Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING A VISA
One reason so few people visit Iran is that getting a visa can be difficult. The process is
slow, somewhat unpredictable and rules seem to change without warning. But the vast ma-
jority of people do get a visa within two or three weeks and, once they've been to Iran, be-
lieve the hassle was worth it. But start the process early...
Note that all applications stall over the No Ruz holiday period; submit before 8 March to
be sure.
Who Needs a Visa?
Passport-holders from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia
and Turkey get a three-month tourist visa on arrival. Everyone else needs to arrange a visa
in advance or take a risk on getting a 15-day visa on arrival at an airport. Contrary to popu-
lar misconception, US citizens are welcome, but need to pre-arrange a tour or private
guide, or be sponsored by a friend or relative in Iran, who will take legal responsibility for
them.
Israeli passport holders, and anyone with an Israeli stamp in their passport, will not get a
visa.
Which Visa? Pros & Cons
First, it's important to understand the process. Except with transit visas, all visa applicants
must be 'approved' by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Tehran. This includes
those seeking a visa on arrival, who can be approved either in advance or, with a longer
wait, on arrival.
If you're approved, the MFA sends an authorisation number to the consulate, which
takes your application form, passport photos and fee and issues the visa. Fees vary depend-
ing on your country of origin; see the Iran embassy website or iranianvisa.com, which has a
comprehensive list.
Transit visas are only fractionally cheaper than tourist visas and, while they don't require
authorisation from Tehran, only give you up to seven days. The choice, then, is whether to
get a tourist visa in advance or on arrival.
