Iran's Central Bank Revises Rules for Tourist Rial Cards

In an explanation of revised tourist rial-card rules published on Saturday, 17 October 2026, Iran's central bank said the exchange rate for buying or selling currency to a nonresident foreign tourist is to be agreed between the customer and the bank or exchange firm on the day of the transaction. All licensed exchange firms may take part through their servicing bank. The central bank official said cards may be topped up only through a purchase of the tourist's dollars or euros, up to the rial equivalent of 5,000 euros; transfers from another card are prohibited. The revision has been circulated to banks and exchange firms to make rial payment tools more accessible to visitors.