Visitors to

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

must obtain a

visa Visa most commonly refers to: *Visa Inc., a US multinational financial and payment cards company ** Visa Debit card issued by the above company ** Visa Electron, a debit card ** Visa Plus, an interbank network *Travel visa, a document that allows ...

from one of the Iranian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries eligible for a ''visa on arrival''. All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least six months.

Overview

Iranian authorities are exploring a potential visa waiver program under which visa limitations for 60 countries will be lifted as part of Iran's program to attract more tourists. Dual citizens of both Iran and another country count as citizens of Iran when visiting, and must have an

Iranian passport Iranian passports, also known as Persian passports, are issued to nationals of Iran for the purpose of international travel. The passport serves as a proof of Iranian citizenship. The Iranian passports are burgundy, with the Iranian emblem embla ...

. This includes children of Iranian citizens born outside of Iran. Iran no longer affixes visas to passports nor stamps them on entry as a response to the US sanctions on persons who have visited Iran after 2011. In November 2018, the head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), announced that the country will no longer stamp or put stickers to passports of foreign tourists in a bid to ease their concerns about traveling to other countries after leaving Iran. In June 2019 the President of Iran ordered the Interior Ministry to implement the decision on not stamping passports of foreigners.

Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has halted permits for all Tourist visas. “By the order of President eyyed Ebrahim Raisithe issuance of tourist visas and the flow of foreign tourists from land and air borders will be resumed from

he month of He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...

Aban (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) following 19 months of suspension,” Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Ezatollah Zarghami said. Iran is open now, and all Iran borders including sea and land borders are open to all tourists who received their two doses of vaccines, except the United Kingdom, France, and African countries, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Swatini, Lesotho and Botswana.(January 11-2022 updates) After an Iranian visa is received during COVID-19 pandemic, the following are required for entrance: a vaccine certification for two doses of valid COVID-19 vaccines no earlier than 14 days of arrival, a negative COVID-19 PCR test, issued at most 72 hours before arrival for all passengers over 12 years old, and a completed self-declaration form on inbound flights.

Visa policy map

In the visa policy map below you can see the visa requirements for different countries around the world. Visa policy of Iran

Visa-free

Citizens of the following 16 jurisdictions can visit Iran without a visa: _{1 – 90 days within 180 days.}
_{2 – only for arriving by air directly from Damascus

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, motto =
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.} * and signed visa-waiver agreement on 21 February 2022.

Iran free trade zones

All tourists may stay on Kish Island, Qeshm Island, or other free trade zones for 14 days or less without obtaining any visa. Americans, Canadians, and Britons are only required to have a certified escort guide waiting for them upon their arrival. Must obtain hotel reservations before your arrival. Overall, you can visit the following trade zones for up to 2 weeks without a visa in 2022: * Arvand Free Zone *

Aras Free Zone Aras Free Trade - Industrial Zone (abbreviated as AFZ) is located in the Northwest of Iran at the border point with neighboring Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. According to the Decree ''No. 20708/T/530820'', dated 28 ...

Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone Chabahar Free Trade–Industrial Zone (CFZ) ( fa, منطقه آزاد تجاری-صنعتی چابهار ) is an Iranian free trade zone formed according to the law on the establishment and administration of free trade–industrial zones . Ch ...

Maku, Iran Maku ( fa, ماكو, , az, ماكي, translit=Makı, ) is a city in the West Azerbaijan Province, Iran and the capital of Maku County. At the 2006 census, its population was 41,865, in 10,428 families. It is situated from the Turkish border i ...

* Qeshm Island *

Kish Island Kish ( fa, کیش ) is a resort island in Bandar Lengeh County, Hormozgān Province, off the southern coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf. Owing to its free trade zone status, the island is touted as a consumer's paradise, with numerous malls, ...

