Practical guide
Iran Visa Guide
Last verified: 2026-06-29
How the Iran tourist visa really works: most nationalities get a 30-day visa via a prior e-Visa authorization code, applied through a licensed Iranian agency 2-6 weeks ahead. The authorization code is NOT the visa - you still collect the visa at an Iranian airport on arrival, or at an embassy if you cross a land border. US, UK and Canadian citizens must travel on a pre-arranged guided tour with an MFA-approved itinerary.
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Key things to know
- Authorization code ≠ visa - collect the visa at the airport (air arrival) or an embassy (land border)
- Apply through a licensed agency ~10-40 days ahead; DIY online applications are usually rejected
- US / UK / Canada: guided tour + MFA-approved itinerary mandatory
- The code expires ~2 months after issue - time your application
- No stamp in your passport - the visa is issued on a separate sheet
- Visa on arrival / at a land border is effectively unavailable - arrange in advance
- We handle the full agency filing and your authorization code
Questions we answer
Related questions
What is an Iran visa authorization code, and is it the same as the visa?
No — and mixing them up is the most common visa mistake travelers make. The authorization code is a pre-approval reference issued by Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) after your application is filed. It is not the visa. With the code in hand, you still collect the actual visa: at the international airport when you arrive by air, or at an Iranian embassy or consulate beforehand if you plan to enter by land. Think of it as step one of two — the code alone does not get you across the border.
Can I apply for an Iran visa myself, or do I have to use an agency?
You can try applying on your own, but direct applications are very often rejected or simply left unanswered — usually without explanation, a frustration the forums are full of. In practice, tourist visas go through a licensed Iranian agency, which lodges your application with the MFA and sends you the authorization code once approved. Apply several weeks before your trip. US, UK and Canadian citizens have an extra requirement: their visa is tied to a pre-arranged guided tour with an MFA-approved itinerary. We handle the full agency filing and your authorization code if you book with us.
Where do I collect my Iran visa — at the airport or at an embassy?
It depends on how you enter. Flying in: bring your authorization code and collect the visa at the international airport on arrival — the standard route for most nationalities. Entering overland: you must collect the visa at an Iranian embassy or consulate before you reach the border, because no visas are issued at land crossings. Decide your entry route before you apply, so you and your agency know where the visa will be collected.
Is visa on arrival available for Iran? Can I get one at the Turkish or Armenian border?
Not at a land border — no tourist visa is issued at land crossings, whether you arrive from Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan or elsewhere, so overland travelers must collect their visa at an Iranian embassy or consulate first. At international airports the picture is different: a visa on arrival does exist for many nationalities — though never for US, UK or Canadian citizens, who must arrange everything in advance, and a number of other nationalities are excluded too. Even where it is available, turning up without paperwork means queues, an on-the-spot fee and a small but real risk of refusal, and eligibility rules can tighten without warning. The dependable route is the same for everyone: get the authorization code in advance through an agency, then collect the visa at the airport (air arrival) or at an embassy before the border (land arrival).
How long is the Iran visa authorization code valid, and how long can I stay?
The authorization code doesn't last forever — typically one to three months, depending on where you collect the visa: codes for embassy collection expire sooner, codes for airport collection last longer. So timing matters: apply several weeks before your trip, but not many months in advance, or the code may lapse before you travel. Once collected, the tourist visa allows most nationalities a stay of up to 30 days, and extensions are usually possible inside Iran. If your code does expire, the fix is simply a fresh application — but that costs you the waiting period again, so plan the application window around your travel dates from the start.
Why was my Iran visa rejected, and can I apply again?
Rejections happen, and Iran rarely gives a reason — sometimes nothing more than a terse 'you will return.' US passport holders are refused most often. The good news from travelers who have been through it: a rejection is not necessarily final. Re-applying through a different licensed agency often succeeds where the first attempt failed, since agencies vary in their track record with the MFA. Two practical rules: never book non-refundable flights before your authorization code is confirmed, and if you are refused, change the agency, not just the paperwork.
Does Iran stamp your passport?
For most visitors, no. The visa is issued on a separate sheet of paper rather than stamped or glued into your passport, so the passport itself carries no visible record of your visit. Travelers ask because of onward travel — some countries screen visitors who have been to Iran. The loose-sheet system means there is no stamp to see, but the trip can still count: the United States, for example, excludes travelers who have been to Iran from its visa-waiver programme, so citizens of waiver countries need a regular US visa for later American trips, stamp or no stamp. Check the entry requirements of the countries you plan to visit afterwards, and answer any official questions truthfully.
Is evisa.mfa.ir legit? Why is the Iran e-visa website so confusing?
The portal is genuine — it is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official e-visa system — but you are not imagining the confusion; the forums are full of travelers stuck on it. The key thing to understand: submitting your own application is exactly the do-it-yourself route that often stalls or ends in rejection. The route that works is the same application filed by a licensed agency on your behalf, after which you receive your authorization code. If the site seems broken, stalls, or your direct application sits unanswered, that is the normal experience — go through an agency instead.
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