Iran has introduced an online e-visa portal, making it more convenient for tourists to get their visas before arriving in the country.
Iran, a sizable nation in the Middle East and West Asia, is situated between the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. The country shares its borders with Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan’s Naxcivan enclave, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to the northwest, Turkmenistan to the northeast, and Afghanistan and Pakistan to the southeast.
The e-visa service is available to citizens from over 180 countries. However, travelers from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Jordan, Somalia, Colombia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India are not eligible for this service. On the brighter side, individuals from Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Georgia, Armenia, Venezuela, Egypt, and Malaysia can visit Iran without needing a visa.
Recently, Urmia Airport joined the list of airports issuing e-visas, including those in Shiraz, Mashhad, Tehran-IKA, and Isfahan. The newly inaugurated e-visa office at Urmia Airport aims to process e-visas within three minutes, enhancing convenience for travelers. The airport’s management anticipates that this streamlined process will increase international flights to Urmia, already experiencing higher passenger traffic. Discussions about building a new international terminal are also underway.
Previously, Iran only offered traditional visas and visas on arrival to eligible nationals. Due to a recent influx of tourists and an inefficient system, travelers often faced long waits to secure a visa. With the new e-visa system, Iran aims to make the process more efficient, allowing visitors to obtain their visas from home.
Back in July 2016, Iran extended the validity of visas on arrival to three months.