Iran tourist visa

Acquiring a tourist visa to Iran is becoming easier and easier. The Iranian government wants to boost tourism and therefore strives to make the visa policy simpler for foreign visitors.

All nationalities except Israeli passport holders can apply for an Iranian tourist visa. Nevertheless, it is good to know the simplest way to get a visa for Iran and be aware of all the requirements.

Visa free countries (Countries that can visit Iran without a visa):

Armenia 90

Oman 90 days

Turkey 90 days

Syria 90 days

Georgia 45 days

Lebanon 30 days

Iraq 30 days

Bolivia 30 days

Hong Kong 21 days

Macao 21 days

China 21 days

Egypt 20 days

Venezuela 15 days

Azerbaijan 14 days

Kazakhstan 14 days

Malaysia 14 days

United Arab Emirates 15 days

Bahrain 15 days

Saudi Arabia 15 days

Qatar 15 days

Kuwait 15 days

Indonesia 15 days

Brunei 15 days

Japan 15 days

Singapore 15 days

Cambodia 15 days

Vietnam 15 days

Brazil 15 days

Peru 15 days

Cuba 15 days

Mexico 15 days

Tajikistan 15 days

Mauritania 15 days

Tanzania 15 days

Zimbabwe 15 days

Mauritius 15 days

Seychelles 15 days

Russia (tourist groups) 15 days

India 15 days

Tunisia 15 days

Bolivia 15 days

Bosnia and Herzegovina 15 days

Serbia 15 days

Croatia 15 days

Belarus 15 days

Uzbekistan 15 days

Kyrgyzstan 15 days

Before traveling to Iran, please contact your embassy to confirm that the visa waiver program is still valid for you.

How to get your Tourist Visa:


The best way to get Iranian tourist visa is to apply via a travel agency. They charge a small fee ($20-30 for most nationalities) but it is really worth it. You just need to fill out a visa form and send your documents to a travel agency. It submits them to the MFA and after a while the agency sends you your “visa grant notice”, what they call “Authorization Number” or “Visa Code”. The duration of processing this code varies depending on your nationality. Generally, for most nationalities, it will take around 5 working days, and for special nationalities such as Americans, British nationals and Canadians, it will take 8-10 weeks. You can then go to the Iranian embassy/airport you specified in the visa form and receive your visa.

A) A sample of a Visa Grant Notice:

How long is the grant notice valid for? Please refer to the visa grant validity on your “visa grant notice”. It usually has 3 months validity which means you have to get your visa by that date. Please do not apply for the visa too early, especially if you want to pick it up at the airport. Usually, 4-5 weeks before arrival is a good time to apply.

A sample of an e-visa:

  • The visa is usually valid for 3 months from the day you receive it. This means you have to enter the country within 3 months of receiving it. So, you can enter the day before the visa expires, and then still enjoy Iran for as long as your visa duration states.
  • The Iranian visa is now a separate piece of paper as a proper e-visa has to be. Moreover, they don’t stamp passports anymore. This means that if you want to go to the USA, you’ll face no issues with your US visa application. However, if you decide to do an Iran visa extension, you will get a full-page stamp.

Visas for US, UK and Canadian passport holders: 

Contrary to what you hear and see in the media, Iran is one of the friendliest and culturally-rich countries you’ll ever visit. And no, the people do not hate Americans, Brits or Canadians. That’s fear-mongering and it is far from reality. However, there are more regulations for travelling to Iran for these citizens, which stem from unfriendly relations between Iran and these countries.

Travelers applying for visas with passports from the United States, Britain and Canada only qualify for a pre-arranged tourist visa. These nationalities cannot travel in Iran on their own; they need to join a group tour or arrange a private tour with a certified guide who should accompany them for the duration of the trip. They also have to provide detailed information regarding their travel, including but not exclusive to itinerary, accommodation, exact dates of arrival and departure and CV.

They need to contact an Iranian travel agency and have them apply for a travel authorization code from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on their behalf. The visa usually takes between 2 to 3 months to process, and to be honest, there is a certain degree of rejection risk.

Visa Duration & Extensions

Your visa on arrival for Iran now lasts for 15 or 30 days, depending on the request. It can be extended for another 15 or 30 days at any immigration office around the country, but it is better to be done in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad. The process usually takes one working day and around 1-4 hours. However, if the visa is not renewed at this time, the passport remains in the hands of the foreign police department until the visa is issued. It’s important to note that the extension starts on the day the extension is issued, not from the end of the original visa.

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Iran Visa

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My name is Moein and I am an experienced licensed tour manager and guide. I am familiar with all places and events in Iran and committed to ensuring your time with me is a well-balanced mix of wonder, education and fun.