IRAN E-Visa Requirements

Iran e-visa requirements

Visa procedure, its requirements and obligations are travelers nightmare for some destinations, Iran is one of them. Most travelers who want to visit Iran should have a valid visa. Though the procedure of obtaining e-visa seems straightforward for citizens of most countries, it is totally confusing due to the lack of information or inefficient official website. The process is even more confusing and time-consuming for travelers from countries like US and UK.

How can you get your visa?

If you are not a citizen of UK, US, Canada, Iraq, Pakistan, Colombia, Somalia, Bangladesh, Jordan, Afghanistan, India and Egypt which are not eligible to get VOA, you may want to try your chance of getting VOA at international airports of Iran. Take your ticket to one of Iran’s international airports, appear on the airport with visa fee in cash, travel insurance, valid passport and photo! Don’t forget to have confirmation of the first night’s booking or address and phone number of your host in Iran. If you have all the above mentioned documents and are eligible for Iran VOA, you can get the visa at the airport after almost 2 hours or even less depending on the airport. Though it is the easiest way, there are also a chance of getting rejected so we always suggest to get visa in advance either by going to the embassies and consulates or getting e-visa.

To get e-visa, travelers can apply either via e-visa site or an agency. Our suggestion is to apply via an agency as e-visa site is not always efficient. Based on the experience of travelers mentioned in their online reviews, e-visa website sometimes rejects some visa requests while the information mentioned in the requests are the same with the ones being accepted or it simply says to apply via an agency or host.

What is the process of getting e-visa?

You should fill the forms on e-visa site or the website of the agency you are applying through which. You should also upload a photo of yourself and your passport. Your passport should be valid at least for six months from the time of your departure. If you are applying via e-visa site, you should also mention the host address. Applying through an agency, you should pay in this phase. The payment depends on your nationality and usually begins from 30 euros. Filling all the information, you will get a reference number. The number just let you check your application process. Finally you will get an authorization number which allows you to pick up your visa in whichever places you choose. Getting authorization number, you have almost nothing left to worry about. It confirms you will get your visa.

How long does it take to get e-visa?

The process of getting online visa usually takes 2 weeks or 14 working days. In special cases, the agency can get your visa even sooner.

Where to pick of your visa?

You can choose either to pick up your visa at Iranian embassies or consulates around the world or depending on your nationality, pick up your visa at international airports in Iran main cities like Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, Isfahan, Kish and Qeshm. You should choose the place when filling application form.

Which nationalities doesn’t require Iran visa?

Citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Bolivia, Syria, Lebanon, Venezuela, Malaysia and Georgia can visit Iran for at least 14 days without visa. They can get an entry permission at land borders or airports and then extend their permission when in Iran. On the other hand, citizens of Israel are totally banned from travelling to Iran.

Important notes:

• Citizens of US, UK and Canada are not eligible either for VOA or E-visa. They should apply via an agency, book a tour or have a guide accompany them in their travel around Iran. It usually takes 2 months so it is recommended to apply long before your departure as the process of arranging a tour and finding a guide may also take some times.
• Iran would not recognize dual nationality so if you have dual nationality, choose one to apply and carry the proper passport.
• It is always better to get authorization number through a travel agency, the process is faster and more straightforward.
• The visa would be valid for the time you asked which can be maximum 30 days. If you want to stay longer, you can extend your visa 2 times, for maximum 60 days.
• The visa is usually valid for 3 months. You can enter Iran in the last day and still have 30 days (or the time you requested for) to spend in Iran.
• There are different types of Iran visa like Entry, Tourist, Work, Treatment, Press, Student, Family, and Investment visas.