Bag missing at Tehran IKA? Report it before you pass the customs glass doors.
Arriving in Tehran without your suitcase is stressful, especially when foreign bank cards do not work and replacing essentials takes planning. Most delayed bags do turn up, usually on a later flight, but how you report the problem at Imam Khomeini Airport makes a real difference.
This guide explains where to report, what to bring, the Iran-specific details to prepare for and what you may be able to claim.
بار گمشده
Bâr-e gomshode
Lost & delayed baggage
Report · Trace · Deliver
Customs
Report before the customs glass doors
At IKA, the baggage carousels are in the secure arrivals area of Terminal 1, before Iranian customs. Once you walk through the glass doors into the public arrivals hall, where drivers and families wait, you will generally not be allowed back in. If your bag is missing, stay in the baggage hall and report it there first.
Your Recovery Timeline at IKA
From the carousel to your hotel
Step 1 · 0–30 min
Check everything
All carousels and the oversized baggage area, where boxes, carpets and sports gear are often unloaded.
Step 2 · 30–60 min
File your report
Complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at your airline's baggage desk and keep the reference number.
Step 3 · 1–24 h
Tracing
The airline searches for the bag; many are put on the next flight, often via Istanbul, Dubai or Doha.
Step 4 · 24–48 h
Customs and delivery
The bag clears Iranian customs and is delivered, commonly to your hotel in Tehran. Timings are typical, not guaranteed.
Step 5 · Later
Still missing?
Airlines treat a bag as lost after a set period. Ask yours how long, and what to submit.
Who Handles Your Missing Bag?
Your airline is your main contact
Terminal 1 arrivals
Most international flights arrive at Terminal 1. Report to your airline's baggage service desk in the baggage hall; follow the "Lost baggage" signs or ask staff to point you to it.
CIP terminal passengers
If you booked CIP (VIP) arrival, the CIP team can usually help with reporting and follow-up. Tell them straight away that a bag is missing.
Other terminals
Some flights use other facilities, such as the Salam Terminal. The rule is the same: report it to your airline before you leave the arrivals area.
Three Iran-Specific Things to Prepare
Small details that make delivery and claims easier
Cards and cash
Foreign Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards do not work in Iran, so carry cash for essentials. Ask your airline how it reimburses expenses; it may be in cash or after you return home. Keep every receipt.
A reachable phone number
Couriers usually call before delivery. Use a local SIM (for example Irancell or Hamrah-e Aval) or give your hotel's reception number and tell the hotel a bag is coming.
Customs authorisation
You may be asked to authorise the airline or its agent to clear the bag through Iranian customs for you. If you do not, you may need to return to IKA to clear it in person.
Documents to Bring to the Desk
Keep originals until your bag is back
Passport
The one you travelled on.
Boarding pass and bag tag stubs
The barcode stickers from check-in.
Your PIR copy
With your reference number.
A local contact number
Your Iranian SIM or hotel reception.
Your full hotel address
Hotel name, street and district in Tehran.
Your Rights and Compensation
Which rules apply to flights to Iran?
Warsaw, not always Montreal
Iran is not a party to the 1999 Montreal Convention. Journeys to or from Iran are therefore often covered by the older Warsaw Convention system, which usually limits airline liability for checked baggage by weight, and can be much lower than Montreal limits. The rules that apply depend on your full itinerary and ticket, and Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) also sets local rules.
Ask your airline which rules apply to your journey, and consider travel insurance for valuables.
21
days
Delay: a written complaint is generally due within 21 days of receiving the bag.
7
days
Damage: a written complaint is generally due within 7 days of receiving the bag.
Essential purchases
If you are away from home, you may be able to claim reasonable costs for toiletries, underwear and a basic change of clothes, depending on your airline's policy. Keep itemised receipts.
If the bag is lost
Ask your airline when the bag will be treated as lost and what to submit: usually a contents list, receipts or proof of value, your report and your tag details.
Final Tips for Delayed Bags at Tehran IKA
Stay in the baggage hall, report the missing bag at your airline's desk, keep your reference and receipts, and give a reachable phone number and your exact hotel address. Carry enough cash for essentials, as foreign cards do not work in Iran, and ask your airline early which compensation rules apply to your journey.