Important update: The visa on arrival for Iran has always been – and still is – available but, since summer 2022, some airlines (only some) have denied access onboard to passengers without a valid visa. This means that you should try to get your visa in advance.
Getting an Iran tourist visa might sound a bit complicated and overwhelming to some travelers, as there are many variables and a couple of exceptions to take into account.
However, the Government is also trying to make the Iran visa policy easier and facilitate the process for many nationalities.
This is the ultimate guide to getting a visa for Iran, where you will find all the latest updated information.
For more practical information, read my 80 useful tips for traveling to Iran
In this Iranian visa guide you will find:
Who is eligible for a free visa
Iran visa on arrival (VOA)
When to apply in advance
How to apply for a visa in advance
Visa duration
Visa extension
Visa for American, UK and Canadians
More Information
It’s mandatory to have travel insurance to get your visa on arrival in Iran.
Because of the sanctions, most insurance companies don’t provide coverage for Iran, but IATI Insurance does.
Get your exclusive 5% discount if purchasing via this link.
Who can apply for a free Iran tourist visa?
Most likely, you can’t enter Iran on a free visa because only 8 countries are eligible for that. These lucky countries are:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Georgia, Malaysia, Syria, Turkey, Venezuela
If you don’t hold a passport from any of the above countries, you must pay for your visa.
Exception!
If you enter via Kish Island, all nationalities who are eligible for a VOA, can get a 14-day free Iran tourist visa if they remain in Kish. You may think: who the hell wants to travel to Iran to just remain in Kish? Well, the truth is that many European expats living in Dubai or Doha fly out to Kish to spend the weekend there.
Iran visa on arrival (VOA)
VERY IMPORTANT – UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2022
While getting a visa on arrival at the airport in Tehran is still possible, new travel reports (2022) have suggested that some airlines might require it so, otherwise, they won’t let you on board. This has come as a really big surprise for many travelers, especially because technically, you can still purchase your visa upon arrival in Iran. My recommendation: Do get your visa in advance. Keep reading to learn more.
Except for citizens of:
Canada, UK, US, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka
Everybody can get an Iran visa on arrival at several international airports in Iran, as long as your airline allows you to get on board.
Important! Of course, citizens of Israel can’t enter Iran.
According to MFA, if there is any evidence on your passport, your visa will be granted as long your last visit to Israel was more than six months ago.
However, I would not rely 100% on it so, if you have any evidence, I would recommend renewing your passport.
For more information, read: Avoid Israeli passport stamps – FAQ
Update – Iran isn’t stamping passports anymore. Instead, they give you a separate piece of paper. However, remember that, if you decide to do an Iran visa extension, you will get a full-page stamp.
Which airports are eligible for an Iran tourist visa on arrival?
Tehran, Shiraz, Esfahan, Qeshm & Kish Island, Mashhad, and Tabriz
Iran travel visa requirements – VOA
Hotel reservation – You need to bring your hotel reservation printed out for your first night in Iran at least. If you are staying with a friend, make sure to have their contact details.
Your host contact – Have in hand your host contact details, whether it is a hotel or a friend. If they can’t contact them, you may have to wait at the airport for a very long time.
Cash, preferably in € – You must pay your visa in cash.
Travel Insurance – All travelers must have valid travel insurance for Iran. If you do have it, you should bring any documents which prove it.
If you don’t, they will make you buy it at the airport and these are the approximate prices:
- 1 to 31 days: 14€
- 32 to 45 days: 23€
- 46 to 62 days: 28€
- 63 to 92 days: 34€
However, the insurance you buy at the airport has very limited coverage, so coming with proper insurance is a must.
Iranian visa fee
It depends on your nationality but, typically, all passports pay around 75€.
Australians pay 140€
In Iran, many websites are blocked, so you will need a VPN to access them. Read how to find the right VPN for Iran
When you need to apply for an Iran tourist visa in advance
Important update: The visa on arrival for Iran has always been – and still is – available but, since summer 2022, some airlines (only some) have denied access onboard to passengers without a valid visa. This means that you should try to get your visa in advance.
If you can get a visa on arrival, why should you get it in advance?
There are some exceptions:
1 – You enter Iran overland
If are coming from Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan or Turkey, you must apply for your visa in advance.
Apparently, a VOA is available at the Armenian border but there are some reports of people who tried to cross there recently, who failed to get a visa, so don’t rely 100% on it.
2 – You don’t want to wait at the airport for several hours
If you already have your visa, you can enter the country immediately. However, the VOA process takes around 2 or 3 hours and, in some cases, me for example, it may take up to 6 hours.
Reasons for waiting hours vary but, in my case, it was because I didn’t have a return flight ticket, said that I planned to travel to Iraqi Kurdistan afterward and had a brand-new passport. They found me a bit suspicious.
3 – To secure your visa
There are some reports from travelers who claimed that their VOA was not granted because they didn’t have a return flight ticket or because the authorities could not contact their host or any other excuse.
The percentage of people in this situation is very low but still, there might be some small risk.
