Visa policy of Iran


Visitors to Iran must obtain a visa 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. All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 6 months. Citizens of Israel are totally banned from entry to Iran.
Iranian authorities are exploring a potential visa waiver program under which visa limitations for 60 countries will be lifted as part of Iran's program to attract more tourists.
Dual citizens of both Iran and another country count as citizens of Iran when visiting, and 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. In November 2018, the head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization, announced that the country will no longer stamp or put stickers to passports of foreign tourists in a bid to ease their concerns about traveling to other countries after leaving Iran. In June 2019 President of Iran ordered the Interior Ministry to implement the decision on not stamping passports of foreigners. In 2011 it became compulsory to have travel insurance to get a visa to Iran.

Visa policy map

Visa-free

Citizens of the following 16 jurisdictions can visit Iran without a visa:
1 - only for arriving by air directly from Damascus
2 - until june
Date of visa changes

  • 1 February 2010: Azerbaijan
  • 29 July 2015: Egypt and Lebanon
  • 1 November 2017: Serbia
  • 21 July 2019: China, Hong Kong, Macau
  • October 24, 2019: Iraq
Canceled:
  • 17 October 2018: Serbia
  • December 27, 2019: Iraq

Iran free trade zones

Holders of normal passports traveling as tourists can enter following Iran trade zones without a visa with a maximum stay of 2 weeks, as by December 2017:
All tourists, may stay on Kish Island or Qeshm Island for 14 days or less without obtaining any visa. Americans, Canadians, and Britons are only required to have a certified escort guide waiting for them upon their arrival. The guide has to have the hotel reservation letters of the passenger with him/her and let the immigration office of the airport know about the arrival of the American/Canadian/British passenger 48 hours before the arrival.

Diplomatic and service category passports

Holders of passports issued by the following countries are allowed to enter Iran without a visa.
D — diplomatic passports
O — official passports
S — service passports
Sp — special passports

Visa on arrival

Holders of normal passports travelling as tourists can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days, at the following airports, as of January 2018:
Note: to obtain a visa on arrival, passengers must already have made an application, at least 2 days before arrival, at the and present the submission notification at the airport's visa desk on arrival.
Iran plans to increase the length of stay from 1 month to 3 months. Visas on arrival will be available at Shahid Sadooghi Airport in the near future.
Visa on arrival is not applicable to nationals of the following countries who must obtain a visa in advance:
Passport holders of these countries are required to apply for an Iranian visa at an Iranian embassy or consulate prior to their arrival in Iran.
; Shahid Rajaee Port
Marine travelers entering Iran via Shahid Rajaee Port in the southern Hormozgan Province can also receive a visa on arrival.

Electronic visa

E-visas have been available since 22 November 2018.

Mandatory guides

UK, Canadian and US citizens are required to be escorted by a government-approved guide at all times. Independent travel for these citizens has been banned due to the closure of Iranian foreign missions in these countries.

Israel

Admission and transit are refused for nationals of Israel, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight.
Admission is refused to holders of passports or travel documents containing an Israel I visa or stamp or any data showing that visitor has been to Israel or indication of any connection with the state of Israel.

Are free trade zones and special economic zones different?

Special economic zones are older than free trade zones. In 1989, in the first five-year development plan of the country and in Note 20 of this law, in order to support the production, customs and the Ports and Shipping Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, special and protected areas along the country's customs border for Establish storage of raw materials, parts and products that are imported safely and without currency transfer.