Duolingo English Test Unavailable for Iranian ID Holders: What Students Need to Know

Last updated on 30 Aug 2026

The Duolingo English Test (DET) has announced an important new restriction affecting test takers in Iran and students using Iranian identification.

According to a new article in the official Duolingo English Test Help Center, “The Duolingo English Test is unavailable in Iran and for users with Iranian IDs.”

For Iranian students planning international university applications, this could have an immediate impact—especially for anyone who intended to use the DET to meet an upcoming English proficiency requirement.

Here is what we know, what remains unclear, and what affected students should do next.

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What Has Duolingo Officially Announced?

Duolingo has added a specific Iran-related notice to its English Test Help Center.

The official statement is very short but important: the DET is unavailable both in Iran and for users with Iranian IDs.

That wording means the restriction is broader than simply blocking students who are physically taking the test from inside Iran.

A student using an Iranian ID may also be affected when attempting to take the test from another country.

However, students should be careful not to interpret this as saying that every Iranian citizen worldwide is automatically unable to take the DET. The official wording specifically refers to users with Iranian IDs.

When Does the Restriction Begin?

This is where the available information needs to be separated into confirmed and reported information.

The public DET Help Center confirms the restriction but does not currently provide an effective date.

However, a response reportedly sent by a Duolingo English Test support supervisor and shared in an Iranian DET community says the policy takes effect September 1, 2026.

The reported response also says the change is necessary to comply with a directive from the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Because the September 1 date does not currently appear on the public DET Help Center page, students should treat the official Help Center as the primary source and contact DET support directly if their test is scheduled around the transition period.

Can Iranian Students Take the DET From Another Country?

Simply traveling outside Iran does not appear to solve the problem if you are still using Iranian identification.

The official DET announcement contains two separate conditions: the test is unavailable in Iran and unavailable for users with Iranian IDs.

This distinction is important.

For example, an Iranian student who travels to Turkey but still needs to verify their identity using an Iranian passport should not assume that being outside Iran makes them eligible.

There is, however, an important possible exception.

The reported DET support response circulating among students says that an Iranian citizen who holds official identification issued by another country may still be able to take the DET as long as that person is also physically outside Iran.

Students in this situation should confirm their eligibility directly with DET support before purchasing or attempting the test.

Why Is Iran Still Listed on DET's Accepted Identification Page?

There is currently a confusing inconsistency in Duolingo's Help Center.

The general Accepted Identification page still lists an Iranian passport as an accepted identification document.

At the same time, the newer Iran-specific Help Center article explicitly says the DET is unavailable for users with Iranian IDs.

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Students should therefore follow the more specific Iran policy rather than assuming that the presence of an Iranian passport on the general ID list means they can currently take the test.

The ID list may simply not yet reflect the newer restriction.

What If You Already Purchased a Duolingo English Test?

This is one of the biggest unanswered questions.

The short public announcement does not currently explain what happens to students who:

already purchased a DET
purchased a two-test bundle
have an unused test credit
have a test scheduled soon
recently completed the test and are waiting for certification

It also does not explain whether affected students will automatically receive refunds.

If you already purchased the test and believe the new restriction applies to you, contact Duolingo English Test support directly before attempting another test or purchasing anything else.

Include your account information and purchase details and ask specifically whether your existing test credit can still be used or whether you qualify for a refund.

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Are Previous DET Scores Still Valid?

The official announcement does not say that previously certified DET scores have been cancelled or invalidated.

That distinction matters.

Being unable to take a new test is different from having an existing certified score cancelled.

If you already have a valid certified DET result, do not automatically assume that your score can no longer be used.

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You should check the requirements of the university receiving your score and contact DET or the university directly if you are concerned about an existing result.

What Should You Do If Your University Deadline Is Approaching?

If you were planning to take the DET soon, don't wait until your application deadline to investigate alternatives.

First, check the English proficiency requirements on your university's official admissions website.

Look for other accepted tests such as:

TOEFL iBT
IELTS Academic
PTE Academic
Cambridge English qualifications
another English proficiency option specifically approved by the university

Requirements vary considerably between universities and even between programs at the same university.

You should also contact the admissions office if your application is already underway.

Explain that a new restriction may prevent you from taking your planned English proficiency exam and ask what alternatives the university will accept.

Do not assume that because a university accepts DET it will automatically accept every other English test.

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Don't Try to Bypass the Restriction

Students should also avoid attempting to circumvent the policy with a VPN, false location information, borrowed identification, or another person's documents.

The restriction specifically mentions Iranian identification, so changing your apparent internet location would not necessarily solve the problem anyway.

More importantly, DET has strict identity verification and test-security requirements. Trying to circumvent those requirements could create much bigger problems for your test or university application.

What Iranian DET Students Should Do Now

If this change affects you, the best approach depends on where you are in the application process.

If you haven't purchased the DET yet:
Confirm your eligibility before paying for the test.

If you already purchased the DET:
Contact DET support and ask specifically about your test credit and refund options.

If you already have a certified DET score:
Check with your university before assuming anything has changed regarding that score.

If your application deadline is close:
Contact the university immediately and ask which alternative English proficiency tests it will accept.

If you hold official identification from another country:
Contact DET support to confirm whether that identification makes you eligible before attempting the test.

The Situation May Change

This is a developing situation.

The official DET announcement is currently extremely brief, and several important questions—including refunds, existing purchases and previously certified scores—are not addressed on the public Iran-specific Help Center page.

DET Study will continue monitoring official Duolingo English Test information and update this guidance if Duolingo publishes additional details.

For now, affected students should rely on official DET support and their universities for decisions involving individual test eligibility or admissions requirements.

Preparing for the DET Outside Iran?

If you are still eligible to take the Duolingo English Test, make sure you understand the current test format and are comfortable with every question type before using a paid attempt.

DET Study provides practice across the DET question types, including speaking, writing, reading and listening practice, along with AI-powered feedback to help identify areas that need improvement before test day.

The goal should be to use your actual DET attempt only when you are confident that both your preparation and your testing eligibility are in order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Iranian students still take the Duolingo English Test?

The official Duolingo English Test Help Center says the DET is unavailable in Iran and for users with Iranian IDs. Iranian citizens with identification issued by another country may be in a different situation, but they should confirm their eligibility directly with DET before purchasing or taking the test.

Can I travel outside Iran and take the DET with my Iranian passport?

You should not assume that you can. The official policy specifically says the DET is unavailable for users with Iranian IDs, not simply people physically located in Iran. Contact DET support before making travel plans specifically to take the test.

What happens if I already have a Duolingo English Test score?

The current public announcement does not state that previously certified scores are invalid. If you already have a certified result, check with the university receiving your score and contact DET if you need confirmation about your individual situation.