* Anzali

Kish and Qeshm Islands

All tourists, may stay on

or Qeshm Island for up to 14 days without obtaining any visa. Citizens of the United States, Canada, and the UK are only required to have a certified escort guide waiting for them upon their arrival. The guide has to have the hotel-reservation letters of the passenger with them and let the immigration office of the airport know about the arrival of the passenger 48 hours before arrival.

Diplomatic and service category passports

Holders of

passport A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the personal ...

s issued by the following countries are allowed to enter Iran without a visa. _{D — diplomatic passports}
_{O — official passports}
_{S — service passports}
_{Sp — special passports}

Iran Visa for American, British, Canadian and Colombian Citizens

Holders of American, British, Canadian and Colombian passports can also visit Iran with an Iran tourism visa. The visa procedure for these nationalities takes around eight weeks. They also have to plan and book their trip with a certified local travel agency in Iran. Before the visa can be issued, the agency has to submit the applicant's day-by-day itinerary to the foreign ministry for approval. American and Canadian spouses of Iranian Citizens can easily obtain family visas of up to ninety (90) days to visit and stay in the country without the need for an agency.

Visa application and requirements

Iran's tourist visa is issued for up to 30 days and can have up to two additional 30-day extensions, for a total of 90 days. To get a visa prior to arrival, a Visa Authorization Code must be applied for through the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affair's e-visa website or an Iranian travel agency. The amount of the visa fee is dependent upon one's nationality. The visa fee must be paid prior to pick-up or when applying for a VOA. Local Iranian travel agencies offer better support, trackability and convenience for an additional fee. Upon receiving a Visa Authorization Code, the visa may be collected at one of Iran's worldwide embassies and consulates prior to arrival or upon arrival at one of Iran's international airports. Most nationalities, except American, British and Canadian passport holders, can also obtain their tourist visa upon their arrival in the form of a Visa-On-Arrival (VOA) at the airport without a prior application. Although this method is convenient for last-minute travelers, it does have a higher risk of rejection and tends to be more time-consuming.

Visa on arrival

Holders of normal passports travelling as tourists can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days (extendable), at the following airports, as of January 2018: *

Bandar Abbas International Airport Bandar Abbas International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین المللی بندرعباس) is an international airport located in 12 kilometers east of the city of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, in southern Iran. The airport has flight con ...

(

Bandar Abbas Bandar Abbas or Bandar-e ‘Abbās ( fa, , , ), is a port city and capital of Hormozgān Province on the southern coast of Iran, on the Persian Gulf. The city occupies a strategic position on the narrow Strait of Hormuz (just across from Musan ...

) *

Isfahan International Airport Isfahan Shahid Beheshti International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین‌المللی شهید بهشتی اصفهان) is an international airport serving the city of Isfahan, Iran. Overview The airport is named in honor of Shahid Behesh ...

(

Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...

) *

Kish International Airport Kish International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین المللی کیش, ''Fervadgâh-e Bin Almilli-ye Kish'') is an international airport on Kish Island, Iran. Description The Kish International Airport serves as the entry point for the ...

(

) *

Mashhad International Airport Mashhad International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین‌المللی مشهد) is an international airport located in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Iran. Overview Mashhad international airport is the Iran's second-busiest airport, behind Te ...

(

Mashad Mashhad ( fa, مشهد, Mašhad ), also spelled Mashad, is the second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. It serves as the capital of Razavi Khorasan Province and has a po ...

) *

Qeshm International Airport Qeshm International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بين المللي قشم) is an international airport near the village of Dayrestan, roughly in the centre of Qeshm Island, off the south coast of Iran. Facilities Dr Allan Wain, economic ...

( Qeshm Island) *

Shiraz International Airport Shiraz International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین‌المللی شیراز) is an international airport located in Shiraz, Iran. It is the main international airport of Fars province and southern region of Iran. It is also the largest a ...

(

Shiraz Shiraz (; fa, شیراز, Širâz ) is the List of largest cities of Iran, fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, Fars Province, which has been historically known as Pars (Sasanian province), Pars () and Persis. As o ...

