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Can you visit Iran as an American? Yes. Is it easy? Not particularly. Here’s why I didn’t get my Iranian tourist visa on my first try.
As the email notification blinked onto my iPhone screen my heart sank, “Hello Geena, we’re so sorry but the ministry of interior has rejected your visa application”.
After months of careful planning and stacks of mind-numbing government paperwork— I wouldn’t be going to Iran. I knew full well that as an American woman, and a travel writer no less, getting a visa would be difficult.
Passport privilege was no longer on my side.
Like hundreds of thousands of my fellow world travelers- I was being denied entrance to a country based on my nationality. Well that, and the Iranian government’s apparent perception that I was a nefarious secret agent or feminist rabble-rouser looking to sew dissent in their country. I can only assume.
I was heartbroken. All my plans to trek with Iran’s last nomads in the Zagros Mountains, eat my weight in Persian cuisine, and sleep underneath a million-star sky in the Lut desert dashed in a single instant.
Which is why I’m here today. To help you, as an American (man or woman) go where I can not (right now).
How to Visit Iran as an American Passport Holder
Visiting Iran as an American is a privilege only 1,000-2,000 people per year have the pleasure of doing. Many of those visitors are also unlikely to be on a tourist visa. Working or visiting family instead. But despite my experience and the exclusivity of the country, Americans can (and should) visit Iran as a tourist.
Here’s what you need to know before applying for a Visa.
Evan (my partner + fellow American) was granted admittance to Iran and bounced from the Zagros Mountains to Tehran and Isfahan for a short 9 days trip. (Blog post detailing his experience is soon to come!)
1. Americans are required to have a guide during their entire stay.
Yes, your entire stay in the country. This is the first step in visiting Iran as an American. This also means the financial price of visiting Iran (typically very low for Europeans) is much higher for us. You will need to have a certified guide with a legal tour operator arranged in advance.
Fortunately, we found Iran Nomads. And I can recommend them highly. You can choose from an array of itineraries on thier website or have them craft one specifically for you. They will help you arrange all the rest of the visa paperwork.
This means that really the only thing you need to do to visit Iran as an American is choose a tour operator you like. I promise there is currently no way to visit the country independently.
2. You Will Fill Out Loads of Paperwork.
You will need passport photos, a letter of invitation (provided by the tour company), copies of your passport, a list of countries you have previously visited, a letter from your employer as a reference (Iran Nomads gave us a template to follow), your resume, provide links to all social media accounts, and finally, you’ll fill out a provided packet full of questions.
Easy enough, right? I promise it will be worthwhile.
3. Even if all this is done correctly (it will be since you have hired a company to help) you can still be denied.
Like myself.
This is the unfortunate part about planning a trip to Iran.
Some “common” reasons for denial are a background in journalism (or possibly travel writing for large publications). Social Media accounts that cover a lot of politics or potentially, as a woman, overtly promoting drug/alcohol + unmodest behavior.
The simple solution to this is to scrub social media of unbecoming posts and to put your account on private for the duration of the visa process. I would archive any Instagram content that references religion, politics, or other touchy subjects.
4. The Israel Problem.
Many travelers who want to visit Iran are well-traveled. & if you have visited Israel previously (+ the stamp is inside your current passport) you will not be accepted into Iran.
The same goes for neighboring countries in the Arab world, like Pakistan and Yemen. The simple solution is to get a new passport + forgo mentioning Israel on that “what countries have you ever visited” question.
5. You will need to pick up your Visa in Person. Not electronically.
This means you will have to physically go to an Iranian Embassy. In the United States, the only one is in Washington D.C. If you are traveling in another country, you can arrange to have it picked up at the Iranian Embassy closest to you. For us (traveling in Turkey), it was very easy as there is an embassy in both Istanbul and Ankara. Both cities also have extremely cheap flights into Tehran, Iran.
As Evan can attest, Iran is an amazing country. Filled with natural wonders, intense trekking, and rich cultural experiences made easily accessible by having a knowledgeable tour guide. Also, the food is pretty incredible.
Interested in Iran? Check out Iraq!
Very different countries but both in the same region of the world! Iraq is actually much easier to travel as an American currently as we qualify for their Visa on Arrival program as of 2021.
Be sure to check out my Iraq Itinerary, tips for traveling as a solo female in Iraq, and Iraqi Kurdistan road trip guide before you visit!
Should I Visit Iran as an American?
Yes. Not only is the country perfectly safe, but the cultural exchange between Americans and Iranian citizens is crucial because our government relations are so poor.
We’ve met many European passport holders who have explored Iran independently and felt safe during the entire trip. With the warm welcoming nature of the Persian people, it’s easily a safer travel destination than the United States. Reach out if you have any questions about visiting this wonderful country.
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