Entry/Exit Requirements
"Should you decide to travel to Iran despite the current Travel
Warning, a passport and visa are required. To obtain a visa, contact
the Iranian Interests Section of the Embassy of Pakistan located
at 2209 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC. 20007; tel 202-965-4990,
91, 92, 93, 94, 99, fax 202-965-1073, 202-965-4990 (Automated Fax-On-Demand
after office hours). Their Internet website is http://www.daftar.org/Eng/default.asp?lang=eng.
U.S. citizens do not have to obtain a visa for travel from Dubai
to Kish Island.
The Iranian press has reported that foreign tourists may obtain
seven-day tourist visas at the airport in Tehran. However, U.S.
citizens are strongly encouraged to obtain valid visas in advance
to avoid delays and/or interrogation, as well as to reduce the prospect
of denial of entry at the airport. Note: possession of a valid Iranian
visa will not guarantee entry into the country. Some American travelers
with valid visas have been refused entry at the border without explanation.
U.S. passports are valid for travel to Iran. However, the Iranian
government does not recognize dual nationality and will treat U.S.-Iranian
dual nationals as Iranian citizens. Thus, U.S. citizens who were
born in Iran, who became naturalized citizens of Iran (e.g. through
marriage to an Iranian citizen), and children of such persons—even
those without Iranian passports who do not consider themselves Iranian-are
considered Iranian nationals by Iranian authorities. Therefore,
despite the fact that these individuals hold U.S. citizenship, under
Iranian law, they must enter and exit Iran on an Iranian passport,
unless the Iranian government has recognized a formal renunciation
or loss of Iranian citizenship. Dual nationals may be subject to
harsher legal treatment than a visitor with only American citizenship.
See section on Special Circumstances below.)
In the past, U.S.-Iranian dual nationals have been denied permission
to enter/depart Iran using their U.S. passport; they even had their
U.S. passports confiscated upon arrival or departure. (Depending
on the circumstances, the individuals could sometimes get the U.S.
passport back by renouncing their Iranian citizenship.)
Recently, Iranian authorities have prevented a number of Iranian-American
citizen academics, journalists, and others who traveled to Iran
for personal reasons from leaving, and in some cases have detained
and imprisoned them on various charges, including espionage and
being a threat to the regime. Americans of Iranian origin should
consider the risk of being targeted by authorities before planning
travel to Iran. Iranian authorities may deny dual nationals’
access to the United States Interests Section in Tehran, because
they are considered to be solely Iranian citizens.
As a precaution, however, it is advisable for U.S.-Iranian dual
nationals to obtain in their Iranian passports the necessary visas
for the country to which they will transit upon their return to
the U.S. so that, if their U.S. passports are confiscated in Iran,
they may depart Iran with their Iranian passport. These individuals
can then apply for a new U.S. passport in that third country. See
our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure for more information on
Iran and other countries.
Dual nationals whose U.S. passports are confiscated may also obtain
a “Confirmation of Nationality” from the U.S. Interests
Section of the Embassy of Switzerland, which is the U.S. protecting
power. This statement, addressed to the relevant foreign embassies
in Tehran, enables the travelers to apply for third-country visas
in Tehran. Dual nationals who find themselves in this situation
should note in advance that the Swiss Embassy will issue this statement
only after the traveler's U.S. nationality is confirmed and after
some processing delay. Dual nationals must enter and depart the
United States on U.S. passports.
Visa extensions are time-consuming and must be filed at least one
week in advance of the expiration date. As of March 21, 2006, a
foreign national and anyone accompanying him/her will pay a fine
of 300,000 rials or 30,000 tomans per day for each day of unauthorized
stay in Iran.
All Iranian nationals, including U.S.-Iranian dual nationals, must
have an exit permit stamped in their Iranian passports in order
to depart Iran. The stamp is affixed to page 11 or 13 of the Iranian
passport when it is issued and remains valid until the expiration
date of the passport. All Iranian nationals residing abroad, including
U.S.-Iranian dual nationals, are now required to pay an exit tax
regardless of the duration of their stay in Iran, and are no longer
exempted. Iranian nationals residing abroad are exempted from paying
exit taxes if their stay in Iran does not exceed four months. All
Iranian nationals living permanently in Iran are required to pay
the exit tax upon departing Iran. More specific information on Iranian
passport and exit visa requirements may be obtained from the Iranian
Interests Section of the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C."
- US State Dept
For non-US Citizen requirements, please contact
us for updated information.
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