Iran Tightens Entry Rules: New Visa Policies and Mandatory Guided Tours for Travelers

(IRAN) Iran has tightened entry rules for foreign visitors, rolling out new visa policies and hotel booking restrictions that take effect in August 2025 and effectively end independent travel. Under the changes, tourists can no longer enter on their own. Instead, they must book prearranged, guided tour packages through certified Iranian travel agencies and follow a fixed, pre-approved itinerary.

Authorities frame the move as a security measure after a brief Iran–Israel conflict in June 2025 and a wave of arrests that included foreign visitors. Travel groups say the shift will reshape how people visit the country and could dampen demand in the short term.

What the new system does

The new policy centralizes control over who enters Iran and where they go. Key features include:

• Mandatory tour packages: All foreign visitors must obtain visas through certified Iranian tour operators or travel agencies. Independent travel is no longer allowed.
• Fixed itineraries: Travelers must provide a day-by-day plan with exact entry and exit dates, border crossing points, and confirmed nightly stays.
• Accommodation limits: All lodging must be in registered hotels or guesthouses, booked through licensed agencies. Staying with locals, Couchsurfing, or camping outside registered hotels is prohibited.
• Licensed guide requirement: A licensed escort guide must accompany visitors throughout the trip or meet them locally in each destination. Full-time guiding is required for overland travelers using cars, motorcycles, or bicycles.
• Agency-mediated applications: Agencies are now the main channel for visa applications and are responsible for ensuring travelers stick to approved routes (VisaVerge.com reporting).
• New screening documents: Applicants must submit a “resume file” that includes travel history, education and work background, and links to active social media profiles.
• Processing, payments, and fees: Processing takes about 2–3 weeks (excluding weekends and national holidays). No payment is required until the visa is approved, and applicants who are denied aren’t charged.
• Nationality-based rules: Citizens of Canada, the UK, and the United States remain subject to special handling and must be escorted by government-approved guides at all times. Entry and transit are refused for Israeli nationals and for travelers with recent Israeli stamps.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Tourism Ministry are implementing the system, with certified Iranian tour operators acting as the gatekeepers for visas and itineraries.

Application requirements & process

Applicants should expect the following steps and requirements:

1. Contact a certified Iranian travel agency to arrange a tour package and prepare the visa application.
2. Submit a detailed, day-by-day itinerary showing exact dates, border points, and pre-booked registered accommodations.
3. Provide a resume file containing:
   • Travel history
   • Educational and professional background
   • Links to active social media profiles associated with the applicant
4. Wait for processing (around 2–3 weeks, not counting weekends/national holidays).
5. Pay only after the visa is approved; no fee if visa is denied.

Agencies also handle visa extensions and any requested itinerary changes — which must be submitted in advance.

Who is most affected

• Overland travelers (bikers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and private car groups) face the biggest change: a licensed guide must accompany them for the entire route, and overnight stays must be at registered lodging.
• Independent-minded backpackers and budget travelers will find fewer options; small homestays, Couchsurfing, and informal camping are effectively banned for foreign visitors.
• Travelers from the US, UK, and Canada face continued special handling because Iranian diplomatic missions are closed in those countries; they must be escorted at all times.
• Israeli nationals and travelers with recent Israeli stamps are barred from entry or transit.

Practical impacts on planning and travel

• Earlier planning is essential: Start the process well before intended travel dates to allow 2–3 weeks for processing and possible follow-ups.
• More documentation and scrutiny: Expect questions about jobs, travel patterns, and online presence due to the resume-file requirement.
• Limited spontaneity: Last-minute detours and spontaneous overland route changes will be difficult; agencies must approve changes in advance.
• Agency as single point of contact: One certified agency typically handles visas, hotels, transport, and guides — useful for families and first-time visitors seeking predictability, but restrictive for repeat travelers who prefer autonomy.

Industry response and market effects

Travel agencies report sweeping change. Some firms that previously helped independent travelers now offer escorted private or small-group tour packages with set routes to comply with the new rules.

• Agencies advise clients to allow more time for screening and to prepare more background information than before (VisaVerge.com analysis).
• Licensed guides may see increased demand.
• Registered hotels and guesthouses could see steadier bookings via agencies.
• Small homestays, informal accommodations, and budget hostels that relied on independent travelers may see declines.
• Prices could rise if demand shifts from budget, independent travel to agency-managed accommodations and guided services.

Officials justify the measures citing safety and predictability after June 2025 arrests and the brief conflict with Israel. Historically, Iran allowed more flexibility — including visa-on-arrival for many nationalities and travel without guides — but the August 2025 changes bring most travelers under a centralized, agency-mediated model.

Special notes on nationality and diplomacy

• With Iranian embassies closed in the US, UK, and Canada, processing and diplomatic channels differ; Americans often use the Iranian Interests Section housed within Pakistan’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., while agencies in Tehran handle much of the approval process.
• Dual nationals and travelers with complex passport stamps should check their passports for recent Israeli stamps and consult agencies before applying.
• Officials are still finalizing parts of the rollout and may adjust details, but the core model is expected to remain through 2025 and possibly longer.

Official portal and recommended actions

Applicants can review guidance and begin the application at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ e-visa portal:
– Iran MFA e-Visa

Recommendations:
– Book through a certified Iranian agency to file your visa and set a compliant itinerary.
– Confirm every hotel stay on the itinerary and avoid unregistered lodging.
– Factor in at least 2–3 weeks for processing, plus extra time for follow-ups on the resume file.
– Keep your licensed guide close, especially for overland travel.
– Ask your agency to handle extensions well ahead of your planned departure.

This policy shift trades flexibility for control: licensed guides and set routes become the backbone of travel to Iran. Whether this approach restores traveler confidence or reduces interest remains to be seen, but for now agencies are the only route in.