A Comprehensive Guide to Avoiding Common Mistakes When Applying for an Iran…
Iran beckons many with its ancient allure, but navigating the visa application process can …
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Use this tool to calculate how much your Iran visa fee will be, based on your nationality, visa type, and pick-up location. The Iran visa fee is due upon pickup at the embassy, consulate, or airport VOA counter. If you want to read more about the price breakdown, read our Iran Visa Cost article.
Perhaps the first thing that makes travelers in doubt is the announcement of a red status from some European countries for traveling to Iran and this is after the collapse of the diplomatic and political relations of the countries, which is partly tied to the JCPOA issue, and these relations have become darker as several citizens of European countries were arrested in Iran. But the reality of these arrests sometimes comes back to the performance of those people for not complying with the laws of Iran and their own carelessness due to the fact that they were given warnings in advance (You can write to the notification of several countries, including France, Germany, and the Netherlands, to warn their own citizens).
For example; one of the Italian nationals who was recently arrested in Iran attended and reacted to the protests on her social network and said political words that when someone travels to a country as a tourist, she should not go beyond her limits(Iran visa for European). Other countries are sensitive and the traveler who plans to travel should remain neutral and respect the laws while in Iran. Read the full article for current situation in Iran after protests here
Everyone needs a visa to enter Iran, except for the nationals of countries mentioned in the “Visa-Free Countries” section. You can complete your Iran Visa Application online and pick up your visa before or upon your arrival.
These nationalities can enter Iran without any prior paperwork:
Obtaining an Iran visa can be done through the official E-Visa portal managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) or via authorized travel agencies like TAP Persia. The E-Visa portal is the government’s official platform for visa applications. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants have reported increased instances of rejections, processing delays, and lack of communication regarding application status. On the other hand, TAP Persia is a recognized travel agency in Iran, offering visa application services among other travel-related assistance. Applying through TAP Persia can potentially reduce waiting times and the likelihood of rejection, as they provide personalized assistance to ensure applications are complete and accurate. TAP Persia has received favorable feedback from travelers for its efficient visa processing services. In summary, while the E-Visa portal is an option, applying through an authorized travel agency like TAP Persia may offer a more reliable and efficient pathway to obtaining an Iran visa.
You can check the status of your application using the tracking code provided after your payment. Normally the process takes 3-7 business days (excluding Thursday & Friday), but during nationwide events, the process can take 7-10 business days.
These nationalities should apply at least 2 months in advance:
These nationalities have more complicated visa processes:
Once your visa application has been approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you will receive your visa authorization code in the form of a PDF. You must present this PDF at the airport or one of Iran’s embassies/consulates.
You can collect your visa at the Tehran International Airport (IKA) or at any Iranian embassy, even if you are not a national of the physical location of the embassy.
Here is a list of other Iranian international airport:
If you are from the US, UK, or Canada, you can use the passport that is easier to get a visa first but it’s better that you inform us about your other nationalities. If your father is Iranian, you must apply for and receive an Iranian passport before your arrival. Most other dual nationals can apply with the passport that has the lowest visa fee.
Israeli passport holders and anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport (or exit stamps at relevant Jordanian or Egyptian border crossings that imply that you must have entered Israel) might face entry denial at the airports in Iran.
Visit the VOA counter at the international Iranian airport. Provide a copy of your passport, your travel insurance, and enough cash for your visa fee (50-150 USD in small bills: 5’s, 10’s, 20’s). The risk of rejection for the Iran Visa On Arrival has increased since the pandemic and also you need to make sure your airline lets you board without a visa approval. Instead, we recommend you complete your Iran Visa Application Online and only pick up your visa at the VOA counter.
If you are picking up your visa at the airport, you can apply up to 3 months in advance. If picking up at the embassy or consulate, up to 2 months. But we recommend applying at most 1 month before your arrival.
Yes, with TAP Persia (ranked No. 1 in Iran on TripAdvisor), you can apply online for a 30-90 day Iran visa up to 3 months in advance. Once your visa is approved:
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The sooner we apply for a visa the better and not leaving it for the last minute.
Citizens of the US, UK, and Canada. Will need 2-3 months of processing. Must plan your trip on a private or group tour. Read more about Iran visa for US, UK, and Canadian citizens
You will need travel insurance to enter the country. Global insurers rarely cover Iran and if they do, their coverage is often minimal and extremely slow in real emergencies. If you bring your own insurance, Iran must be specifically mentioned in its coverage.
Tourist visas are issued for an initial max of 90 days and can if you get a visa for less than 90 days you can extend it up to 90 days while here. Your duration will be issued based on the daily travel itinerary you submit with your application.
