Entry requirements Iran

According to the Iranian entry regulations, Germans, Austrians, nationals of other EU countries and Swiss need a valid visa to enter Iran. In the country in Western Asia, which is also outdatedly called Persia, a visa and passport are required for most foreign visitors. The visa application must be submitted before the trip at a responsible consular foreign representation.

For the passport a minimum validity of 6 months on the day of application is prescribed. In addition, the identity document must have at least two blank pages for the visa endorsement.

Important:

1. If you have been in Israel, please apply for a new passport. An Israeli stamp in the passport generally leads to the rejection of the application for Iranian visas.
2. If you have previously been in Iran on business, you need a confirmation from your business partner certified by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the purpose and duration of the previous business stay for the application of a subsequent visa.

Travelers with a Turkish passport do not need a visa for stays of up to 3 months in Iran. The same applies to citizens of the following countries: Bosnia, Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia. Please check the currency of this list before your departure. It is possible that the entry requirements for Iran may change at short notice.

In Germany, the Iranian Embassy in Berlin and the General Consulates of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Frankfurt a. M., Hamburg, and Munich are responsible for issuing visas. In most cases, applicants require an invitation certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the host country. Once the Ministry grants approval, the traveler receives a individual reference number. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notifies the competent consulate in Germany. It is therefore important to inquire which department has the approval before submitting the application documents.

Applicants are free to obtain their visa directly from the consulate or to commission a visa service to obtain the entry permit.

The Iranian immigration authorities distinguish the following types of visas:

• Tourist visa
• Business visa
• Transit visa
• Student visa
• Pilgrim visa
• Entry visa with work permit

In principle, it is possible to apply for a tourist visa for 7 days on arrival. This regulation is reserved for air travelers arriving at one of the following airports: Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA), Tehran Mehrabad Airport (THR), Mashad Airport (MHD), Shiraz Airport (SYZ) and Tabriz Airport (TBZ).

The Visa on Arrival is intended for citizens of the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Croatia, Cuba, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Austria, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Hungary, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Cyprus.

However, the reliability of obtaining a visa on arrival has not been verified, so it is recommended to obtain a visa before traveling to avoid long waiting times or a rejection of the application on site. A visa on arrival generally cannot be extended. The opportunity to apply for a Visa on Arrival does not exist for holders of political passports, service passports or expert passports, nor for business travelers, journalists, and former Iranian citizens without an official denaturalization decree.

Violations of Iranian entry regulations can result in criminal prosecution and high penalties. Unlike most visa-requiring countries, there is no reporting requirement in Iran, i.e., registration after crossing the border is not required.

Also note the travel and security advice of the German Foreign Office for Iran.

Please note that despite careful maintenance of our site, we cannot guarantee the completeness and accuracy of the above-mentioned entry regulations for Iran. Short-term changes to the entry regulations are possible without our knowledge. Official and binding information on entry requirements for Iran is provided by the Iranian embassies and consulates in your home country.