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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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran Relaxes Visa Process to Incentivize Foreign Tourists. |url=https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-travel/94165/iran-relaxes-visa-process-to-incentivize-foreign-tourists |website=Financial Tribune}}</ref> In November 2018, the head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iran Waives Visa Stamping Rules to Boost Tourism|url=https://ifpnews.com/exclusive/iran-waives-visa-stamping-rules-to-boost-tourism/|website=IFP News|date=23 November 2018 }}</ref> In June 2019 the President of Iran ordered the Interior Ministry to implement the decision on not stamping passports of foreigners.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-24 |title=No more passport stamps for foreign nationals visiting Iran |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437345/No-more-passport-stamps-for-foreign-nationals-visiting-Iran |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran Relaxes Visa Process to Incentivize Foreign Tourists. |url=https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-travel/94165/iran-relaxes-visa-process-to-incentivize-foreign-tourists |website=Financial Tribune}}</ref> In November 2018, the head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iran Waives Visa Stamping Rules to Boost Tourism|url=https://ifpnews.com/exclusive/iran-waives-visa-stamping-rules-to-boost-tourism/|website=IFP News|date=23 November 2018 }}</ref> In June 2019 the President of Iran ordered the Interior Ministry to implement the decision on not stamping passports of foreigners.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-24 |title=No more passport stamps for foreign nationals visiting Iran |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437345/No-more-passport-stamps-for-foreign-nationals-visiting-Iran |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}</ref>

== Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic ==
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has halted permits for all Tourist visas. “By the order of President [[Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi]] the issuance of tourist visas and the flow of foreign tourists from land and air borders will be resumed from the month of [[Aban (month)|Aban]] (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) following 19 months of suspension,” Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Ezatollah Zarghami said.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-27|title=Iran plans to resume tourist visas next month: minister|url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/465490/Iran-plans-to-resume-tourist-visas-next-month-minister|access-date=2021-10-16|website=Tehran Times|language=en}}</ref>
Iran is open now, and all Iran borders including sea and land borders are open to all tourists who received their two doses of vaccines, except the United Kingdom, France, and African countries, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Swatini, Lesotho and Botswana.(January 11-2022 updates)

After an Iranian visa is received during COVID-19 pandemic, the following are required for entrance: a vaccine certification for two doses of valid COVID-19 vaccines no earlier than 14 days of arrival, a negative COVID-19 PCR test, issued at most 72 hours before arrival for all passengers over 12 years old, and a completed self-declaration form on inbound flights.


==Visa policy map==
==Visa policy map==

Revision as of 12:10, 14 December 2023

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In 2023, the Minister of Tourism extended visa-free travel to citizens of 60 countries.[1]

Overview

Dual citizens of both Iran and another country count as citizens of Iran when visiting, and must have an Iranian passport. This includes children of Iranian citizens born outside of Iran.

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.[2] In November 2018, the head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), 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.[3] In June 2019 the President of Iran ordered the Interior Ministry to implement the decision on not stamping passports of foreigners.[4]

Visa policy map

Visa policy of Iran
  Iran
  Visa-free
  Visa-free for tour groups / eVisa
  eVisa
  Visa required
  Admission refused (Israel)

Visa exemption

Citizens of the following jurisdictions can visit Iran without a visa:[5]

90 days

45 days

30 days

21 days

20 days

15 days

14 days

1 — 90 days within 180 days.
2 — Must enter Iran by air.
3 — Length of stay extendable up to 30 days.
4 — Length of stay extendable up to 3 months.

In addition, nationals of  Russia travelling in a tour group together with a representative of the tour group operator may also enter Iran without a visa, for a maximum stay of 90 days.[5]

Iran and  Qatar signed a visa-waiver agreement on 21 February 2022, but it has not come into effect yet.[6]

In November 2023, a memorandum on the abolition of the visa regime with  Tajikistan was signed.[7]

Negotiations are underway on the abolition of the visa regime with  Uzbekistan.[8]

On December 13, 2023, Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts announced that it would unilaterally cancel visas for the following countries as a measure to foster international tourism.
Specific information such as implementation date and implementation plan has not yet been disclosed.[18][19]

Iran free trade zones

All tourists may stay on Kish Island, Qeshm Island, or other free trade zones for 14 days or less without obtaining any visa. Americans, Canadians, and Britons are required to have a certified escort guide waiting for them upon arrival, and they must obtain hotel reservations before arrival. Tourists may stay at the following trade zones for up to 2 weeks without a visa in 2022:[20]

Kish and Qeshm Islands

All tourists, may stay on Kish Island or Qeshm Island for up to 14 days without obtaining any visa. Citizens of the United States, Canada, and the UK 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 them and let the immigration office of the airport know about the arrival of the passenger 48 hours before arrival.

Diplomatic and service category passports

Visa policy of Iran for diplomatic and official or service passport holders
  Iran
  Visa-free for holders of diplomatic or service category passports
  Visa-free for diplomatic passports only

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

Iran Visa for American, British, Canadian and Colombian Citizens

Holders of American, British, Canadian and Colombian passports can also visit Iran with an Iran tourism visa. The visa procedure for these nationalities takes around eight weeks. They also have to plan and book their trip with a certified local travel agency in Iran. Before the visa can be issued, the agency has to submit the applicant's day-by-day itinerary to the foreign ministry for approval. American and Canadian spouses of Iranian Citizens can easily obtain family visas of up to ninety (90) days to visit and stay in the country without the need for an agency.

