VISA

Hi.
Im looking to get a visa to Iran (preferably in the next two weeks) but I'm very confused about the process. To make things harder, Im British but living in France. According to this :
http://fr.paris.mfa.ir/index.aspx?fkeyid=&siteid=384&pageid=30000 I need to get a <Visa Grant Notice> but I've no idea what that is or how to obtain it- (no information is given on the site). Do I need to fill in the forms provided on the British Iranian website or the French one if I wish to obtain my visa from Paris? Also, I'm visiting friends - do I still need a licensed travel guide for my entire trip?
regards,
Charlotte Butterworth

You will need much more than two weeks for this process.

To get the 'visa grant notice', contact one of the recommended visa agents discussed in the sticky thread at the top of the Iran branch. As a UK passport holder you will need to join a tour or pay for a guide to accompany you to qualify for the authorisation code.

When you have the code, make your submission to the embassy using method 3 described on the embassy website. You can use the link in methods 1 and 2 to generate an application form to submit at the embassy.

Are you sure? It seems ridiculous that I am unable to visit my friends in Iran without being on a 'tour'....

On the LP info page it states:
"Contrary to popular misconception, US citizens are welcome, but need to pre-arrange a tour or private guide, or be sponsored by a friend or relative in Iran, who will take legal responsibility for them."

This implies that I can be 'sponsored' by my friend (I am assuming that the rules for UK citizens are the same as for US) if so, does anyone know the process?

Thank-you

Are your friends Iranian? If so, they will need to explore the options for sponsoring your visit. They will need to read the MFA website (in Farsi) to find what the process is. This also means that they will draw the attention of the authorities to themselves and to your visit. It will be up to your friends to make your visit happen.

If your friends are not Iranian, the process described in my earlier post applies.

Thank-you very much for the information!

It sounds very complicated. Is this just because I am British? Otherwise I would be able to apply for a Visa on Arrival. My friends are Iranian, but I don't want to draw unnecessary attention to them.

People travelling on UK, US and CA passports are in the same boat. Do you have a second passport from another EU country, such as Ireland?

Ask your Iranian friends to look into what they must do but without taking any action unless they are comfortable with what is involved. Iranians are very hospitable, but if the process is complex or intrusive or expensive you will understand any hesitation they may feel.

Thank-you very much for the information. It was very helpful. I don't have another passport unfortunately but I will ask my Iranian friends to look into it. If it is too much hassle, I will forgo the trip.
Thanks again.
Charlotte

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Dear Charlotte
You should fill visa applications forms and send it as long as scan of your passport to official travel agency in Iran. When you complete all documents you would then inform mentioned local agency where you would like to pick up visa( in your case Iran embassy in Paris)

Agreed, Brits, Canucks and Yanks need to be babysat while in the country. You will find some threads/posters on this forum who have managed to circumnavigate this requirement by contacting dozens of agencies to find one that'll do the paperwork without a tour. As of yet, there are no reports of tourists getting caught breaking this rule, but several travel agencies have lost licences (and maybe worse, it's not like information is free flowing from Iran).

The alternative is to have your friend sponsor you. It's a HUGE pain in the butt to get all the approvals and stamps and such from agencies and ministries. Plus, this makes it official that they are bringing foreigners into the country. While the mood in Iran is perfectly fine now, it's not a list i'd want to be on if Iran elects its own Donald Trump.

In short, as Emmeff says, you need to contact an agency and arrange for a tour/guide for your entire stay.

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