Iran Travel Guide

Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
British	Yes	Yes	No
Australian	Yes	Yes	No
Canadian	Yes	Yes	No
USA	Yes	Yes	No
Other EU	Yes	Yes	No

Passport valid for six months beyond stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above. Passport must also contain two blank pages

Passport Notes

Nationals of Israel or holders of passports containing a visa for Israel (either valid or expired) will be refused entry under all circumstances. Women judged to be dressed immodestly will be refused entry.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) transit passengers continuing their journey within 12 hours provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. Transit passengers continuing their journey within 48 hours (under the above conditions) can theoretically obtain a transit visa on arrival.

Note: 1) Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden can theoretically obtain a visa for tourist purposes only for a stay of seven days on arrival at the following airports: Esfahan, Mashad, Shiraz, Tabriz and Tehran (IKA and THR). A visa fee is applied.

2) Be aware that visa requirements for visitors of all nations can change at short notice. Contact the embassy to check the latest situation. Nationals not referred to in the chart above are also advised to contact their local embassy to check visa requirements.

3) Women over nine years old should wear a headscarf in their visa application photo in accordance with Islamic custom.

4) There is a fine of around £20 per day for those who overstay their visa.

Visa Note

Women over nine years old should wear a headscarf in their visa application photo in accordance with Islamic custom. There is a fine of £19 per day for those who overstay their visa

Types of Visa and Cost

Transit visa: £61, Tourist visa single entry: £68, Multiple visa for business: £90. The above prices are for UK nationals; fees vary according to nationality of applicant. Be aware that processing times can be up to four weeks, or even longer in some instances. Entry into Iran must be within 90 days of the visa being issued.

Validity

Tourist, Business and Pilgrimage visas are issued for stays of up to one month and are valid for three months from date of authorization. Transit visas are valid for five days. Applications for renewal or extension should be made to the Iranian Embassy.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Important Addresses for details.

Working Days Required

A minimum of four weeks. A pilgrimage visa may only take two weeks to process.

Travel Warnings

There have been a number of mass demonstrations in Tehran, Esfahan, Shiraz and other cities in recent weeks. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK advises British nationals to stay away from demonstrations, large crowds or areas where police and security forces are gathered. Security forces may arrest or detain those taking photographs of demonstrations or those watching or taking an interest in demonstrations.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK advises against all travel to within 100km (62 miles) of the entire Iran/Afghanistan border, and to within 10km (6 miles) of the entire Iran/Iraq border. The Pakistan border area is also insecure, and travelers are advised against all travel east of the line running from Bam to Jask. This includes all travel to Bam.

Due to the unsettled political situation, British travelers to Iran - and particularly dual British/Iranian citizens - face greater risks than nationals of most other countries. Iranian paranoia about Britain's supposed role in encouraging unrest means that the security forces are suspicious of people with British connections. There is therefore a risk that a British visitor could be arbitrarily detained, despite their complete innocence.

The risk is less for tourists - particularly those in tour groups - visiting tourist centers where the local security authorities are likely to be more familiar with foreigners. The risks increase for independent travelers, particularly if they go off the beaten track. Similarly, business visitors are less at risk if they have been invited by local business contacts. But any behavior - no matter how innocent - that does not have an obvious explanation can put travelers at greater risk.

The risk of arrest would rise sharply if a British citizen were found in or close to a demonstration. These demonstrations, some of which have turned violent resulting in some deaths, are likely to continue sporadically.

The ability of the British Embassy to help if British citizens are arrested is limited - Iran rarely grants prompt consular access. Dual nationals are at particular risk: the Iranian authorities will not recognize their British citizenship and will deny that the British Government has any legitimate responsibility for them.

There is a general threat from terrorism. Explosions have killed a number of people in recent years. Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including against expatriate and foreign travelers, and you should remain vigilant. On 18 October, a suicide bomber carried out an attack in Pishin in the southern Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchestan. Some Iranian sources have claimed that foreign powers, including the UK (incorrectly), are in some way involved in the attack.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK believes there remains a threat to foreigners from kidnapping by Baluchi separatists throughout Iran.

Credit cards and bankcards cannot generally be used in Iran and travelers' checks can be very difficult to exchange.

The application process for an Iranian visa can be protracted and unpredictable. Travelers are therefore advised not to purchase flight tickets or pay for hotels and other travel arrangements before they have secured a visa. Since 9 February 2010, applicants have been required to provide fingerprints when applying for an Iranian entry visa.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: (0845) 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Health facilities are limited in remote areas. Medical insurance is essential.

Vaccinations

Vaccination	Special Precaution
Diphtheria	Yes
Hepatitis A	Yes
Malaria	Sometimes
Rabies	Sometimes
Tetanus	Yes
Typhoid	Sometimes
Yellow Fever	No*

Special Notes

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers coming from infected areas.