Travel Guide and Travel Information about Iran

Iran Visa and Requirements

  • Who Needs a Visa?
  • What Do I Need to Get a Visa?
  • What Are the Types of Visa?
Iran visa Information

Are you planning to come to Iran, but don't know how to get into Iran? Don't worry; we are here to inform you! To enter Iran, the first thing you need to do is to get an Iranian visa. In this section, we will explain the ins and outs of getting an Iranian visa to pave the way for your trip to Iran.

Who needs a visa?

Almost everyone desiring to visit Iran should first apply and get his/her Iranian visa. However, citizens of Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Georgia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey enjoy the privilege to travel to Iran for up to three months without a visa.

Visa Types

Full information about different visa types will surely ease the way for the foreigners to enter their destined country. Therefore, in this section we will introduce you the different types of visas issued by the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Visa typesDescriptionWho can applyDocuments needed
A-EntryThis type of visa is issued for those foreign visitors who have an invitation letter from ministries, governmental organizations, public or private sectors with the purpose of negotiating, signing contracts, setting up bought purchased machineries, etc. .. Educational & cultural Faculty members and researchers
. Common Carriers, transporting goods and people
. Officials, political, and economic members, art and sports teams, international organizations and specialists
. Internationally Recognized merchants and experts
. The United Nations employees and affiliates
. Relatives of the foreign citizens residing in Iran		1.Valid invitation
2.Visa application
3.Possible interview at the consulate
B- TouristVisa for those foreign visitors who wish to visit Iran as tourists. Tourists1.Visa application 2.Possible interview at the consulate
C- PilgrimageVisa for those foreign visitors who wish to visit the holy places in Iran. Muslim Tourists1.Visa application 2.Possible interview at the consulate
D- Diplomstic
S-Service		. Temporary employees of diplomatic and consular offices, and International organization offices in Iran
. Temporary guests of diplomats or official employees residing in Iran
. Diplomatic or Official passport holders attending conferences, apprenticeship, cultural & educational programs, etc.
.Diplomatic or Official passport holders with tourist or pilgrimage purposes		1.Official or Diplomatic Passport 2.Visa application
E- EducationVisa for foreign students or scholars who wish to study in Iran. School students
. Student
. Researchers		1.Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status from the science ministry, education ministry, or an accredited academic institution
2.Visa application
F- Temporary workVisa for foreign citizens who intend to work in Iran. Skilled workers
. Specialists in the fields of Medical, industrial, etc.
. Engineers		1.Obtaining the labor certificate from a sponsor employer in Iran, approved by the labor ministry
2.Visa application
G- TransitVisa for those foreign citizens who wish to pass through Iran, with no purpose of stay. Drivers
. Tourists
. Merchants		1.Declaring visa to destination
2.Visa application
H- MediaVisa for foreign media, including members of the radio, prints, digital, press, as well as directors and producers of films, reports, etc. traveling to Iran to work in their profession.. Reporters
. Producers
. Cameramen		1.Visa application
2.Obtaining the permit from the Media & Public Diplomacy center
I- InvestmentVisa for foreign investors whose investment permit is approved by the Organization for Investment Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran.. Merchants
. Investors		1.Approval letter from the Organization for Investment Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran
2.Visa application
M- MartialVisa for foreign men married to Iranian women, as well as their offspring. foreign men married to Iranian women.
.Children of such a family		1.Father’s official permission regarding the children’s trip to Iran
2.Visa application
T- MedicalVisa for foreign citizens who wish to travel to Iran for medical purposes and have already received an approval letter from one of the authorized medical centers.. Patients with physical illnesses1. Approval letter from one of the authorized medical centers
2.Visa application


Requirements and Process

Visitors must make sure they have at least 6 months of passport validation beyond the date of their trip completion, and enough pages for the required visa and travel stamps. Also, please consider that obtaining a visa is a time consuming process and you must allow at least three months for it, before the date of your travel. For more information consult https://e_visa.mfa.ir/en/.

Restrictions

Please note that the nationals of United States, United Kingdom and Canada have to arrange a guide that is recognized and approved by the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Iran in order to obtain visa. This guide will be in their constant attendance during their visit to Iran. Moreover, females over nine years of age are required by the Islamic law to be covered. Hence, the females over nine must attach a photo of themselves wearing a headscarf to their visa application form.
Apply for Visa

Entry and Exit

  • Where is my entry point in Iran?
  • What am I allowed to carry with myself while entering or exiting the country?

