Iran’s pilgrimage (ziyarat) visa is the visa granted to Muslims from other countries who wish to come to Iran and visit the holy shrines and religious sites. Iran has multiple religious sites, including Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Fatima Masoumeh Shrine in Qom, Imamzadeh Saleh, and Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine in Tehran. Foreign Muslims who wish to visit these holy shrines can apply for a pilgrimage visa to be able to enter the wonderland of Iran.

How to Apply for an Iranian Pilgrimage Visa

There are two ways to apply for an Iranian pilgrimage visa(Different type of Iran visa):

Visit the website of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and fill out the Iran visa application form. You are required to upload the following documents:

•        Personal photo (follow the Photo Standard Guide requirements)
•        Passport Copy (follow the Passport Copy Standard Guide requirements)

1. It is worth mentioning that you need to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months before applying for an Iranian pilgrimage visa.

Once you have filled out the form and uploaded the necessary documents, all you need to do is to wait for a response from the ministry.

Due to the recent changes in the Iranian visa policies, you may not be able to apply for and receive your visa through the online application, and you may face some complications. Therefore, it is advised to apply for your visa through a travel agency which is the second way you can apply for your pilgrimage visa.

     2.  Go to the traveling agencies that are officially certified and approved by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ask them to apply for a pilgrimage visa on your behalf. All you need to do is fill out the form provided by the traveling agency and provide the necessary documents, and wait for the agency to get back to you with the results. If your application is approved then you will be granted a visa code through the Iranian Consulate in your country.

Once the visa code is issued and you receive a visa grant notice, you have one month to collect your visa. During that month you should refer to the Iranian Consulate in your country with your passport, your visa code, the required document that includes your photos, passport copy, the application form, and the visa fee to get your visa. Make sure to check the required document for receiving your visa at the Iranian Consulate in your country in advance. Some consulates might ask you to hand in different documents and if you do not bring them with you, the process of getting your visa might take much longer. It usually takes 3-5 business days for your application to get processed and for your visa to get issued.

Due to the Covid-19 regulations, you may also be required to provide vaccination documents as well. Therefore, if you have not yet got vaccinated, make sure to get vaccinated first and then apply for the visa. Keep the vaccination documents in a safe place until you arrive in Iran, because you may be required to provide vaccination proof at various places upon arriving at the airport.

How to Apply for an Iranian Pilgrimage Visa from the United Kingdom?

If you live in the United Kingdom and you want to apply for an Iranian Pilgrimage Visa (Type C) the first thing you need to do is visit the UK government’s website to learn more about the requirements for traveling to Iran. Here are some of the requirements that you need to take into account before applying for an Iranian visa (Pilgrimage visa included):
1. Do British citizens require a visa to travel to Iran?

Yes, British nationals require a visa to enter Iranian soil.
2. When is the right time to apply for the visa?

You must apply for your visa well ahead of the time you are planning to travel to Iran since the process of issuing your visa might become time-consuming.

3. How can you apply for an Iranian visa?

According to the Iranian Embassy in London, you can apply for an Iranian visa either through a traveling agency that manages a tour to Iran or through a sponsor in Iran.
4. Are there any requirements for British women and girls?

British women and girls should wear a headscarf in their visa application photos. You should continue to wear the headscarf as you arrive in Iran as well to maintain the country’s standard of Hijab for women in public places.

5. How much does it cost to apply for an Iranian Pilgrimage Visa?

You must pay a 75 Euros fee at the Iranian Embassy for the consular charges.

6. Besides applying for a visa in advance what other arrangements should British citizens make before entering Iranian soil?

Before your visit to Iran, you must make your hotel reservations and bring the documents of which with you since you may be asked to provide them at the airport security stage.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply for an Iranian Pilgrimage Visa?

The fee for applying for the Type C Iranian visa which stands for Iranian Pilgrimage Visa varies whether you apply for your visa online or you do it through a traveling agency. On the Iranian Visa website, for instance, you are initially charged 20 Euros for the visa application. However, this fee may vary if you decide to follow up on your visa application through a certified traveling agency. Furthermore, you may be required to pay some additional charges at the consulate. The consulate fee for visa applications is around 150$. Check the Iran visa cost article  about the total cost of applying for an Iranian visa.

Iranian Pilgrimage Visa Duration and Extension

The original duration time for an Iranian Pilgrimage Visa is 30 days. However, you can extend that date to 3 months once you arrive in Iran.

If you want to stay longer than the original 30 days that were designated for your stay, then you should formally request an extension at the Police Office of Foreign Aliens located in any of the main cities in Iran before your visa expiration date. Take into account that you need to put forward valid and convincing reasons for your extension request. If you fail to convince the officials, then your extension request might get rejected. Therefore, keep your composure while being interviewed at the Police Office of Foreign Aliens and try to give honest and reasonable answers to their questions.

 When Do the Applications for Iranian Pilgrimage Visa See a Surge Every Year?

It is usually during the month of Ramadan that most foreign Muslims choose to visit Iran’s holy shrines. Since Ramadan is the month of “A Feast in Heaven” most Muslims around the world travel to holy shrines and sites to participate in religious rituals along with their Muslim brothers and sisters. Ramadan is the most celebrated month in the Hijri calendar and it is the month the Muslims around the world renew their vows with their God and take firm steps in the further development of their fate.

The birth date of Imam Reza (to whom highest praise is regarded) is another popular date for Muslims around the world to come to Iran. Since the visa application and visa authorization process is a time-consuming process, make sure to apply for your pilgrimage visa months in advance so that you would be able to arrive in Iran at your desired occasion.

In this article, we have provided you with a guide on how to apply for an Iranian Pilgrimage Visa. If you would like to know more on this subject contact us on WhatsApp.