Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport

Iran is on the European Union's common list of countries whose citizens need an airport transit visa (visa A), even to stay in the international transit area of a Schengen airport such as Paris-CDG. France's national list adds nothing for Iran. Under the EU Visa Code (consolidated version of 28 June 2024) and the European Commission's Visa Code Handbook of 26 June 2024 (section 3.3.1), you do not need it if you hold a valid Schengen visa, or a long-stay visa or residence permit from a Schengen country. A visa or residence permit from Ireland or Cyprus also counts. A valid visa for the United States, Canada or Japan counts when you travel to or from that country, or on to any other non-EU country. Residence permits from the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Andorra and San Marino that the EU lists count too. A UK visa alone does not count. Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens covered by EU free movement rules, and holders of diplomatic passports, are also exempt. An airport transit visa does not let you leave the transit area. If your next flight goes to another Schengen country, or you leave the airport (for example to collect bags on separate tickets), you enter France and need a Schengen visa. Iranian passports cannot use the automatic PARAFE gates, so you queue for a border officer. People with a short-stay visa are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System instead of getting a stamp. The French embassy in Tehran says visa applications go to the VFS centre by appointment from 14 June (message updated 3 September 2026), up to six months before travel. Check with the embassy or your airline before you book.

The airport's airline pages, read on 5 November 2026, show Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Lufthansa in Terminal 1, and Air France in Terminals 2E, 2F and 2G. Terminal 2 has halls 2A to 2G. Terminal 2E has three gate areas, K, L and M, linked after security by the free LISA shuttle. Terminal 3 is a separate building. The airport's flight search showed no Tehran flight on 5 November 2026. From 16 March 2027 the terminals get numbers: Terminal 1 stays 1, Terminal 3 becomes 2, 2A and 2C become 3, 2B and 2D become 4, 2E becomes 5, 2F becomes 6 and 2G becomes 7. The boarding areas get new letters at the same time; for example, the K, L and M areas of today's 2E will be called B, C and D in Terminal 5. Tickets sold from 16 March 2026 may already show the new names. Between terminals inside the secure area, the airport lists free shuttle buses, but its own pages give different colours and routes, so follow the signs for your next terminal and ask staff which bus to take. Some routes inside Terminal 2 are on foot. On separate tickets, after you leave the secure area, the free CDGVAL train links Terminal 1, Terminal 3 and the Terminal 2 station from 4:00 to 1:00; it does not reach 2G, where the N2 shuttle bus goes. The airport gives times between flights of about 90 minutes inside Terminal 1 or inside Terminal 2, 60 minutes inside Terminal 3, 120 minutes between Terminal 1 and 2A to 2F, and 150 minutes between Terminal 1 and 2G. It says these are average walking and transport times without queues, strictly for information only. An Iranian passport holder cannot use the automatic PARAFE gates, so must queue for an officer wherever the route has border control, and must also queue at transfer security. Our own advice: on one ticket, allow at least 3 hours when you change terminal. Air France recommends at least 1.5 hours between flights for passengers who travel with assistance. Free rolling seats called Flaneuses are in many boarding areas, and raised seats in boarding lounges carry a symbol on the back.

Ask your airline or travel agency, not the airport, at least 48 hours before your flight, and best when you book. The airport says the service is free in all terminals and open to elderly people who need help, as well as people who use a wheelchair or find walking hard. Ask for help on every flight of your trip, and say you also need help with your connection in Paris. Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Air France ask for requests at least 48 hours before the flight; Turkish Airlines says later requests are met as far as possible, depending on availability. Emirates asks you to request help when you book. If you have separate tickets, ask each airline.

On a connection, the airport's Mobility Assistance team takes you to your next gate, by a special shuttle if needed. When you land, the airport says the team meets you at the aircraft exit or at your seat. If your next flight leaves the Schengen area, they also help you through border control. Mobility Assistance areas are in Terminal 1 (level 3), 2A (level 1, after security), 2A-2C boarding (level 1), 2B-2D (level 1), 2E (level 2), 2F (level 2), 2G (level 0) and Terminal 3 (level 0). All except the 2A area are before security. At 2A, level 1, before security, there is only a call point, not an assistance area. More call points are in the car parks and reception areas. If you are changing planes on one ticket and booked help, wait at the plane for the team; if no one comes, ask the cabin crew or the staff at the door.

The team does not help inside the toilet, with eating or with taking medicine. The airport says disabled passengers can use priority lines at security and at border control. Wheelchairs can be rented at the Mobility Assistance points, but they are not electric and must be pushed by a companion; if you travel alone, book the free Mobility Assistance through your airline instead. If you travel in your own wheelchair, you can use it up to the aircraft door; check this with your airline. Adapted changing rooms with an adult changing table are after security in Terminal 1 (level 11), 2E (gates K, L and M), 2B-2D and 2F. The airport has easy-read guides with photos for connecting flights on one booking and on two bookings.

Flight screens show your terminal and gate; Air France passengers can also use Air France kiosks. If you are unsure, show your boarding pass to airport or airline staff and ask. Paris Aéroport's phone line is 3950 inside France (0.35 euro a minute from a French landline, 8:00 to 20:00) or +33 1 70 36 39 50 from abroad. On the airport website you can search your flight to switch on WhatsApp alerts for delays and gate changes, and see live waiting times at security and border control. Airline desks deal with missed connections and rebooking. We found no official statement that staff speak Persian or Arabic, so keep a written note of your next flight and terminal to show staff. Money: France uses the euro. Global Exchange currency exchange offices are in all terminals, some after security (for example 2E gates M and Terminal 1 level 4), and Euronet cash machines are in every terminal, many after security. The airport's page says Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards work almost anywhere in the world, but it says nothing about cards issued in Iran, so bring some euros in cash.

Free rest areas with seats are in Terminal 2E (gates K and L, after security), 2F (level 2, after security) and Terminal 1 (level 2, before security). Terminals 2E and 2F also have relaxation areas with loungers. YotelAir, a paid hotel in the Terminal 2E gates L transfer area, is open 24 hours with 80 cabins, booked for at least 4 hours. Multi-faith prayer areas after security, open to everyone at all hours: Terminal 1 international boarding gates 10 to 38, near the fast food restaurant and the Extime lounge; Terminal 2E gates L, level 2, in the transit area near the hotel (follow the signs); and Terminal 3 gates 1 to 8, opposite Pret A Manger. Each of these three also has a Muslim prayer room. Terminal 2B, after security, has only a multi-faith prayer area. Before security there are prayer rooms in Terminal 1 (CDGVAL level, halls 5 and 6, 6:30 to 23:30) and Terminal 2F (arrivals level 0, between exits 1a and 2a, 4:00 to 23:30). The airport says it is not possible to pray in public spaces. Muslim chaplains (imams) work at the airport; their phone numbers are on the airport's prayer room page. The Medical Centre (Terminal 2F, arrivals level, entrance 17) and the pharmacies (Terminal 1 level 3, 2A-2C level 1, 2E level 2, 2F level 2) are all before security, so on one ticket you cannot reach them. Carry all your medicines in your hand luggage. Vending machines with basic health items are at toilet entrances, open 24 hours.