There are international airports in major Iranian cities (Isfahan, Tabriz, Kish, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz) but flights of most international airlines land in Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran.
We have presented a list of customs regulations here but please check the list of items you are allowed to get in the country with yourself from the costumes office of Iran or from the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in your area.
Entering Iran is normally done through one of the two ways which are indicated as green and red.

The Green Path
Travelers who
• Are visiting Iran for the first time in the current year
• Do not carry objects intended for trading, and the price of their carrying objects (other than the personal belongings) does not exceed 80 dollars (for each person)
• Do not carry objects that are not allowed to enter the country

The Red Path
Travelers who
• Have traveled to Iran through the green path in the current year or have already used their traveling exemption
• The objects they carry are intended for trade or exceed 80 dollars in worth
• Carry one of the forbidden items mentioned in the article 122 of the Iranian Constitution
The content of the travelers’ baggage can be the following:
• Carrying pets in the country is allowed only with a health certificate from the home country and the approval of the Iran Veterinary Organization.
• Cats and dogs cannot be carried with the travelers.
• Wild animals cannot be carried with the travelers.
• Travelers are allowed to carry two boxes of cigarettes.
• Entrance and release of plants, trees and seeds are subject to the regulations of plant quarantine.
• Entrance and release of telecommunication devices should be carried out with the written authorization of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Iran.
• Electric devices such as fridge, refrigerator, television and radio are not considered as personal objects. In case these devices are not intended for trade and are being carried with the request of the traveler, the devices will be released after following the required steps in the costumes office.
• Entering CDs of video games can only be allowed with the authorization of Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
The following objects are not allowed to enter the country:
• Items forbidden with the Islamic law such as alcoholic drinks, objects used for gambling, satellites, etc
• Weapons of all sorts, explosives, daggers, narcotics, drugs, Psychedelic drugs
• Airborne devices used for taking photos or films
• Transmitters and small recorders such as small microphones, cameras an eavesdropping systems
• Transmitters and their chips
• Items, objects, poisons, medical substances, organic matters and/or inorganic compounds used for bioterrorism
• Those carrying the sound or image of books, newspapers, magazines, images, signs, symbols and any written material or object that contains an expression or symbol that is in contradiction with the social order or public chastity and ethics or the state religion of the country, bank notes that have been out of circulation, fake notes stamps tags and labels, lottery tickets
• Objects that have been forbidden from entering the country by special regulations
Travelers leaving Iran are allowed to take out of the country whatever they brought with themselves in the first place, as well as objects and handicrafts they bought in Iran, in case they are not intended for trading.
The travelers leaving Iran are not allowed to carry the following:
• Objects forbidden by Islamic law, including narcotics, drugs, weapons
• Antique objects, cultural heritage such as manuscripts or books printed on stone, original artwork and pieces of calligraphy, miniature pages and works, old precious stones, unverified volumes of Qur’an
• 35 millimeter films, works of cultural value, musical instruments that are considered the cultural heritage of the country, rugs and carpets of cultural worth that are considered the cultural heritage of Iran
• Plant or animal species necessary for maintaining and preserving the biological resources
• Hand woven carpets by tourists bound for pilgrimage sites such as in Iraq, Syria or Saudi Arabia
The items that foreign travelers take out of the country with themselves should be of the following amounts:
• 150 grams of gold, silver and/or platinum jewelries. For jewelries with precious stones, the stones should not weigh more than one carat.
• Silver objects and dishes which are intended as souvenirs, weigh up to 3 kilograms, and are not considered as cultural or historical works.
• 100 grams of Saffron, pistachio and nuts weighing up to ten kilograms
• Carrying pets out of the country is allowed only with a health certificate from the home country and the approval of the Iran Veterinary Organization.
• Up to 250 grams of tobacco. Tobacco products produced in Iran for amounts higher than 250 grams can be taken out of the country only through the costumes of Mehrabad, Imam Khomeini, Shahid Rajaee, Shiraz, Khoramshahr, Khosravi, Anzali port and Abadan with the authorization of Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade.
• Medicine can be taken out only with the prescription from an authorized doctor and with the patient him/herself.
• Up to 125 grams of caviar can be exported only with the stamp and verification of the Iran Fisheries Organization, and presentation of the purchase receipt. The caviar should be in metal cans or glass containers wrapped and plumbed.
• Each traveler can carry hand up to 20 meters of hand woven carpets with no limitation of the number of the pieces

