Visa for Iran

Hi,
It is apparently possible to obtain a tourist visa directly at Teheran airport. Does anyone know if it works, and how long the visa is valid (I read 7 days on some webs, and 15 days on others). And do you know if that visa can be extended once in Iran? We are planing (one french and one swiss guy) to travel 2-3 weeks over there from mid-August....and I think we're a bit short of time to get a visa through the french and swiss iranian ambassies.

Thanks a lot for any help
Alexis

Hi,
a) Yes it is true! you will receive a visa good for 16 days at major Iranian airports including Tehran IK Airport.

b) ..."And do you know if that visa can be extended once in Iran?" PROBABLY YES! Although I have not been able to verify it for myself, a well-informed downtown hotel manager in Tehran told me earlier this week that the so-called 'airport visa' can indeed be extended at a govt-run office pretty close to Amir Kabir Avenue (8am-1pm?). I will find out about the exact location of the place for visa extension hopefully next week.
If you need more help, please let me know and see my 'private message'. Bye.

Hi.
Of course I meant 15 days and NOT 16! I have no idea how I typed the wrong number in my reply above. Sorry! Bye.

I have a one-way ticket to tehran as I want to leave overland. can I still get the visa at the airport?. I hope so but webpages still says fly in, fly out.

I'm planning to go to Iran this summer;
is still valid to get a temporary 15 days Visa at Teheran airport?
Thanks a lot for your help

Hi Anaya,
I met 2 young men from Singapore last week who told me in spite of the fact they had one-way airline tickets, they had been granted visa! but I will try to verify it to see if 'theoretically' at least a round-trip ticket (return ticket) is required. I do not think so however. I will let you know what I come up with. Stay tuned. Bye for now.

Hi arkadyn.

yes it is still valid. Bye.

Hi.

This is the address I have been given for tourists to go to extend their visas including the now famous '15-day-o-arrival' airport visa!
The govt agency name: Edareye Police Amniyate Tehrane Bozorg
The location: Baharestan, Pole Chubi, Maydane Sepah

Tel. No. 7765-6555

Tomorrow I will call that office myself to make sure it is the right one indeed. However, if any of you guys reading this topic have anything to add or know of any other agency/address in Tehran please post your comments here. I greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Thank you so much for your suggestions!
I don't know how long the electronic-visa procedure could take...In the menwhile I would like to be sure about this situation.
An agency told me that 7 days temporary visa has been cancelled and replaced by the 15 days on arrival at Teheran airport.
They have investigated about this.
It is not clear what I have to do...I have a flight ticket valid for 13 days and time is so short.
If you Amiriniran have suggestions, please don't hesitate to post!
Thank you

hi akadyn,
you say you have a flight ticket valid for 13 days? you mean you will depart for Iran in 13 days? since you are an Italian, you qualify for the 15-day airport visa. Bye.

Hello Amiriminian,

thank you for your prompt reply; Yesterday the MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) confirmed what you wrote, (15 days of Visa validation).
I think it is the best way to get the Visa.
Thanks again for your suggestion.
Now I need the flights confirmation! See you there then
Ciao

Hi Arkayn,
you are welcome. The visa is not free of course and would cost you 50 euros, I believe. By the way, Iran and especially Tehran are anything but cheap nowadays and remember you must pay cash everything; hence make sure you bring enough euros with you because your credit cards, debit cards, cash cards wont work at local ATMs here! Bye.

Hello Amiriran,
I know this situation, credit cards, debit cards and so on...I have to bring a lot of money!
Please let me me know if it is easy and simple rent a car in your country; I have the international license driver.
At the same time I'd like to know if I'll meet problems to take photos of the people (street phoytography).
I know some countries don't accept a similar situation, please tell me what is your opinion.
Cheers

Hi Arkadyn,

I recommend you to not rent a car to yourself ... you will get my mean when you put step in Tehran streets :) better to rent a car with driver that could be easy.
Taking photos of the people? Try to ask for permission in advance if you wanna to take photos of females ... otherwise no problem.

PS: I thank Amir (amiriniran) for his valuable postings in this forum.

Regards,
Ali

Thank you all!
Your info are very important for a foreigner; I knew renting a car is not so safe but it is really useful for a short stay.
I think to use buses or trains from Teheran to the South of your country.
I have to ask a permission for women? Ok no problem, it is the same as in other countries of Middle East.
How many cameras may I can bring with me? Is there some limits for this? Recently a website reported that only one camera body was permitted...
Thank you again for your support.
Arkadyn

Hello,

You're welcome.
- Permission for traveling with train or bus? of course no! why should someone need a permission for getting around the country?
- Camera? I don't think we have a legal limit for it. Maybe it's a customs regulation regarding Iranians and importing goods! Anyhow bringing at lease a photo camera and a video camera is something normal.

Regards,
Ali

Sorry, there was a misunderstanding...
I was talking about the photography;
Asking the permission to the women before clicking it is normal for a photographer.
Thank you for the suggestion regarding the customs rules; I need at least 2 cameras with 6 or 7 lenses; I can give to the customs all the specification before entering in your contry.
Thanks again
Arkadyn

Well,
yes you better to ask for permission before taking photos of women.
and I don't think that carrying 2 cameras is something abnormal ... but along with a few lenses ... just don't behave as a journalist because it has its own rules and you will face some checks/controls/regulatins etc.

Regards,
Ali

Hi all,
I plan to go to Iran in August for 2 weeks, and I plan to get the visa on arrival. I guess I just have to get there with a valid passport, return plane ticket and 2 photos, no? Looking at the answers of this forum I found information about the electronic visa; that is something different from the 15 days on-arrival visa, correct?

Thanks for your help
Alexis

I'll also try getting into the country on an airport visa. I'm planning on climbing Mount Damavand around the end of september. I haven't really got a clue as to what to do with the rest of my time, so suggestions are welcome.

Hi to everyone

As we are all in the same situation about getting our visa, some of us being not sure of the right information, some others not knowing the different options, I would just like to add my comments if they can help:

• 15 DAYS TOURIST VISA AT AIRPORT: After quite an intensive browsing, like many of you I found some "yes it's possible" information but also some contradictory one regardless the quality of the tour operators' websites or the wide experience of the travellers' in the country. Luckily, I came accross this news which made me believe there was indeed something going on: http://www.payvand.com/news/06/apr/1123.html

I then kept searching on this key, and found the same updated information in one of the -at least apparently- top quality tour operators- http://www.persiatours.com/visa_iran.htm. I next proceeded to send them an email and this morning just got their AFIRMATIVE answer back.

I just wanted to have the last "yes" so I contacted the Iran Embassy in Madrid and again the person answering the phone did confirm that citizens from Spains along with 67countries more (countries shown in the 2nd link), could get this 15 days visa at airport.

Simultaneously, I had posted a message at "Irpedia.com" forum and below you can find the answer received:http://www.irpedia.com/iran-forums/f7/t365/ms/?PAGEN_1=2.
I believe this is the safest process to follow, to apply first to the E-Visa through the Foreign Affairs Ministry and collect it at the airport upon arrival.

I do hope this will help :-) Thanks to all but especially to Aliamiri for all your useful responses..

Let's enjoy Iran

Elena

hi

I thinking of travelling by ferry from dubai into iran. does anyone know if it is possible to get a visa upon entry or is it only tehran airport that is issuing? i also plan to leave overland via turkey. i was hoping to by a bus ticket after i have arrived in iran. does immigration need to see an outward ticket??

Many thanks
daniel