Visa for Iran from the United Kingdom: price, documents and processing time 2026
Yes, a visa is required: citizens of the United Kingdom apply at the embassy or consulate before departure.
Data updated on
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
New service€29
Have your application checked before you submit it
A person reads your documents and tells you in writing what is missing or inconsistent: insurance, accommodation, dates, funds, where to apply.
- You pay €29 by card, secure payment by Stripe.
- You email your documents to [email protected] from the address you paid with.
- You get our written reply within 48 hours, or your money back.
The €29 does not include the appointment, the submission or the visa fees. IziVisas is not a consulate: only the consulate decides.
Pay €29 and have my application checkedOur guide to the Iran visa from the United Kingdom
Yes, nationals of the United Kingdom must obtain a visa for Iran before departure. The application is made to the competent Iranian embassy or consulate, or to the application centre they designate.
For a trip to Iran, British travellers follow a consular procedure: contacting the Iranian representation, preparing the file, attending an appointment and then waiting for the decision. Fees and processing times are provided by the competent Iranian embassy, which should be consulted before committing to any expense.
Do you need a visa for Iran?
Yes. A British passport does not exempt you from a visa for Iran: you must obtain a visa before the trip from the Iranian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, or from the designated application centre. The application follows the standard consular route, and the visa must be issued before boarding.
How much does a visa for Iran cost from the United Kingdom?
The official fee for a visa for Iran is not published in a source we can verify. Check the amount on the official portal before paying anything, third-party sites often add service fees on top.
What does a visa for Iran really cost?
The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.
- Government feeNot published in a source we can verify
Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.
- Application centre feeVariable, set by the operator
Only when the post uses an external centre. The amount is set locally and we do not publish a figure we cannot verify.
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.
- ExtrasVariable
Courier return, SMS tracking, compliant photo, insurance, sworn translation or legalisation, depending on what the post requires.
We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.
What documents are required for a visa for Iran?
The exact list for Iran is not published in a source we can verify. Every short-stay tourist application is nonetheless built on the same core:
- Valid passport
- Completed application form
- Compliant passport photo
- Proof of accommodation
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds
Treat this as the common core, not the official list, confirm it with the consular authorities of Iran before you apply.
Documents and fees
The standard file includes the completed and signed form, a valid British passport, compliant passport photos and proof of accommodation, financial means and travel insurance. Depending on the purpose of the stay, the representation may ask for other documents. For the visa fee amount, ask the Iranian embassy directly before submitting your application.
How to apply for a visa for Iran from the United Kingdom
- 1Book an appointment at the embassy, consulate or visa application centre.
- 2Assemble the complete file before the appointment.
- 3Submit the file and provide your biometric data.
- 4Track the processing and wait for the decision.
- 5Collect your passport with the visa sticker.
How to apply
Start by contacting the competent Iranian embassy or consulate to find out the current procedure, the list of documents and how appointments work. Complete the application form specified by the representation, then attend the appointment with your complete file and passport. Then follow its instructions for collecting your passport with the visa.
Where do you apply for a visa for Iran from the United Kingdom?
A consular visa for Iran is filed with the diplomatic post accredited for the United Kingdom, or with the application centre that post has appointed.
- The competent post is the one accredited for the United Kingdom, which is not always the nearest one geographically.
- An application centre collects the file and the biometrics. It does not decide, it cannot speed up a case, and it is not an agency.
- Appointments are booked with the post or the centre directly. A slot is never sold, and no one can guarantee one.
What if Iran has no embassy in the United Kingdom?
Then the application goes to the post accredited for the United Kingdom, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.
You live in the United Kingdom on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in the United Kingdom but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does a visa for Iran take?
No verified processing time is published for this route. Apply as early as your travel dates allow, and never book non-refundable travel before the visa is granted.
Processing time and tips
Processing times vary with the representation, the season and the file; ask for the usual time and allow a comfortable margin before your departure date. Do not buy plane tickets or non-refundable bookings before obtaining the visa. Before planning the stay, also consult the travel advice published by the government of the United Kingdom.
Before you fly, and at the border
- Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
- A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
- Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
- Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
- Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.
Common mistakes
An incomplete file or supporting documents inconsistent with the itinerary delay the decision or even lead to a refusal. Another common mistake is relying on unofficial information about the procedure, when only the competent Iranian representation is authoritative. Finally, when the visa is issued, check that the dates, number of entries and visa type match the planned trip.
Plan your trip
Nomad Insurance travel cover (SafetyWing)
Medical cover and repatriation, can be taken out mid-trip.
Flights (Trip.com)
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eSIM data (Saily)
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Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)
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Other visa types for Iran
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
Official sources
Guide generated automatically on October 17, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Short-stay (tourism)
Visa required
Entry regime
Visa required
Official websiteVerified
Press visa
Consular visa
Duration
30 days
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Business eVisa
Consular visa
Duration
90 days
Processing time
5 business days
Official websiteVerified
Work visa
Work visa
Duration
1 year
Processing time
30 business days
Official websiteVerified
Pilgrimage eVisa
Consular visa
Duration
30 days
Processing time
5 business days
Official websiteVerified
Student visa
Student visa
Duration
Duration of programme
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Tips for traveling in Iran
- Check the visa requirements before traveling.
- Make sure you have all necessary documents, including travel insurance.
- Respect local rules and cultural norms.
Example: Prepare a copy of your passport and visa for local procedures.
SafetyWing travel insurance
Medical costs and repatriation during your stay. If the consulate asks for insurance, check the required amount before buying.
- Medical costs covered up to $250,000
- 180+ countries, United States as an option
- Can be bought once you have left
- Pre-existing conditions not covered
Partner link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The visa verdict above does not depend on this partner.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa to travel to Iran from the United Kingdom?▾
Yes, a consular visa is required: applications are made at the embassy or consulate before departure.
How do you apply for a visa for Iran from the United Kingdom?▾
The application goes through the embassy, consulate or an accredited visa application centre: book an appointment, assemble the file, submit it with biometric capture, then collect your passport once the decision is made.
What other visa types exist for Iran?▾
Depending on the purpose of stay, Iran offers among others: Business eVisa, Work visa, Student visa, Press visa, Pilgrimage eVisa.
Data verified on 28/10/2026 · Our methodology
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Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
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