) * Tabriz International Airport (

Tabriz Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...

) *

Imam Khomeini International Airport Imam Khomeini International Airport is the primary international airport of Tehran, the capital city of Iran, located southwest of Tehran, near the localities of Robat Karim and Eslamshahr and spread over an area of of land. Along with Mehr ...

(

Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...

) *

Mehrabad International Airport Mehrabad International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین المللی مهرآباد, ''Foroudgâh-e Beyn Almelali-ye Mehrâbâd'') , is an international airport serving Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Prior to the construction of the larger ...

(

) *

Urmia Airport Urmia Shahid Bakeri International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین‌المللی شهید باکری ارومیه) is an airport serving the Central District of Urmia County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Airlines and destinations Ac ...

(

Urmia Urmia or Orumiyeh ( fa, ارومیه, Variously transliterated as ''Oroumieh'', ''Oroumiyeh'', ''Orūmīyeh'' and ''Urūmiyeh''.) is the largest city in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran and the capital of Urmia County. It is situated at an alt ...

) *

Ahvaz International Airport Ahvaz International Airport is an airport serving the city of Ahvaz, Iran. It offers flights to domestic destinations as well as regional international destinations, such as Dubai, Istanbul and Kuwait. Airlines and destinations Accidents and ...

(

Ahvaz Ahvaz ( fa, اهواز, Ahvâz ) is a city in the southwest of Iran and the capital of Khuzestan province. Ahvaz's population is about 1,300,000 and its built-up area with the nearby town of Sheybani is home to 1,136,989 inhabitants. It is hom ...

) * Kerman Airport (

Kerman Kerman ( fa, كرمان, Kermân ; also romanization of Persian, romanized as Kermun and Karmana), known in ancient times as the satrapy of Carmania, is the capital city of Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2011 census, its population was 821,394, in ...

) *

Larestan International Airport Larestan International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین‌المللی لارستان) () is an airport near Lar, Iran. Introduction The airport began operations in 1983, although much of its destinations were domestic. After the Persian Gulf ...

( Lar) Note: to obtain a visa on arrival, passengers must already have made an application, at least two days before arrival, at th
Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affair's E-Visa website
and present the submission notification at the airport's visa desk on arrival. Iran plans to increase the length of stay from one month to three months. Visas on arrival will be available at

Shahid Sadooghi Airport Yazd Airport ( fa, فرودگاه یزد) is an airport in Yazd, Iran. The airport lies 10 kilometers away from the city center of Yazd and serves the city as well as all of the surrounding counties. The Shahid Sadooghi Airport also serves as a p ...

in the near future. Price: Getting a visa on arrival at Tehran airport is very straightforward. The Iran visa on arrival costs 75 euros + 3 USD bank commission. The visa fees are different depending on the passport. But usually, it is always based on a 75 euros fee. Visa on arrival does not apply to nationals of the following countries who must obtain a visa in advance: Passport holders of these countries are required to apply for an Iranian visa at an Iranian embassy or consulate before they arrive in Iran. ; Shahid Rajaee Port Marine travelers entering Iran via Shahid Rajaee Port in the southern Hormozgan Province can also receive a visa on arrival.

Electronic visa

E-visas have been available since 22 November 2018.

Mandatory guides

Canadian, British, and US citizens are required to be escorted by a government-approved guide at all times. Independent travel for these citizens has been banned due to the closure of Iranian foreign missions in these countries.

Israel

Admission and transit are refused for nationals of Israel, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight. Admission is refused to holders of passports or travel documents containing an

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

i visa or stamp (less than 365 days) or any data showing that the visitor has been to Israel or has indication of any connection with the state of Israel.

References

External links

IR-IRAN Electronic Visa (Iran eVisa) Application System

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of I.R.Iran
{{Visa Requirements

Foreign relations of Iran