Iran Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a tourist visa to visit Iran for tourism, business, or family visits. A short-stay tourist visa allows a short stay as set by the issuing authority. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Iran visa at a glance
- Government fee
- At cost, passed through with no markup
- Official processing
- Varies — confirm with the Iran consulate
- Validity / stay
- Short stay
- Visa types
- 3
Do you need a visa for Iran?
Some nationalities can enter Iran visa-free for short stays under a bilateral agreement. Check with the Iran consulate or embassy for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not visa-exempt, you need a visa.
Iran visa types
- Tourist visa
- Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — Short stay
- Business E-visa
- Business meetings or official visits — Short stay
- Transit visa
- Passing through Iran to a third country — Per the transit rules
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Iran depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Iran visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — duration varies by agreement.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa, business E-visa, or transit visa for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a Iran visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportTourist visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoTourist visa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itineraryTourist visa · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationTourist visa · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of financial meansTourist visa · Proof of financial means.
- Valid passportBusiness E-visa · 6+ months validity.
- Business invitation letter from a host in IranBusiness E-visa · Business invitation letter from a host in Iran.
- Company introduction or registration documentsBusiness E-visa · Company introduction or registration documents.
- Proof of financial meansBusiness E-visa · Proof of financial means.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit windowTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit window.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
Iran visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- At cost, passed through with no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Short stay
- Official processing
- Varies — confirm with the Iran consulate
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Iran visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check whether your nationality is visa-exempt for Iran. If exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Iran consulate or embassy for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for an Iran visa above.
Submit your application to the embassy or consulate
Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
official timing varies. Apply at least 7–10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Iran's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Iran is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Iran visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Iran visa questions, answered.
More for your Iran trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.