Iran Visa Requirements for US Citizens: A Comprehensive Guide

Getting visa as the first step of traveling to a new destination can be both stressful and complicated. Nevertheless, when you find the way and follow the correct steps, you can get your visa hassle-free. Talking about Iran, you may find diverse information and finally stay hesitant with taking the decision. As a American passport holder, you may ask “How that is possible to travel to Iran and what are Iran visa requirement?” In this guide, we will explain all you need to know about Iran as a tourist.

We congratulate you with selecting Iran as your next destination. Iran is the country of ancient history, breathtaking architecture, awe-inspiring landscapes and above all welcoming people. So, if you are curious about experiencing the beauty, history, and culture of this land, this article is for you. The first and only sound in your head during you travels in this beautiful country, is that all media message are NOT coming from the truth.

Let us go ahead with the most updated necessities and requirements  to get Iran visa.

1. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 7 months.
2. Make sure not to have Israeli visa stamp in your passport.
3. As the fist step, you need to book a guided tour.
4. Visa will be granted after about 4 working weeks.
5. There is 1 month time to refer to Iran embassy for pick-up.
6. You can pick up Iran visa in 1 working day.
7. Or you can use mailing service to pick up Iran visa in a week.
8. Iran visa pick-up fee is different according to nationalities.
9. Iran visa is not stamped in your passport but on a separate paper.
10. After the visa is tamped, you have three months time to enter Iran.

You may wonder if as an Americans you can visit Iran. The answer is a big Yes. Traveling to Iran is easy but at the same time needs some requirements. Don’t let these requirements prevent you from visiting this beautiful country!

Traveling to Iran needs a few months’ time for all preparations such as visa. So, it is suggested to start about 6-5 months before.

As an American, you’ll need to be accompanied by a tour guide at all times and submit your information for pre-screening. The first step is to choose a licensed tour operator who provides you with a tour package, help you with your visa paperwork and work out the logistics of your travel such as hotel bookings, transfers, tour guide etc within the country. We (Irun2Iran) with a satisfactory experience in operating tours for the US Citizens  willing to be your tour operator. Check previous travelers testimonials.

As the first step, you need to finalize your travel itinerary including all the cities you like to visit and the activities you like to do in Iran. Iran is famous as the country of four seasons, it means that you can travel to this country several times and each time experience something new.

You can find some itinerary suggestions or ask for a tailor-made one.

All the documents your operator later asks you to send comes below:

• Filled out Iran visa form
• Your passport scan (first page with the information is enough)
• Your passport-size photo
• A professional CV (resume) explaining your education, job experiences and places you’ve visited

Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months.

Make sure not to have Israeli visa stamp in your passport, otherwise your visa will be rejected.

Then you will be asked to pay some percent of your tour price as deposit and the process starts.

The process from sending your documents to receiving your visa grant notice, can take 4-6 weeks including all paperwork and translations the operator will do. During this time, we will be happy to answer all the questions you may have about your itinerary and places you will visit.

As soon as Iran visa is granted, the related document will be sent to you to go into another step.

There are two ways to pick up your visa either by direct referral or through mailing services. The first option takes 3-4 days time and the second option takes 2-3 weeks time. All you need to do is to prepare the documents and send to the Iranian Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy. Iran has no embassy in the United States so Pakistan’s embassy operates as the representation for Iran where the consular are done. The Pakistani embassy is located at 1250 23rd St. N.W. Suite # 200 Washington, DC 20037.

To obtain the visa, you’ll need to provide the following items and send to the interest section:

• Visa application forms
• Visa grant notice (coming from the tour operator)
• Passport-size photo
• Passport
• Visa fee ($90) including return mailing fee ($120)

A clear No. The U.S. citizens are not permitted to obtain a visa for Iran upon arrival. The American citizen travelers need to secure their visas prior to arrival, typically through an application process that is done by a travel agency. The general fact is that getting Iran visa for American citizens is only possible by taking part in a guided tour. The process results in obtaining authorization from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then, they will collect their visa from an Iranian embassy.

read also : Iran visa on arrival

Before traveling to Iran, American citizens should know about essential requirements. Firstly, obtaining a valid visa is crucial, as entry without one is prohibited. To get the visa, it is mandatory for the US citizens to consult a travel agency to design a guided tour because they cannot visit Iran on their own. The process of checking documents by Iran ministry of foreign affairs takes about 30 working days. Currently, Iran has no embassy in the US but it has an interest section in Washington DC. It is not imperative to refer to the interest section in person for visa collection, but it can be done by mail. A mandatory insurance policy is issued for all the applicants to mitigate unforeseen circumstances during the trip. Finally, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with Iranian customs, laws, and cultural norms to facilitate respectful interactions.

If you want to travel to Iran as an American but have more questions, post a question and we will be pleased to help! 

Read the article about how to pack for Iran.

Let us design your travel itinerary. 

Can US citizens travel to Iran right now?

Yes, the rate of approval of Iran visa for US citizens is high until the passenger is following tourism purposes.

Does an American citizen need a visa for Iran?

Definitely yes. An Iran visa for American citizens who like to visit Iran is compulsory. The visa is issued only by booking a guided tour package.

How much is a visa from the USA to Iran?

The Iranian tourist visa for U.S. citizens currently is US$100 at Iranian Interest Section in Washington DC. It is advisable to consult the Iranian embassy or consulate (where you wish to collect your visa) for the most current fee and application process details.