The British Council in Türkiye states on its IELTS booking page that, effective 14 October, Iranian IELTS test takers who are not Turkish citizens must provide valid proof of residency in Türkiye in order to take the test. According to the notice, the rule applies to all candidates who hold an Iranian passport, including those who registered before it took effect, and candidates visiting on a tourist visa are not eligible. The notice says the policy cannot be altered. It gives the effective date without a year; it appears on the current booking page, read on 24 October 2026.
The notice concerns British Council IELTS centres in Türkiye. It does not mention IELTS centres in Türkiye run by other organisations, or British Council centres in other countries. The GDC accepts IELTS Academic as evidence of English for registration, and IELTS is among the tests on Ahpra's accepted list. Two other test owners already restrict Iran residents: ETS states it cannot process TOEFL or GRE registrations or payments for people ordinarily resident in Iran, including for appointments outside Iran, and Pearson VUE's notice says that from 8 September 2026 it cannot schedule or deliver exams, including PTE Academic, for residents of Iran unless they provide proof of primary residency outside the country.