SOS

  • Who can I reach if I face a problem?
  • How do I get decent medical care in Iran?
Emergency

Traveling in a country which occupies 1.648.195 square kilometers and is the home of more than 80 million people has been made easy and safe thanks to the tourist police stations located in the cities of Iran. Therefore, if you feel that you are lost you can reach the closest tourist police station and get back on the route. In similar or other cases, you can contact the following emergency numbers which you might be a good idea to keep on your phone:

Police110
Ambulance115
Fire Station125
EOC112

Health and Medical Care

Generally speaking, Iran enjoys an acceptable standard of medical and health care, a fact that applies more to the major cities, like Tehran Isfahan Tabriz and Shiraz, and less to the rustic areas or remote cities. Especially in big cities almost all medical services are provided in the hospitals. Doctors, surgeons, medical assistants, practitioners and nurses are all licensed by the Iranian medical boards. Dental care is also pretty affordable in Iran. It is only essential to find the best licensed experts in major cities. Moreover, although it is advisable to bring sufficient amount of medication or prescription from your own country, it is possible to find medicine used in developed countries in Iran but probably under a different name. Since the brand names might vary in different countries, you should know the generic or chemical name of the required medication.

Insurance

Where can I get travel insurance?
Insurance

Insurance is a must before traveling in general. We recommend that tourists get insurance from a reliable company in their home country before traveling to Iran. Otherwise, travelers to Iran can make sure they get this service by the Iran Insurance Corporation for 15€ per person. This insurance supports costs up to 100.000 Euros; tourists’ costs will be covered based on the kind of loss incurred on them. This insurance can be purchased in the International Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran, upon arrival.
Get your insurance here.

Currency

What is the Iranian money and how can I get it?
Rials and Tomans

The official currency of Iran is the Iranian rial (IR). However, people use tomans for their everyday trade. Bank notes and coins are crypt in rial. Every toman is 10 rials, so every 1000 tomans is 10.000 rials. You should be careful whether the price has been announced to you in rials or tomans; if it’s rials, you should take out the last zero and read the number. This is to say, if your shopping or restaurant bill totals 100.000 tomans, you must pay ten notes showing 100.000 rials (remember the last zero must be taken out!).

Simple Sample: Remove One Zero

1. 10000 Rials
2. 1000|0 » Remove
3. 1000 Tomans

Iranian banking system is not connected to the banks overseas; hence, international credit cards are not accepted in Iran. This means that visitors to Iran must have enough cash in dollars or euros on themselves. The ATMs in Iran are only used to draw or transfer money by local cards. Another challenge related to money is changing your money. First, you have to exchange your money only at authorized exchange centers. Second, do not expect to get the same amount of money every time you exchange as the exchange rates are very unstable in the Iranian market.

Communication

How do I stay connected?
Telephone, Cellphone, Internet

Consider the following codes while making phone calls to or from Iran:

Dialing codes
Country Code98
IDD Prefix (International Direct Dialing)00
NDD Prefix (National Direct Dialing)0

Making international phone calls is possible in Iran with data roaming. It is also possible to make international phone calls using local sim cards, but it will cost extra charges. However, some foreign sim cards may not work properly in Iran. It is possible to buy prepaid sim cards, charge them with specific amounts and use their internet services. Internet is also available at most hotels, restaurants and cafes. It is possible to use WhatsApp, Viber, Skype and IMO in order to leave messages or make calls.
FAX is also available at the post offices and/or hotels.

People

Although the official language of Iran is Farsi, many people have an adequate knowledge of English or do not shy away from practicing their little knowledge of English, especially in the larger cities. But lack of proper English should not be a trouble (especially for solo travelers) as Iranians are generally speaking very hospitable, they would run to help tourists and would do their best to make them feel at home. However, we always encourage visitors to be cautious and consider the safety of themselves and their belongings first.

Electrical Devices

How do I charge my electrical devices?
Voltage and Plugs

The electricity voltage in Iran operates on 230 volts while its frequency is 50 Hz. Alongside voltage converters or transformers, visitors may also need to bring adaptors with themselves as type C and Type F plugs are used to plug in electric products in Iran. However, take a look at the appliance rating plate before plugging in as no additional tools might be required.

