Iran Visa on Arrival (Iran VOA)
By issuing a 30-day electronic Iran visa on arrival for most nationalities (US, British, and Canadians are exempt from receiving this visa), more tourists are able to easily visit Iran. Since late 2018, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) 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.
They also plan to extend the Iran visa on arrival duration to 90 days in the near future. So, presently all visitors can apply online for a visa and collect it on arrival at major international airports.
Which airports are issuing Iran visa on arrival?
At the moment, e-VOA facilities are available at 12 international airports inside of Iran. Visitors may collect their e-VOA from any of the following airports:
- AWZ: Ahwaz International Airport
- BND: Bandar Abbas International Airport
- BUZ: Bushehr International Airport
- GSM: Qeshm International Airport
- IKA: Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport
- ISF: Isfahan International Airport
- KER: Kerman International Airport
- KIH: Kish International Airport
- MHD: Mashhad International Airport
- OMH: Urmia International Airport
- SYZ: Shiraz International Airport
- TBZ: Tabriz International Airport
All Iran visa related offices (Visa police office, travel insurance agencies, and bank branches) are open 24/7 at these international airports. So, there is no worry and you can collect your e-VOA whenever you arrive in Iran.
Iran VOA at land borders
The Iran MFA is establishing facilities to issue visas on arrival at land borders in the near future. At present, some land borders issues e-VOAs as a pilot program and hopefully this will become permanent and offered at all land borders soon.
However, citizens of countries who don’t need a visa for Iran, can enter the country from land borders without any restrictions. For example, Turkish citizens can enter Iran from the Bazargan border without a visa.
Iran Visa on Arrival Exceptions
Citizens of 10 countries MUST get their visa before arrival and they are NOT entitled to get an e-VOA. These countries are:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, Somalia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Citizens of Afghanistan and Bangladesh who live in their own country have to apply directly for a visa via the MFA e-visa website and collect their visa from an Iranian Embassy/Consulate in their country.
Citizens of Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, and Somalia can apply online through authorized travel agencies like us to get their visa.
Finally, citizens of Canada, the UK and the USA are only permitted to enter Iran as part of an authorized and managed tour and receive their visas from authorized travel agencies, and they require more authorizations that make the process longer compared to other citizens.
Also, citizens of the following nine countries DON’T need a visa and can enter Iran freely and stay for a specified time:
- 🇦🇲 Armenia: 90 days within 180 days
- 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: 14 days
- 🇪🇬 Egypt: 20 days
- 🇬🇪 Georgia: 45 days
- 🇱🇧 Lebanon: 30 days
- 🇲🇾 Malaysia: 15 days
- 🇴🇲 Oman: 29 days
- 🇸🇾 Syria: 90 days
- 🇹🇷 Turkey: 90 days
Iran VOA Restrictions
The e-VOA is for tourism, pilgrimage, and entry purposes only. People with any other intentions, need to apply for the relevant visa before their arrival. According to the MFA, the e-VOA will be absolutely refused for the following persons:
- Journalists or reporters traveling for the purpose of work
- Holders of diplomatic or service passports
- Those whose applications for an Iranian visa were previously refused.
There are also stricter laws for citizens of Sri Lanka, Nepal, and African countries. They have to bring their visa approval in the form of the Visa Grant Notice or very strong documents to convince visa officers that they are here for tourism or pilgrimage purpose only.
Iran E-VOA Requirements
To get your Iran e-visa on arrival, you have to have a travel document (passport) valid for at least 6 months. You have to apply online for the visa before your departure and have received your visa grant notice or at least your visa submission notice. It is obligatory to have valid Iran travel insurance as well. Finally, you have to pay the Iran visa fees in cash, in Euros.
In summary, the Iran e-VOA requirements are:
- Iran visa grant notice (fill in our online Iran visa application form and get your visa approval in 2 days)
- Valid travel insurance
- Enough cash in Euros to pay the visa fee
According to Iranian MFA announcement, having an Iran Visa Grant Notice is MANDATORY to be able to collect visa on arrival.
Iran Visa on Arrival fees
The fee for this visa is a bit more expensive than other visa you’d pay at an Iran Embassy/Consulate. All e-VOAs are single entry and the maximum duration of stay is 30 days. The e-VOA fees for different nationalities are as follows:
Iran E-VOA Tips
- How to pay for the Iran e-VOA fee: Please don’t forget to bring enough cash in Euros to pay the visa fee and travel insurance fee (in some banks they also accept USD notes). Due to unfair financial sanctions against Iran, international debit or credit cards can’t be used in Iran at all.
