and the court. Preserve the original order's wording and date rather than converting it into a stronger category.
Important: The original birth-country record and the later UK adoption/recognition record are different sources. Nationality of the carers or adopters does not determine where the original birth record is held.
One parent was from Iran
What applies: Do not process this as an intercountry-adoption record case unless the user's own adoption occurred there. Start with the verified identity of the parent and the strongest known place/date in Iran.
How to look for records: Use civil registration, archives and genealogy resources for Iran once the parent's identity and locality are established. Adoption-specific authorities are relevant only if the parent's own adoption/history makes them so.
How to look for family: No verified nationwide Iranian adult adoptee origins or tracing service was identified. Begin with the State Welfare Organization (Behzisti) and the provincial office or institution involved, the issuing court, the National Organization for Civil Registration/shenasnameh trail, and UK receiving, immigration and adoption records. Current official descriptions do not use one consistent English legal label: UK guidance describes adoption as legal, while US operational guidance describes custody/guardianship supervised by Welfare and the court. Preserve the original order's wording and date rather than converting it into a stronger category.
Important: A parent being from this country does not by itself create an entitlement to adoption records. Living-person privacy and civil registration access rules may restrict what can be obtained.
Records and family finding
Start with records
First establish whether the Iranian arrangement was guardianship/custody or an adoption recognised elsewhere. Keep Welfare Organization, court, institution, civil registration and UK immigration/receiving records separate.
Looking for family
No verified nationwide Iranian adult adoptee origins or tracing service was identified. Begin with the State Welfare Organization (Behzisti) and the provincial office or institution involved, the issuing court, the National Organization for Civil Registration/shenasnameh trail, and UK receiving, immigration and adoption records. Current official descriptions do not use one consistent English legal label: UK guidance describes adoption as legal, while US operational guidance describes custody/guardianship supervised by Welfare and the court. Preserve the original order's wording and date rather than converting it into a stronger category.
DNA
Use DNA as a separate source of evidence, not as proof by itself. Prefer multiple matches/shared match analysis plus documentary evidence. Country-specific DNA programmes are listed where verified.
Peer support
No verified national adult adoptee tracing organisation was found in this pass. ICAV lists Iranian Adoptees Worldwide and the Swedish-language group Vi som är adopterade från Iran as peer groups. Their current activity and membership rules require checking; neither is an adoption authority or proof of relationship.
Practical next steps
If you have no namesExtract every court, Behzisti, institution, identity-document and locality reference from the Iranian and UK files, then ask each identified holder separately what survives and what authority is required for access.
If you have a name or placeUse the verified name plus province/city and date with civil registration, welfare/court files, archives and carefully bounded local enquiries. Keep identity-document changes distinct from evidence of biological parentage.
If the search has stalledRecord whether each office says a file is restricted, transferred, destroyed or not found. Consider an authorised local lawyer/researcher only after the official record map is clear, with written scope, fees and safeguarding terms.
Verified sources and resources
Official services and independent or adoptee-led resources are shown separately. Check current eligibility, security, costs and capacity before supplying personal information.
Official records and authorities
Identifying the national/provincial welfare authority associated with guardianship/adoption cases
Things to check: No adult adoptee origins-access service was verified; portal status and access from abroad require live checking
Adoptee-led peer and search resources
Lists Iranian Adoptees Worldwide and the Swedish-language Vi som är adopterade från Iran group
Things to check: Directory only; each linked group's current activity, safety and eligibility must be checked
Peer connection for people adopted from Iran
Things to check: Facebook membership, moderation and current activity could not be independently confirmed; not a government tracing service
ICAV directory process to the Swedish Iranian-adoptee peer group
Things to check: Direct Facebook availability, current activity and membership could not be independently confirmed; use the ICAV listing and live-check before referral
Other verified resources
Current official operational overview of Iranian adoption status, birth registration and shenasnameh documents
Things to check: Guidance for UK document examiners, not an Iranian records application or tracing service
Other verified resources
Historic and published sources for locality or family history research after identity clues are established
Things to check: Not an adoption or living person tracing service; access from abroad requires live checking
This country guide provides general information, not legal advice or a tracing service. Records and family finding across borders can involve privacy, consent and personal safety considerations. Verify the current official procedure before acting.
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