Iran Visas: Obtaining A Visa For Iran
30-day tourist visas are currently the norm for visitors to Iran, though Turkish passport holders and Macedonian passport holders are issued a 3-month visa on arrival.
Passport holders from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia presently do not need a visa to enter Iran.
Visitors from Israel are not issued visas, though people with Israeli stamps in their passports are not denied visas.
If your Iranian visa is refused for any reason, you may not have the application fee returned to you in some cases.
Most visa applicants now need a "sponsor" to gain a visa, which is most cases will be a visa or travel agency.
You will require a passport with more than six months validity, four passport-sized photos, the visa fee and a reference number issued by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Iran Visas for US Nationals
Allow yourself plenty of time before departure to secure your visa. US visitors may only be issued a visa as part of a group tour or an individual tour.
In order to get your visa for Iran apply to an approved Iranian travel agent in your country of residence. The approved Iranian travel agent will apply to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your behalf. Following authorization by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs your visa will be sent to the nearest Iranian Embassy or Consulate (see below) and you will receive a reference number to allow you to process and receive your Iran visa.
Once you have applied in good time (typically up to 6 weeks before you depart) and receive your visa you must enter Iran within 90 days. Usually the applicant must fill out 2 application forms, present 2 photographs (women may need to be photographed with hair covered), have a passport with at least 6 months validity and pay the visa fee.
Iran Visas For UK Nationals
UK passport holders are required to book a tour and travel in the company of an official guide at all times while in Iran. If you are not of "English" heritage (Iraqi, Afghan, Syrian or Tanzanian), you qualify for a normal Iran tourist visa.
Types of Iran Visas
There are different kinds of visas to enter Iran including: Business Visa, Entry Visa, Tourist Visa, Transit Visa and Journalist Visa.
Extending Your Iran Visa
If you wish to extend your visa for Iran, this can be done relatively smoothly in Tehran or other major cities including Esfahan, Kerman, Mashhad, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Zahedan at the provincial police station.
Visa On Arrival
Passport-holders from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam are eligible to obtain a visa upon arrival (VOA) at Iranian airports.
These visas are of 15 days validity and can be extended for a further 15 days at Iranian international airports (see the list below) or immigration offices.
Visa on Arrival Airports
Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA), Tehran Mehrabad Airport (THR), Mashad Airport (MHD), Shiraz Airport (SYZ), Tabriz Airport (TBZ) and Isfahan Airport (ISF).
*Note: your visa may be denied on arrival (for example if you have been refused a visa in the past). It is recommended you obtain a visa for Iran before arrival.
Foreign visitors to Kish Island do not require a visa and are granted a VOA for a stay of 14 days.
Iranian Embassies Overseas
Australia
25 Culgoa Circuit OMalley
ACT 2606 Canberra
Tel: 02 6290 2427
Canada
245 Metcalfe St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2K2
Tel: 613 233 4726
Denmark
Engskiftevej 6
2100 Copenhagen
Tel: 391 600 71
France
4, Avenue D'Iiena
75116 Paris
Tel: 01 406 97900
Germany
Podbielskiallee 65/67,
14195 Berlin
Tel: 030 84 3530
Indonesia
Jalan HOS Cokroaminoto 110,
Menteng, Jakarta 10310
Phone : 21 3193 1378
Ireland
72 Mount Merrion Avenue
Blackrock
Dublin
Telephone: 01 288 5881
Japan
3-13-9 Minami Azabu,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047
Tel: 03 3446 8011
Netherlands
Duinweg 20
2585JX Den Haag
Tel: 070 354 8483
New Zealand
151 Te Anua Road,
Hataitai, Wellington
Tel: 04 386 2976
Norway
Drammens veien 88 E
0244 Oslo
Tel: 23 27 29 60
United Kingdom
16 Princes Gate
London SW7 1PT
Tel: 0207 225 3000
United States of America
The Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistan Embassy
2209 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington 20007
Tel: 202 965 4990
Foreign embassies and consulates in Iran