Visa Requirements for Iranian Citizens (2026)

Not currently, in most cases. US visa issuance for Iranian nationals is suspended under Presidential Proclamation 10998, effective January 2026, with limited exceptions including certain persecution cases. This is a suspension of issuance rather than a refusal of individual applications. Anyone offering guaranteed US visa services for Iranian passport holders should be treated with extreme caution. Check the current position with the US Department of State before making any financial commitment.

Entry and transit have been restricted for Iranian nationals since April 2026, with limited exemptions reported for Golden Visa holders and some professional categories. Because the UAE is a major transit hub, this affects connecting flights as well as visits. Confirm your eligibility to transit with the airline and the UAE authorities before booking any itinerary routed through Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

UK visa services in Iran have been disrupted since the British Embassy in Tehran temporarily closed in January 2026. The status of the Tehran visa application centre has changed more than once, so verify it directly with VFS Global before travelling to a centre. Many Iranian applicants submit from a third country instead, commonly Turkey or the UAE, subject to their own entry rules for Iranian nationals.

Canada has had no diplomatic mission in Iran since 2012, so applications cannot be submitted inside the country. Iranian applicants complete the online IRCC application and then attend a Canadian visa application centre in a third country — commonly Ankara, Istanbul, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. You need lawful entry to that country first, which is a separate visa question in its own right.

Only in limited circumstances, and the position changes frequently. Germany resumed accepting Schengen applications through TLScontact in Tehran during 2026, but on a restricted basis tied to a waiting list and prior cancelled appointments. VFS Global in Tehran has been closed for Schengen applications. Contact the embassy of your destination country directly to establish whether it is accepting applications before making any plans.

Turkey is visa-free for 90 days and Malaysia for 15 days. India offers an eTourist visa online. Thailand is often listed as visa-on-arrival for Iranians, but that is wrong — Iran is not on Thailand's visa-on-arrival list, so a tourist visa or eVisa must be arranged before travel through the Thai e-Visa portal. Turkey and Malaysia remain the practical starting points for Iranian travellers building documented travel history.