Locate the Passport Immigration Police or the Police Department of Aliens Affairs (edareh gozarnameh) in the city you want to extend. You will need 2-3 passport photos, 2 copies of your passport, your current Visa Authorization Code, any previous extensions, 2 copies of your visa extension form, and about $10 in Iranian Rials for the extension and form/printing fees (Photocopiers can usually be found in each location). Extension processing could take 3-7 business days (excluding Thursday & Friday). Apply 2-3 days before your visa expiration.
Note: If you have a tourist card, you can pay right at the extension office. If paying by cash, you will have to visit nearest Bank Melli (Saturday – Wednesday 8a-1p)
Visit Kish or Qeshm island for up to 14 days without a visa. Must obtain hotel reservations before your arrival. Americans, Canadians, and Brits are required to have a certified guide waiting for them upon their arrival. To ensure a speedy entry, contact TAP Persia at least 10 days before your arrival for all arrangements.
Must complete your Iran visa application online at least 2 months before your arrival. Express services are available at the embassy, at an additional cost. Must come on a private or group tour (Read more: Iran Tours for US, UK & Canadaian Citizens). Nationals of these 3 countries can visit Kish & Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf for up to 14 days without a visa, given 3 days’ notice.
Yes. Your Iran visa rejection can be based on multiple factors including improper answers on your application, insufficient details in your itinerary and many others. Minimize your chance of rejection and complete your Iran visa application online.
No. All Iran tourist visas are single-entry. The only multiple-entry visas are the business and student visas.
Read about which documents you will need, different kinds of visas, policy by country, and information on visa on arrival.
Complete your carnet de passage before you arrive. You can get it at the border too, but it’s costly. *check out this article for more information :Iran border crossings.
You have to tell us the general area you will camp for the night for each day that you stay. You should clarify if you are staying in your vehicle or tent.
WARNING: For diesel vehicles, you will have to ask truck drivers to give a portion of their diesel ration. For regular gasoline, you can ask pump attendants.
Yes, it’s better to apply for your Iran visa up to 3 months ahead. Once your visa is approved:
TAP Persia’s VIP service charges an application fee starting at €28 for fast, efficient, and guaranteed visa acceptance. Each nationality has to pay a separate visa fee upon their visa pickup. Find a complete list of Iran Tourist Visa prices per nationality here.
No, Iran does not stamp tourists’ passports. Instead, all visa information is recorded electronically or provided on a separate document, ensuring your passport stays clear of any Iranian stamps.
Not being honest about information
Having Israeli stamp
Visiting Iran Frequently
If you apply through TAP Persia, you will receive your visa authorization code within 3-7 working days.
To ensure enough time for processing, apply at least 3-4 weeks before your travel date. The authorization code typically takes 3-7 working days to process (excluding Thursdays and Fridays, which are weekends in Iran). Once approved, you have up to 90 days to collect your visa at the airport or 60 days at an embassy. Plan accordingly to fit your travel schedule and visa collection preferences.
Once you apply for your authorization code with TAP Persia, you have to identify where you will be picking up your actual Iran Tourist Visa. If you’re picking up your visa at the airport – you have 90 days to use your code If you’re picking up your visa from one of Iran’s embassies or consulates – you have 60 days to use your code.
You can ask for up to 90 days visa and the maximum extendable time to stay in the country is 90 days.
If you’re collecting your visa from an embassy, first check the appointment schedule on the consulate’s website or contact them directly to confirm their working hours.
At busy embassies, your documents may be accepted, and you’ll be asked to return the next day to collect your visa. However, at less busy embassies, the visa can often be issued on the same day. Some busy embassies also offer an express service for an additional fee, allowing you to receive your visa more quickly.
If you’re collecting your visa at the airport, the processing time depends on the airport’s traffic and the visa officer counters. At smaller airports, it typically takes around an hour, while at busier airports, it could take anywhere from one to three or even four hours.
To apply through a travel agency, start by searching online for reputable options. It’s important to choose an agency with strong reviews and a good track record. For instance, TAP Persia is highly recommended, as it’s ranked the number one Iran tour operator on TripAdvisor with over 1,100 reviews. Agencies like this increase your chances of visa approval due to their experience and credibility. Make sure to pick a reliable agency to streamline the process.
These nationalities can enter Iran without any prior paperwork:
These nationalities should apply at least 2 months in advance:
These nationalities have more complicated visa processes:
If you apply through TAP Persia, you will receive your visa authorization code within 3-7 working days. Except US, UK, and Canadian citizens which takes at least 40 working days.
If there’s no embassy in your country, you have two options:
Yes, your previous nationality can significantly impact the visa approval process. For example, if you currently live in the US or the UK but previously held citizenship in countries like Pakistan or Afghanistan, this information helps the Iranian government process your visa faster. Hiding your previous nationality does not help and can even delay the process. Being transparent often speeds up approval.
