How Indian passport holders get a visa for Iran: visa type, government fee, processing time, maximum stay, the documents required and where to apply. Government-sourced — always verify on the official site before you travel.
Quick facts
- Visa type: eVisa — pre-arranged via MFA portal (visa-free suspended Nov 2025)
- Government fee: Tourist visa fee approximately €60 if collected at an Iranian embassy / consulate, or €90 if collected on arrival at the airport (issued only against a prior visa-grant notice). Service charges may apply.
- Processing time: MFA processing: typically 5–14 working days for the visa grant authorisation code; collection at embassy/airport is then quick
- Maximum stay: Tourist visa: up to 30 days, extendable inside Iran for 30 days at a time
- Interview: Not required
- Ease for Indian travellers: 28/100
Documents you'll need
- Indian passport valid at least 6 months with 2 blank pages — must have NO Israeli visa, stamp or evidence of visiting Israel within the last 365 days
- Recent passport-size colour photo (women: with headscarf)
- Confirmed return / onward flight ticket
- Confirmed hotel reservation in Iran
- Travel medical insurance valid for Iran (cannot be sanctions-affected insurer; buy from an Iran-approved provider on arrival if needed)
- Detailed travel itinerary
- MFA authorisation code (provided after online approval)
How & where to apply
Apply online at the Iran MFA eVisa portal (evisa.mfa.ir) for the authorisation code, then collect the visa from an Iranian embassy/consulate in India or at a designated airport. Iran MFA eVisa portal (official)
Transit & connections
Transit visa available for short transits; airside connections at IKA do not require a visa.
How Iran compares in the Gulf & Middle East
With an ease score of 28/100 this is one of the tougher applications for Indians — expect strict document scrutiny and plan well ahead of travel. Iran uses an online e-visa for Indian passport holders — no embassy visit is needed at application time.
| Country | Visa type | Government fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇷 Iran | eVisa — pre-arranged via MFA portal (visa-free suspended Nov 2025) | Tourist visa fee approximately €60 if collected at an Iranian embassy / consulate, or €90 if collected on arrival at the airport (issued only against a prior visa-grant notice). Service charges may apply. | MFA processing: typically 5–14 working days for the visa grant authorisation code; collection at embassy/airport is then quick |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | Free visa on arrival — pre-book hotel via Discover Qatar | Visa on arrival is free. (The Hayya e-visa alternative costs QAR 100.) Note: the Discover Qatar hotel booking is a paid commercial cost, not a government fee. | Visa on arrival is issued immediately at the immigration counter |
| 🇦🇪 UAE (Dubai) | eVisa — pre-arranged before travel | From about AED 250 (varies by visa duration & type). Visa on arrival for the special category below is AED 253. Airline / VFS service fees are extra — confirm exact pricing on the official portal. | Pre-arranged eVisa: usually 3–5 working days. Visa on arrival (eligible category): up to 48 hours |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | eVisa — Royal Oman Police portal | 10-day single entry (26E): OMR 5 (~₹1,100 / ~$13). 30-day single entry (26N/26M): OMR 20 (~₹4,300 / ~$52). 1-year multi-entry (36M, 30 days per visit): OMR 50 (~₹10,800 / ~$130). Fees are non-refundable. | Usually 1–3 working days; can be faster |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | eVisa — apply online before travel | 2-week single-entry visit eVisa: around BHD 9 (~₹2,000 / ~$24). Service fees may apply. Visa on arrival (eligible category): from BHD 5. | eVisa: usually 3–5 working days. Visa on arrival: issued immediately at Bahrain International Airport |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | eVisa — apply online before travel | Single-entry eVisa: JOD 40 (~₹4,800 / ~$56). Double-entry: JOD 60. Multiple-entry: JOD 120. Jordan Pass (which waives the visa fee for stays of 3+ nights) is NOT available for Indian passport holders. | Typically 1–3 working days |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Sticker visa via VFS — eVisa / VOA only with US, UK or Schengen visa | Sticker tourist visa via VFS: approximately SAR 480 total including visa fee + mandatory medical insurance + VAT (~₹10,500 / ~$128). eVisa (only if holding US/UK/Schengen visa): similar ~SAR 480 total. Plus VFS service charges. Umrah package costs are separate. | Sticker visa via VFS: typically 5–10 working days. eVisa (eligible holders): 24–48 hours. Visa on arrival (eligible holders): issued at the airport. |
Fees and processing times are indicative and change with exchange rates and season — always confirm on each country's official source before applying.