Budget and Costs

How much money do I need?

Although the budget of your trip highly depends on your schedule, unstable exchange rates in Iran and the economy of the country, here you can find a brief report of what the major costs are like during the last update of the content.

Transportation

Prices of transportation within the major cities almost corresponds with the following information:

Bus1000 tomans
TaxiDepends on the distance of your journey but the minimum price is 1000 tomans.
MetroMetro is available in major cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and Mashhad. Each journey costs 1000 tomans.

Intercity travel is possible via bus, train, airplane and taxi (from least expensive to most expensive). It is also possible to travel with the personal car of a trusted person. The major cities have one airport, train station and at least two bus stations located in different parts of the city. Here we have included the prices of one way traveling for one person via each mode from Tehran to Isfahan as a reference.

Bus30.000 – 50.000 tomans (depending on the date of travel, and the company providing the service)
Train40.000 – 60.000 tomans (depending on the date of travel and type of the provided service)
Airplane200.000 – 300.000 tomans (depending on the date of travel and the airline)
Taxi300.000 – 400.000 tomans

Airlines & Airports

Here is a list of airlines working in Iran and airports with the most international flights.

Airports
ImamKhomeini, TehranFlight info096330
TehranLost luggage021-51001
Mehrabad, Tehran02166930934
Airlines, Tehran
Aeroflot0218808480
Air France0216704111
Air India0218739762
Austrian Airlines0218758984
British Airways0212044552
China Southern Airlines02122645403
Emirates0218796786
Gulf0212253287
Iran Air0218808472
KLM0212044757
Turkish Airlines0218748450

Accommodation

Visitors in Iran can choose to stay in hostels, hotels (from one star to five stars in some cities), traditional hotels, apartment hotels, eco-lodges and camps. In addition to this, many Iranians are members of couch-surfing and open the doors of their houses for tourists. Here we have provided a rough sketch of the prices for a one-night stay in hostels and hotels.

Hostel50.000 tomans
Two star hotel150.000 tomans
Three star hotel250.000 tomans
Four star hotel450.000 tomans
Five star hotel650.000 tomans

Historical Site Tickets Cellphone, Internet

Entering historical places and museums requires a ticket which can be bought for a price of 8.000 to 20.000 tomans, depending on the kind of place. The entrance fee to the public museums is 20.000 tomans until March 2019. In addition to this, in some places such as complexes visitors may be required to purchase tickets at the main entrance as well as each of the sections they wish to visit.

Personal Tour Guide

Personal tour guides take visitors around for 40 to 100 dollars a day.

Calendar and Holidays

How does the Iranian Calendar work?
The Iranian and Islamic Calendars

The official calendar of Iran is the Solar Hijri Calendar. Spring begins on the 21st of March, marking the beginning of a new year. Each Month is named after the ancient Iranian months. On a typical calendar in Iran one can find three calendars: The Solar Calendar, used to indicate the date and public holidays of the country, the Lunar Hijri Calendar, used to indicate the Islamic date and holidays, the Gregorian Calendar, used to indicate the international date and holidays. The dates on a Solar Calendar correspond with the dates of the Gregorian Calendar (for example, we can say Khordad 16 is June 6 every year, except on the leap years when Khordad 16 is June 5), but this cannot be said for the dates of the Lunar Calendar with neither of the calendars.

Iranian holidays fall in both Lunar and Solar calendars. Here is a brief account of the public holidays in Iran:


The Solar Hijri Calendar

Nowruz or the Iranian New Year (Farvardin 1-4, March 21-24)
Islamic Republic Day (Farvardin 12, April1)
Sizdah bedar (Farvardin 13, April 2)
The anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini (Khordad 14, June 4)
The events of Khordad 15 (Khordad 15, June 5)
The anniversary of the 1979 revolution (Bahman 22, February 10)
Nationalization of the Oil (Esfand 29, March 19)

The Lunar Hijri Calendar

Tasua (Muharram 9)
Ashura (Muharram 10)
Arba’een (Safar 20)
The death of Prophet Muhammad (Safar 28)
The death of Ali Ebn-e Musa al-Reza (Safar 29 or 30)
The birthday of Fatimah al-Zahra (Jamadi-al-Thani 3)
The birthday of Ali Ebn-e Abi-Taleb (Rajab 13)
Prophet Muhammad’s first revelation (Rajab 27)
The birthday of Muhammad Ebn-e Hasan Al-Asgari (Sha’ban 15)
The death of Imam Ali Ebn-e Abi-Taleb (Ramadan 21)
Eid-e Fetr (Shawwal 25)
Eid-e Qorban (Zol-Hajjeh 10)
Eid-e Qadir (Zol-Hajjeh 18)

The week in Iran starts on Saturday and ends on Wednesday. However, this may vary as most of the organizations, companies, shops and all banks work on Thursday morning. Most of the shops are open throughout the weekend but they close on national holidays (especially on the religious mourning holidays).