Once your visa authorization code is issued, you need to pick up your visa either at the embassy/consulate you selected or at an international airport in Iran:
When e-visa applications are rejected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it’s often due to incomplete or inaccurate information or issues with uploaded documents like your photo or passport scan. Since the Ministry doesn’t directly communicate with applicants, your application may stay in pending status, get immediately rejected, or even be declined after a month or two.
It’s recommended to work with a travel agency, either after a rejection or from the start. A reliable agency, like TAP Persia, acts as an intermediary with the Ministry, handles all the paperwork, and quickly resolves any document issues. This often speeds up the visa process, with approvals typically taking 3-5 working days. If any issues arise, the agency can address them directly, minimizing delays.
If you hold another passport besides American, British, or Canadian, you can use that to simplify the process. However, if you only have a passport from these countries, the process is as follows:
Additionally, citizens of these countries can enter Iran’s free zones (e.g., Kish or Qeshm) without a visa. However, coordination with us is needed to book your hotel and arrange for a guide to meet you at the airport.
For dual nationals with previous citizenship like Afghanistan or Pakistan, we recommend applying through us, as this can significantly speed up the process. In some cases, a tour package may not even be required.
You will have to provide the complete contact and detailed personal information for the person or place you are staying at. In order not to cause additional hassle and scrutiny for your host, we HIGHLY recommend that you book a cheap hotel or hostel for your stay in the country. WARNING: not following this recommendation will cause lots of headaches and problems for your host as well as increase your chances of visa rejection. Nationals from the US, UK, and Canada can only stay in accommodations reserved for them through a local Iranian travel agency.
Visa on Arrival (VOA) is no longer issued directly at Iranian airports as of 2021. When you receive your visa approval (Visa Grant Notice) through the eVisa system or an agency like TAP Persia, you do not need to provide a photo or any additional documents at the airport or embassy/consulate. The visa approval is processed in advance, ensuring a hassle-free pick-up at your chosen location.
If you hold an Iranian passport, you are required to use it when entering Iran. If your father is Iranian, you are considered an Iranian citizen and must enter the country using an Iranian passport. If you do not have one, you will need to obtain it from the nearest Iranian embassy or consulate before traveling. For male citizens with an Iranian passport, it is essential to check your mandatory military service status before entering Iran. You can do this by contacting the nearest Iranian embassy or consulate.
No. You do not need to submit your fingerprints at any point in the process.
Your visa photo must meet the following specifications:
For your passport copy:
Currently, Iran does not offer multiple-entry tourist visas. Although there was a brief period when double-entry visas were available, this option has been discontinued due to changes in policies by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
If you plan to leave Iran and re-enter (e.g., to visit a neighboring country), you will need to apply for a new visa before returning. Unfortunately, multiple-entry visas are not an option for tourists at this time.
While there are no specific restrictions for Colombian nationals in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ regulations, our experience shows that Colombians are treated similarly to US, UK, and Canadian citizens. This means they must enter Iran as part of a fixed tour program, accompanied by an escort guide.
Here’s how the process works:
If the Colombian applicant holds a second passport from another country, they may use that passport to avoid these specific restrictions and apply under standard tourist visa regulations.
If you are interested to book your tour with TAP Persia, you can ask for your customized trip plan.
The validity of your Iran tourist visa depends on how you collect it:
Always check the validity dates on your visa grant notice and the issued visa to ensure compliance.
You can only get a visa extension if you arrive just a few days before your visa expires. If you come way in advance, you might be sent away. You’re also able to extend your visa for a maximum of 90 days in Iran but this is subject to approval, for more information read the “Iran Visa Extension” article.
Visa On Arrival (VOA) is no longer available at Iranian airports, as it has been discontinued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, citizens of visa-free countries can enter Iran without a visa and stay for up to 15 days (non-extendable).
It’s important to note that some airlines may not be aware of the visa-free policies for Iran and might refuse boarding to travelers without a visa. To avoid any complications, we strongly recommend applying for a visa in advance to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey to Iran.
If you are an Afghan or Pakistani national, and you have another passport, permanent residency, or refugee document, you can have your visa much faster than the usual 2-3 month processing time (This includes nationals of the US, UK and Canada as well).
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An invitation letter is not required for obtaining an Iran tourist visa. However, it is necessary for business visas or visas where a host in Iran is involved. In such cases, the host (an individual or company) must provide a formal letter to be submitted alongside other documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For tourist visas, if you have a personal host in Iran, agencies like TAP Persia can provide a letter template for the host to fill out. This completed letter, along with other required documents, is then submitted to the Ministry. Note that travel agencies cannot process business visas, as they require separate procedures handled by the applicant or their business partner in Iran.