Good to know
Iran SUSPENDED visa-free entry for Indian nationals from 22 Nov 2025 following trafficking and kidnapping incidents — all Indians now need a pre-arranged visa. The Indian MEA has issued an advisory urging caution. Iran refuses entry to anyone whose passport shows an Israeli visa or stamp issued within the past year. US sanctions also limit card payments inside Iran — carry euros / cash. Visa rules change often — confirm on the official government source: https://evisa.mfa.ir/en/
The e-visa flow, and why your passport stays clean
Indians apply for Iran through the foreign ministry's e-visa portal: you submit the form online, receive an approval/reference code, then collect the visa — either electronically or at the consulate/airport counter, depending on the option granted. Iran generally no longer stamps foreign passports, precisely so a visit does not complicate travellers' future applications to countries that scrutinise Iran travel. Be aware that some countries' visa forms still ask you to declare all countries visited — answer truthfully regardless of stamps.
Cards do not work — plan a cash-only trip
Because of sanctions, international Visa and Mastercard networks are completely unavailable in Iran — no ATM withdrawals, no card payments, no matter what a hotel website implies. Carry your entire budget in cash (US dollars or euros are both fine) and change progressively at licensed exchange offices, which give substantially better rates than the airport. Local prepaid 'tourist cards' that you load with cash exist and are convenient for city spending; treat them as a supplement, not a replacement, for cash.
Rules of the road for visitors
Travel insurance explicitly valid for Iran is required with the visa — a generic worldwide policy that excludes Iran will be rejected, and cheap Iran-specific policies can be bought during the e-visa process. Women, including foreign visitors, are required to wear a headscarf in public. Photography near government or military sites is a genuine risk — keep the camera for the mosques, bazaars and mountains. Domestic flights and overnight trains between Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad are inexpensive and reliable, and they are the practical way to cover Iran's distances.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Iran?
eVisa — pre-arranged via MFA portal (visa-free suspended Nov 2025). Iran SUSPENDED visa-free entry for Indian nationals from 22 Nov 2025 following trafficking and kidnapping incidents — all Indians now need a pre-arranged visa. The Indian MEA has issued an advisory urging caution. Iran refuses entry to anyone whose passport shows an Israeli visa or stamp issued within the past year. US sanctions also limit card payments inside Iran — carry euros / cash.
What documents do Indians need for a Iran visa?
Indian passport valid at least 6 months with 2 blank pages — must have NO Israeli visa, stamp or evidence of visiting Israel within the last 365 days; Recent passport-size colour photo (women: with headscarf); Confirmed return / onward flight ticket; Confirmed hotel reservation in Iran; Travel medical insurance valid for Iran (cannot be sanctions-affected insurer; buy from an Iran-approved provider on arrival if needed); Detailed travel itinerary; MFA authorisation code (provided after online approval)
How long does a Iran visa take and what does it cost?
Processing: MFA processing: typically 5–14 working days for the visa grant authorisation code; collection at embassy/airport is then quick. Government fee: Tourist visa fee approximately €60 if collected at an Iranian embassy / consulate, or €90 if collected on arrival at the airport (issued only against a prior visa-grant notice). Service charges may apply.. Maximum stay: Tourist visa: up to 30 days, extendable inside Iran for 30 days at a time.
How do Indians apply for a Iran visa?
Apply online at the Iran MFA eVisa portal (evisa.mfa.ir) for the authorisation code, then collect the visa from an Iranian embassy/consulate in India or at a designated airport. Official source: https://evisa.mfa.ir/en/
Is a Iran visa hard to get for Indian citizens?
With an ease score of 28/100 this is one of the tougher applications for Indians — expect strict document scrutiny and plan well ahead of travel. No interview is normally required.
Can Indians get a Iran visa online or on arrival?
Iran uses an online e-visa for Indian passport holders — no embassy visit is needed at application time.
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