There are two ways to get a tourist visa:
– You can do it yourself and directly go to a consulate or the website, which can save an agency fee but takes at least three weeks or more. You download and fill out the application form from the Iran consulate or website in your home country; you then take or send the forms and your passport, photos, money and proof of your travel insurance to the embassy. If all goes to plan, you will eventually either pick up the visa in person (some embassies require women to cover their hair), or have your passport returned in a registered-mail envelope. With so much uncertainty, if you choose this option, give yourself six weeks or longer to be sure.
– You can use an Agency to get visa. Agencies charge from €30 to UK£120 to get you an authorisation number. Normaly you fill out an electronic form with details of your itinerary and where you would like to collect your visa, attach digital copies of photo and passport, and the agency sends this to Tehran. The MFA claims that for most nationalities it takes between five and 10 working days to assess the application. Once the authorisation numbe is received, the agency will forward it to you and your nominated Iranian embassy/consulate. You then need to go through the application process as a formality, and in most consulates the visa is issued on the spot.
Tourist Visa on Arrival
Iran usually issues 30-day tourist visas on arrival (Airport Visa) to people from about 65 countries, including most European, Asian, Persian gulf and Central Asian countries, several South American countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. Notable absentees are Britain, Canada and the USA.
Tourist visas are available at all international airports, but it is recommend to fly into Tehran’s Emam Khomeini International Airport to avoid problems.
Entry Visa (Business Visa)
To get a 30-day (extendable) business visa you must obtain an invitation letter from the company or organisation you plan to visit. The process is otherwise the same as getting a tourist visa (DIY or using an agency). People coming for a conference or to play in a sporting event need an ‘Entry visa’.