Weather and Seasons

What’s the weather like in Iran?

Thanks to its geo-climatic situation, it is possible to enjoy the peculiar weather of all the seasons in Iran. Nature across the country blossoms with the arrival of spring, even though the weather is quite pleasant here, it can get quite rainy and windy at times. The summer in Iran can get quite warm especially in the central and southern parts of the country, that is why most travelers do not prefer summer for traveling to Iran. On the contrary, fall is one of the most popular season for tourists because of its mildly cold weather and colorful nature. The winters in Iranian plateau can get pretty harsh especially in the west and north. Thanks to the vastness of the country, on a winter day it is possible to go skiing in the north, hike over the sand dunes of the central deserts of Iran and enjoy on the seashores of the south of Iran.

General Guideline

The Language and Religion

While Iran has a divergent population whose languages and dialects may vary from region to region, including Turkic, Kurdish, Luri, Arabic etc., the official language of Iran is Persian. The state religion of the country is Islam, while there are an outstanding number of people practicing other religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.

Dress Code

All tourists travelling to Iran should consider the country’s dress code. Since 1979, after the Islamic Revolution, women aging 9 years or older have become obliged by law to cover their hair and body. As such, women here wear different kinds of hijab; namely, chador (a traditional black veil), manteau and headscarves. Their pants or skirts must be ankle length and sleeves should cover the entire arm until the wrists. As a sign of respect, women visiting Iran should cover all parts of their body too and cover their hair by a headscarf. Moreover, in the mosques, women are supposed to wear chador. You can find a chador near the entrance at most of the mosques which are frequently visited tourist attractions. Men wearing shorts or sleeveless vest would not be allowed on the street. Preferably, men should wear ankle length pants and T-shirts. There is no restriction in color and form of the public appearance of both men and women. Tourists are allowed to wear whatever type of footwear they want, from boots to sandals.

Culture-Bond Behavior

One of the cultural habits of Iranians is called Taarof. Defined as the “the Persian art of etiquette”, this is a code of behavior and civility that is practiced in almost every situation, but one should be mindful of it especially when you’re shopping or when you’re invited to a place. Another point to remember is that Iranians are physically intimate in social interactions; a hug and three kisses on each cheek are common when greeting, even among same-sex friends.

Food

Iranian cuisine is rich with different kinds of dishes based on vegetables and meat. Rice is usually an indispensable part of the meals (except for breakfast) which is served with another dish of stew, kebab, etc. The most popular choice for the weekend meal is fast food in Iran which can be found with different qualities. Restaurants serve halal meat; i.e. usually the meat from a lamb, sheep, caw, calf, chicken, turkey and fish. It is not possible to find pork or horse meat in the restaurants. Also, alcoholic drinks are not served in public places and smoking cigarettes or cigars is usually not permitted. Moreover, although tipping is not common in Iran it is not frowned upon in restaurants.

Prohibited Activities

Purchasing and drinking alcohol is not permitted in Iran. It is also illegal to use drugs in public.

Persian Art and Architecture

How has the Persian culture been expressed?

The very first pages of the history of Iran have been revealed to us through the artwork and architecture remaining from those days. The rich history of Iran has enriched the arts with various modes and disciplines such as painting, music, theater, weaving, calligraphy, pottery, stonemasonry, metalworking and architecture.
The architecture in Iran has been influenced by several factors; the ethnic diversity, nature, political change are some of the most important factors. The architectural masterpieces can be divided into 4 general types; Zoroastrian, Pre-Islamic, Islamic and Christian.

Economy

What is the economy of Iran based on?

According to the reports of IMF, Iran secured the world’s 18th largest economy in 2017, in terms of its GDP volume. Iranian economy is based on seven main industries: oil and gas, automation, mining, petro chemistry, agriculture, transportation and handmade carpets.