Visa for the United Kingdom from Iran: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. An Iranian passport carries no exemption: a Standard Visitor visa is required for any tourism, family or business stay. It generally permits stays of up to six months. Be sure to choose the visitor category that matches the real purpose of your trip.

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 fee135 GBP

  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 The amount is set locally and we do not publish a figure we cannot verify.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.

Prepare a valid passport, proof of sufficient funds, evidence of accommodation, an itinerary and documents showing your ties to Iran (employment, family, property). A visa fee applies: check the exact, up-to-date amount on GOV.UK, as we do not quote a price here.

Complete the online form on GOV.UK and create an account to pay and book an appointment. You then attend a visa application centre (VAC) run by the UK's authorised partner to provide fingerprints and a photo. As there is no UK visa office inside Iran, most applicants submit in a third country; check the responsible centre on GOV.UK.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Iran, 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.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Iran 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.

Processing times vary by centre and season, so rely on the official estimate on GOV.UK before booking anything. Submit a complete, consistent file with clearly legible bank statements and a cover letter that plainly explains the purpose and length of the stay, which makes the caseworker's assessment easier.

Many refusals come from poorly evidenced funds, a vague purpose of travel or ties to the country of residence judged weak. Avoid untranslated documents, inconsistent dates and non-refundable bookings made before the visa is granted. Finally, check any health-related entry requirements.