Iran Visa Information
Visitors to Iran must obtain Iran visas 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. In this article, we explain who should get Iran visa and how.
All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 6 months. Also, admission is refused to women not wearing Islamic dress (Read more about the dress code in Iran). Also, the citizens of Israel are banned from entry to Iran.
Iranian authorities are exploring a potential visa waiver program under which visa limitations for 60 countries will be lifted. It is a part of Iran’s program to attract more tourists.
Citizens of both Iran and another country_multinationalities_count as citizens of Iran when visiting. They must have an Iranian passport. This includes all whose mother and father and husband or children born abroad are Iranian.
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.
Visa-Free
Based on mutual agreement within the framework of international rules and regulations, citizens of some countries are exempt from applying for a visa to enter Iran. They include the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Georgia, Armenia, Venezuela, Egypt, Malaysia, and China.
Iran free trade zones
Holders of normal passports who are traveling as tourists can enter following Iran trade zones without a visa; with a maximum stay of 2 weeks (extendable), as by December 2017:
- Arvand Free Zone
- Aras Free Zone
- Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone
- Maku
Kish and Qeshm Islands
All tourists may stay on Kish Island or Qeshm Island for 14 days or less without obtaining any visa, except citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, India, Iraq (can visit Kish Island without a visa), Jordan, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Visa on arrival
Holders of normal passports who travel 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)
- Isfahan International Airport (Isfahan)
- Kish International Airport (Kish Island)
- Mashhad International Airport (Mashad)
- Qeshm International Airport (Qeshm Island)
- Shiraz International Airport (Shiraz)
- Tabriz International Airport (Tabriz)
- Imam Khomeini International Airport (Tehran)
- Urmia Airport (Urmia)
- Ahvaz International Airport (Ahvaz)
- Kerman Airport (Kerman)
- Larestan International Airport (Lar)
Note: To obtain a visa on arrival, passengers must already have made an application at least 5 days before arrival here, and then present the submission notification they receive at the airport’s visa desk on arrival.
Although, visa on arrival does not apply to nationals of the following countries; so, they must obtain a visa in advance:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Canada
- Colombia
- Iraq1/3
- Jordan
- Nepal3
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka3
- Syria2
- United Kingdom
- United States
Passport holders of these countries must apply for an Iranian visa at an Iranian embassy or consulate before they arrive in Iran.
1 – visa on arrival at Mashhad Airport or Arvand Free Zone by land.
2 – visa not required if arriving by air directly from Damascus only.
3 – can obtain a visa on arrival if they have e-visa confirmation.
Shahid Rajaee Port
Marine travelers who enter Iran via Shahid Rajaee Port in the southern Hormozgan Province can also receive a visa on arrival.
Mandatory guides
UK, Canadian and US citizens must travel through Iran, escorted by a government-approved guide at all times. So, independent travel for these citizens is illegal; since the closure of Iranian foreign missions in these countries.
Nationalities refused admission
Admission and transit are refused for nationals of Israel.
Although admission is refused to nationals of Yemen, they are allowed to transit.
Also, admission is refused to holders of passports or travel documents that contain an Israeli visa or stamp, or any data showing that visitor has been to Israel, or indication of any connection with the state of Israel during the last 12 months.
Visa Extension
The maximum visa validity is 45 days which you can extend 2 times for 15 days each time.