If you want to make sure, get your visa in advance.
4 – You are an American, British or Canadian citizen
Like I said before, these three nationalities are not eligible for a VOA, so you will have to arrange your visa via a tour company.
How to apply for an Iran tourist visa in advance
It’s mandatory to have travel insurance to get your visa on arrival in Iran.
Because of the sanctions, most insurance companies don’t provide coverage for Iran, but IATI Insurance does.
Get your exclusive 5% discount if purchasing via this link.
In order to get your Iran visit visa in advance, you will have to first get a code which, basically, is a letter of invitation from a tour operator.
Once you have this code, you will be able to collect your visa at any embassy or at any airport.
How to get your Iran visa code?
As you may imagine, there are quite a few companies that can provide this code.
I strongly recommend 1stQuest. Why?
Basically, because they offer the lowest rate, their system is easy, fast and they are very responsive.
A few things you should know regarding the Iran visa code:
- The code is valid for one month – Which means that you need to collect your visa within a month.
- Iran visa code cost – It costs 29€.
- Timing – Since very recently, it only takes 1 to 3 working days.
- You are planning to enter Iran overland – You will have to pick up your visa at the embassy and you will have to mention which embassy at the application, as 1stQuest will send the code to them.
- You are flying in Iran – You need to tell which airport, so you will just have to collect, very quickly, your visa once you arrive at the airport.
Moreover, the readers of this blog can use my discount code to get an exclusive 5% discount which can be used for all the services of 1stQuest, not only for your visa but for travel insurance, booking hotels, and tours.
This is my discount code which you can use as many times as you want: ATC-QST
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR YOUR VISA CODE WITH 1stQuest
How to pick up your Iranian visa at the embassy
Only needed if you are entering Iran overland. Otherwise, you can collect directly at the airport and avoid all the waiting time.
Once you get the code, you can pick up your visa.
Since I was in Tajikistan, after traveling the Pamir Highway and the Wakhan Valley, I decided to pick it up in Dushanbe.
However, regardless of the embassy, your first step will be to verify that your code has arrived at the embassy.
For this, the agency will give you a tracking number which you need to show at the embassy. However, you could actually call them and there’s no need to go to the embassy.
I still went to the embassy but only because it was really close to my hostel. Either way, you will have to wait for one day until they check that the code has arrived.
Get your visa code through 1stQuest, and use my promo code to get your exclusive 5% discount: ATC-QST
Iran travel visa requirements – Needed documents to apply for your Iran visa at the embassy
- Passport with a minimum of 6 months’ validity
- Passport copy
- 2 passport photos
- Visa application form – To be collected and filled at the embassy
When you have all your documents, you can go to the embassy.
For EU nationalities, the price is 75€. An Australian friend paid 150€.
You will have to make the deposit at the Iranian bank and come back with your payslip. The bank is very close to the embassy and they guy will give you the address.
Once you show the payslip, you will have to leave your passport and come back on the next day (or the same afternoon) to collect your visa.
e-Visa for Iran
In 2017, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) launched a website where you can actually apply for your visa.
However, you need to know that this is not a regular e-visa portal but, in the unlikely case you managed to apply successfully, it just gives you the same code as 1stQuest does, which means that you still need to go to the embassy.
The only advantage of the e-visa is that it is a bit cheaper but the application process takes ages, plus in most cases it doesn’t work. Most travelers report that the visa verification remains as pending for weeks.
Remember to get your visa code through 1stQuest, and use my promo code to get your exclusive 5% discount: ATC-QST
Duration of the Iranian visa
Normally, everybody traveling to Iran should be able to get a 30-day visa, regardless you enter via airport or overland.
Iran Visa Extensions
Extending your visa is very easy and feasible.
Typically, if you get a 1-month visa, you can extend it twice for 30 days. This means that you can travel in Iran for up to 90 days.
You can extend your visa at any Immigration Visa Office in any provincial capital. Yazd or Esfahan are very popular places to extend your visa among travelers.
I personally extended mine in Bandar Abbas, a southern city. Each office has its own rules but, in Bandar Abbas, they required a passport and visa copy and two passport photos. The one-month extension cost me 345,000IR and it took 24 hours to proceed.
Visa for Americans, UK and Canadian citizens
It’s mandatory to have travel insurance to get your visa on arrival in Iran.
Because of the sanctions, most insurance companies don’t provide coverage for Iran, but IATI Insurance does.
Get your exclusive 5% discount if purchasing via this link.
As you may know, the MFA requires Americans, British and Canadian nationals to make a tour from arrival to departure; essentially this means you need a guide at all times on a daily basis.
Citizens of these countries need to have a confirmed itinerary, which should be requested from a valid tour company. For this, they should send a passport copy, as well as passport photos to the tour operator.
Typically, getting the invitation letter takes around 30 working days.
It is highly recommended that these nationalities book their international flight ticket after receiving the LOI, as there have been several refusals.
More information for visiting Iran
Don’t forget to check our travel guide to Iran.
As well as all our Iran articles:
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