UPDATED AUGUST 2025
In August 2025 the Iranian government changed the laws governing entry into the country. Previously only citizens of the United State, United Kingdom and Canada were required to be on an authorised, guided tour, in order to enter Iran. Now, any passport which required a visa (in advance, eVisa, or, on arrival) are required to join a guided tour in order to travel to Iran.
If you previously did not require a visa, you will still be able to travel independently.
The rule change in August 2025 is one of the biggest changes to tourist in Iran in the previous 30 years. The majority of passports previously could travel to Iran independently, provided they obtained either a visa, or permission to obtain a visa on arrival. These individuals will now need to book on a tour.
Visa free entry
Passport holders of the following 44 countries/territories can enter Iran visa free for various lengths of time. Individuals on this list are still permitted to travel to Iran independently.
90 days: Armenia, Oman, Syria, and Turkey
45 days: Georgia
30 days: Lebanon, Iraq and Tajikistan
21 days: China, Hong Kong, and Macau
20 days: Egypt
15 days: Venezuela, Belarus, Bosnia, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Croatia, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Japan, Krygzystan, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe and all Gulf Cooperation Council members (exclusing Oman which has 90 days)
14 days: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Malaysia
Visa on arrival
Almost all other passports can obtain a visa on arrival for 30 days if arriving at one of the following airports:
Bandar Abbas, Isfahan, Kish, Mashhad, Qeshm, Shiraz, Tabriz, Imam Khomeini (Tehran), Mehrabad (Tehran), Urmia, Ahvaz, Kerman and Larestan.
In order to be elligble for a Tourist Visa on Arrival, you must be booked on an authorised guided tour on Iran.
As of August 2025, it is no longer allowed for any passport holder who requires a visa to travel independently to Iran. When you book a tour, you will be provided with an authorisation letter allowing you to receive the visa on arrival.
If you are arriving via a land border, you will need to get your visa in advance. You will still be required to join a guided tour. The company will then provide you with an authorisation letter which will permit you to get your visa at a diplomatic mission.
The Iranian government has stated that visa on arrival applicants will not be required to make any payment until their visa is approved.
Passport holders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom and United States are not eligible for visa on arrival.
I now require a tour?
It has come as a shock for most travellers that they will now need to book a tour in order to travel to Iran.
The Iranian government has stated that the new rules are meant to insure the integrity of the tourism sector as well as protect itself from perceived threats.
Once you book a tour, after 1-2 weeks you will be sent an authorisation letter which allows you to still get your Iranian visa on arrival (except for US, UK and Canadians, amongst a few others).
Those who now require a tour to travel to Iran will be required to submit the following as part of their tour applications:
Personal resume, travel history, education, employment, all social media accounts. The tour company will need to submit your exact itinerary as well as all accommodation for the trip.
Iran free trade zone
A unique feature in Iran is that there are several areas which are visa free for all nationalities for up to 14 days, providing you have a hotel booking prior to arrival, except for Israelis. British, Americans and Canadians are still required to have a guide but are not required to apply for a visa.
The free trade zones are Kish Island, Qeshm Island, Arvand, Aras, Chabahar, Maku and Anzali.
Kish Island and Qeshm Islands are the only free trade zones which are likely to be of interest to any potential tourists as the others are purely industrial zones, while Kish and Qeshm have established tourism infrastructure and are popular tourist destinations domestically as well.
What about Americans, British and Canadian passport holders?
Americans, British and Canadians must be on an organised tour in order to obtain an Iranian visa. They must also obtain the visa before they arrive and are not eligible for visas on arrival or e-visa. The process takes at least 8 weeks as the entire itinerary of the individual needs to be pre-approved. After the travel company you are travelling with has submitted the appropriate documentation and the application is approved, you’ll be given an approval letter to take to an Iranian diplomatic mission in order to receive your visa.
This doesn’t mean you’ll have someone watching your ever move while you’re in Iran and you’ll still have the freedom to walk around towns and enjoy meeting the amazing Iranian people, but you will have to follow your itinerary.
Of course if you join us on any Iran Tour we will arrange this for you.
Israel
Israeli passport holders are denied entry to Iran under all circumstances. Transit is also not allowed for Israeli passport holders, even if you’re not leaving the aeroplane.
Been to Israel?
Any passport holder will be refused entry into Iran if there is any proof of travel to Israel in your passport. Any connection to Israel can also lead to refusal or entry even if you’ve already obtained an Iranian visa.
If you want to go to Iran, but you've been to Israel, or think there is some reason why you might have trouble getting a visa, get in touch with us and we can work out what options you have.
Read more about this:
Iran liberalises visa rules for 33 countries , December 2023