- Dress code upon entering Iranian international airports: Iran, as a Muslim country, has special dress codes that MUST be observed by incoming tourists at arrival. According to the laws of the country, women should have hijab in public areas. All women are asked to cover their hair with a scarf or shawl. They should also cover their body and that means wearing loose-fitted clothing for women that is not see through and not show any skin on arms, legs, etc.., except for the face and hands.
- Iran visa on arrival waiting time: It may take between 30 minutes to 1 or 2 hours, depending on how many applicants there are. If you haven’t applied online for your visa before your arrival, it may take longer to be confirmed and issued.
- Print your visa approval before arrival: Free WIFI internet is not always available at arrival halls at Iranian airports. So, you may not be able to download your visa grant notice from your email attachment. Although the visa police may only need your passport, it is recommended to print your required documents such as visa grant notice or visa submission notice before your departure to Iran.
- Picture for your Iran visa: If you have already applied online and got your visa grant notice, the picture on your visa approval will be printed on your e-visa. It is not obligatory to use a picture with hijab if you are not Muslim. If you haven’t applied online before your departure and are trying to get a visa on arrival, it is better to bring a recent photo with you. In some visa offices, they may have digital cameras to take your photo, but this is not guaranteed.
Iran VOA for Indian Passport Holders
In the second half of 2018 India was added to the Iran VOA list, so Indian citizens can fly to Iran and get their visa on arrival. It is very important for them to get their Iran visa authorization code before their arrival, have valid travel insurance and pay €90 for the e-VOA fee in cash at the banks situated in the Iranian international airports.
The Iran e-VOA for Indians allows them to stay up to 30 days in Iran for tourism, pilgrimage, or medical purposes.
Iran Visa on Arrival for UK, USA, and Canada Citizens
At present, the Iran visa on arrival is not available for citizens of these three countries. Iran has a very strict visa policy for these countries and they HAVE to get their visa before arriving in Iran and travel to Iran as part of an organized official tour. Even if they are traveling to Iran individually, they have to be accompanied by a licensed tour guide.
There is only one exception for passengers of these three countries and that is for those who have dual citizenship. They can use their other passport and travel to Iran freely regardless of their American, British or Canadian citizenship.
FAQs
Is Iran visa on arrival?
Yes, due to new changes in Iran visa policies to welcome more tourists to Iran, most nationalities can apply online and get an electronic visa on arrivals at Iran international airports.
However, citizens of the following 10 countries need to get their Iran visa pre-arrival from an Iranian Embassy/Consulate:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, Somalia, United Kingdom, and United States.
Which countries can get visa on arrival in Iran?
All nationalities except the citizens of 10 countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, Somalia, United Kingdom, and United States) can apply online and get an Iran e-visa on arrival.
How much is Iran visa on arrival?
Iran visa on arrival is a bit more expensive than if you collect your visa before arrival from Iran embassies or consulates.
Iran VOA fees varies between 20 and 150 Euros. Iran visa on arrival fee is 75 Euros for all European nationals and 90 Euros for Indians.
How to pay for Iran VOA?
You ONLY have to pay the Iran VOA fee in CACHE and in Euros. Some banks terminal may accept USD too. But it is recommended to bring enough cache in Euros. Due to unfair financial sanctions against Iran, you CAN’T use any debit or credit card in Iran.
What is the chance to get Iran visa on arrival?
Visa officers at visa offices in international airports of Iran have complete authority and delegation to decide about visa applications. Anyways, if you have your Iran visa grant notice (Iran visa authorization code), it means your visa application is approved, your visa issuance is guaranteed and you will be granted visa on arrival for sure.
What is Iran visa on arrival requirements?
In summary, the Iran e-VOA requirements are:
- Iran visa grant notice (fill in our online Iran visa application form and get your visa approval in 2 days).
- Valid travel insurance.
- Enough cash in Euros to pay the visa fee.
Do I need a visa to Iran?
All visitors to Iran must obtain a visa from one of the Iranian diplomatic missions, unless they are from an Iran visa free country (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Syria, and Turkey) or country eligible to obtain an e-visa on arrival (e-VOA).