United States Iran

Iran Visa Requirements for United States Citizens

Visa required

United States passport holders need a visa for Iran, issued by an embassy or consulate before travel.

The US State Department says a tourist visa is required, except for Kish Island.

“A tourist visa is required, except for Kish Island.”

Source: US Department of State — Iran international travel information (Tourist visa required: yes, except for Kish Island) · checked 15 Oct 2026

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Destination

Iran visa options for United States citizens

Visa for applicants with United States passports residing in the USA or Canada, through the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington (through travel agencies or their host in Iran)

Embassy

Fee: 75 USD
Valid for: 45 days

USD 113 expedited, plus a non-refundable insurance fee of US$13 per visa application and a non-refundable processing/postage fee of US$40 per package, paid by money order in US dollars payable to the "Embassy of Pakistan". Iran's Interests Section in Washington says only applicants currently residing in the USA and Canada may apply through it, that applicants with United States, United Kingdom and Canada passports must apply only through travel agencies or their host in Iran, that the visa is issued only electronically, that average processing is 10 business days (2 business days urgent) from document receipt, and that applicants must enter Iran within 45 days of issuance and may stay for the period indicated on the visa.

What the Iran visa rules mean for United States travellers

United States citizens need a visa issued in advance by an embassy or consulate of Iran. Start the application several weeks before departure: you will typically need a passport valid for six months with blank pages, a completed application form, passport photos, a travel itinerary, proof of accommodation and of sufficient funds, and sometimes an invitation letter or bank statements.

The main option is the Visa for applicants with United States passports residing in the USA or Canada, through the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington (through travel agencies or their host in Iran), which costs 75 USD.

Documents to prepare

Whatever your visa status, Iran applies the same entry conditions to every traveller:

Passport validity: Iran's Foreign Ministry eVisa portal says that to apply for any electronic visa your passport should have at least six months of validity beyond your actual travel date, and its visa-on-arrival page says all visitors mu…
Vaccinations: Yellow fever: The UK Foreign Office says that to enter Iran you must have a certificate proving a yellow fever vaccination if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
Vaccinations: Polio: The UK Foreign Office says that to enter Iran you must have a certificate proving a polio vaccine if you are coming from a polio-affected country.
Travel insurance: Iran's embassy in Berlin adds EUR 10 for travel insurance to every visa fee it charges, and Iran's Interests Section in Washington charges a non-refundable insurance fee of US$13 per visa application; no official source…

Iran entry rules compared

Iran lets 42 passports in without a visa, issues eVisas to 1 and requires an embassy visa from 154. United States citizens are treated the same way as Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize. Overall the United States passport ranks #34 in the world with 116 visa-free destinations.

More travel options

Planning a longer trip in Asia? With a United States passport you can also visit 18 countries in the region without a visa, including Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Macau.

In the other direction, Iran citizens need no admission to visit United States.

Entry requirements for Iran

Passport validity

6 months

Iran's Foreign Ministry eVisa portal says that to apply for any electronic visa your passport should have at least six months of validity beyond your actual travel date, and its visa-on-arrival page says all visitors must hold a passport or travel document valid for 6 months at the time of departure. The UK Foreign Office says that if your passport has stamps from Israel or other countries' border crossing points with Israel, you may be refused entry to Iran.

Iran eVisa — MFA visa portal (English: Important Tips, Passport Expiration)✓ Checked 9 Oct 2026

Vaccinations: Yellow fever

The UK Foreign Office says that to enter Iran you must have a certificate proving a yellow fever vaccination if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Iran entry requirements✓ Checked 3 Oct 2026

Vaccinations: Polio

The UK Foreign Office says that to enter Iran you must have a certificate proving a polio vaccine if you are coming from a polio-affected country.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Iran entry requirements✓ Checked 3 Oct 2026

Travel insurance

EUR 10

Iran's embassy in Berlin adds EUR 10 for travel insurance to every visa fee it charges, and Iran's Interests Section in Washington charges a non-refundable insurance fee of US$13 per visa application; no official source we could read says whether the eVisa or the visa on arrival requires insurance.

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Berlin — visa fees and procedure✓ Checked 3 Oct 2026

Return or onward ticket

No official source we could read states an onward-ticket requirement. The MFA eVisa application asks for your travel itinerary only if you have already made travel arrangements.

Iran MFA eVisa — How to complete the application✓ Checked 3 Oct 2026

Proof of funds

No official source we could read states a proof-of-funds requirement or amount for Iran. The UK government says non-Iranian debit and cash cards will not work in Iran.

UK FCDO — Iran travel advice✓ Checked 3 Oct 2026

Registration after arrival

24 hours

Managers of public and private premises, and owners or occupiers of private homes, must notify the local police station or gendarmerie within 24 hours of the arrival of any foreign national who stays one night or more with them. A foreign national who does not follow this law and its regulations is fined 2,300,000 to 115,000,000 rials. The same penalty applies to managers, owners or occupiers who do not meet the notification duty in article 8.

Qavanin.ir (Vice-Presidency for Legal Affairs) — Law on the Entry and Residence of Foreign Nationals in Iran (1310, as amended)✓ Checked 12 Oct 2026

Overstay penalties

Under the Law on the Entry and Residence of Foreign Nationals, foreigners must leave Iran when their permitted stay ends unless the police extend it. A foreigner who does not comply with the law is fined 2,300,000 to 115,000,000 rials by the general courts, unless a heavier penalty applies, and may be expelled.

Qavanin.ir (Vice-Presidency for Legal Affairs) — Law on the Entry and Residence of Foreign Nationals in Iran (1310, as amended)✓ Checked 12 Oct 2026

Customs allowances

No Iranian source we could read states a cash-declaration threshold. The US State Department lists an entry maximum of $10,000 and an exit maximum of $5,000.

U.S. Department of State — Iran international travel information✓ Checked 15 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do US citizens need a visa for Iran?

United States passport holders need a visa for Iran, issued by an embassy or consulate before travel. The US State Department says a tourist visa is required, except for Kish Island.

How much does a Iran visa cost for United States citizens?

Visa for applicants with United States passports residing in the USA or Canada, through the Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington (through travel agencies or their host in Iran): 75 USD.

How do United States citizens apply for a Iran visa?

Apply at an embassy or consulate of Iran before you travel. Prepare a valid passport, a completed application form, photos and any supporting documents the embassy asks for.

How long must my passport be valid to enter Iran?

Iran's Foreign Ministry eVisa portal says that to apply for any electronic visa your passport should have at least six months of validity beyond your actual travel date, and its visa-on-arrival page says all visitors must hold a passport or travel document valid for 6 months at the time of departure. The UK Foreign Office says that if your passport has stamps from Israel or other countries' border crossing points with Israel, you may be refused entry to Iran.

Data: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0). Entry rules can change — confirm with official sources before travel.

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