Visa application and requirements

Iran's tourist visa is issued for up to 30 days and can have up to two additional 30-day extensions, for a total of 90 days. To get a visa prior to arrival, a Visa Authorization Code must be applied for through the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affair's e-visa website or an Iranian travel agency. The amount of the visa fee is dependent upon one's nationality. The visa fee must be paid prior to pick-up or when applying for a VOA. Local Iranian travel agencies offer better support, trackability and convenience for an additional fee.

Upon receiving a Visa Authorization Code, the visa may be collected at one of Iran's worldwide embassies and consulates prior to arrival or upon arrival at one of Iran's international airports. Most nationalities, except American, British and Canadian passport holders, can also obtain their tourist visa upon their arrival in the form of a Visa-On-Arrival (VOA) at the airport without a prior application. Although this method is convenient for last-minute travelers, it does have a higher risk of rejection and tends to be more time-consuming.

Visa on arrival (Advance eVisa application)

A visa on arrival might be valid for a maximum of 30 days (extendable),[21] at the following airports, as of January 2018:[5][22][23][24]

Note: to obtain a visa on arrival, passengers must already have made an application, at least two days before arrival, at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affair's E-Visa website and present the submission notification at the airport's visa desk on arrival.

Visa on arrival does not apply to nationals of the following countries who must obtain a visa in advance.[5][30]

Passport holders of these countries are required to apply for an Iranian visa at an Iranian embassy or consulate before they arrive 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.[31]

Electronic visa

E-visas have been available since 22 November 2018.[citation needed]

Mandatory guides

Canadian, British, 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.[32]

Israel

See also: Iran–Israel relations

Entry and transit is refused for Israel nationals, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight. Entry and transit is also refused to holders of passports or travel documents containing an Israeli visa or stamp (less than 365 days) or any data showing that the visitor has been to Israel or has indication of any connection with the state of Israel.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Visa-free Iran: 33 Countries Now Welcome, Including Kuwait - ARAB TIMES - KUWAIT NEWS". www.arabtimesonline.com. 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  2. ^ "Iran Relaxes Visa Process to Incentivize Foreign Tourists". Financial Tribune.
  3. ^ "Iran Waives Visa Stamping Rules to Boost Tourism". IFP News. 23 November 2018.
  4. ^ "No more passport stamps for foreign nationals visiting Iran". Tehran Times. 2019-06-24. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  5. ^ a b c d "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Iran, Qatar sign 14 bilateral deals, including visa waiver". 22 February 2022.
  7. ^ Таджикистан и Иран подписали меморандум о взаимопонимании по отмене виз
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ "Iran extends visa-free regime to Azerbaijani citizens". trend.az. 2 November 2015.
  10. ^ al-Shamahi, Abubakr (29 July 2015). "Iran waives visa requirements for Egypt, Lebanon, Syria nationals".
  11. ^ Вступил в силу армяно-иранский меморандум об отмене въездных виз
  12. ^ "THE DECISION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN ON VISA EXEMPTION FOR THE NATIONALS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, HOLDERS OF ORDINARY PASSAPORTS". www.mfa.gov.rs.
  13. ^ "Sina Visitor System".
  14. ^ Iran temporarily lifts visa requirement for Iraqi nationals
  15. ^ "Iran and Iraq start visa waiver programme". 27 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Iran Introduces Visa-Free Regime for Kazakh Citizens". 8 November 2022.
  17. ^ Iran ends visa-free travel for Serbians
  18. ^ "In landmark decision, Iran approves visa exemptions for 32 nations".
  19. ^ "Visa-free Iran: 33 countries now welcome, including Kuwait".
  20. ^ "No Visa required for Iran free trade zones". 30 June 2015.
  21. ^ "Citizens of 190 Countries to Get Visa on Arrival in Iran: Official - Tasnim News Agency". tasnimnews.com.
  22. ^ "Iran to issue On Arrival visa at 10 airports". en.isna.ir. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  23. ^ "دفتر صدور الکترونیکی روادید درفرودگاه اهواز راه اندازی شد". roozame.com.
  24. ^ "Iran issuing entry visas at Qeshm airport". persiadigest.com.
  25. ^ "Iran issuing entry visas at Qeshm airport". persiadigest.com. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  26. ^ "گشایش دفتر صدور روادید الکترونیکی در فرودگاه بین المللی ارومیه". kojaro.com. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  27. ^ "گشایش دفتر صدور روادید الکترونیکی در فرودگاه بین المللی ارومیه". kojaro.com. 24 January 2017.
  28. ^ "دفتر صدور الکترونیکی روادید درفرودگاه اهواز راه اندازی شد". roozame.com. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  29. ^ "10 Iranian Airports Issue Visa on Arrival". financialtribune.com. 23 April 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  30. ^ "Tourist visa".
  31. ^ "Shahid Rajaee Port Visa on Arrival". financialtribune.com. 23 April 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  32. ^ http://www.iraniantours.com/us.htm ESCORTED TOURS THROUGH IRAN
  33. ^ "Visa information on the site of IRI Embassy in Moscow". mfa.ir.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Iran.
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