Iran has got to be one of the best travel experiences in the world. Getting there, however, for American, British and Canadian travellers is far from plain sailing. This guide looks at how to travel to Iran for American, British and Canadian citizens – without bending any rules.
Disclaimer – the purpose of this post is to provide helpful information for those American, Canadian and UK citizens wishing to travel to Iran. Our advice is based on our experiences only and we of cannot guarantee the experiences of others. Travel advisories to this part of the world can be politically driven and we recommend using your good judgement and common sense at all times!
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How to Travel to Iran for Americans, British and Canadians – Updated for 2019
Written originally in 2017, this post is updated for travel to Iran in 2019. If you have corrections to make or experiences to share, and especially if you have experienced American travel to Iran – we would love to hear from you: please comment at the end of the post.
Why the Special Treatment for Americans, British and Canadians?
A country that was effectively cut off from the outside world in the ‘80s and ‘90s by sanctions, since 2016 Iran has started opening up, and the good news is that includes to tourism. Iran travel, is perhaps complicated at times, but surely there are plenty ofrewards for those who persevere.
In the last year, record numbers of international visitors have fallen for this beautiful country’s charms and seen that Iran is anything but the image portrayed by western media.
Not yet sure if you want to travel to Iran but simply curious? Check out my Why Travel to Iran post here.
Iran remains, however, a country that British, Americans and Canadian citizens cannot travel independently to. We can travel to Iran, but with some key differences than other nationalities. Iran travel for Brits, Americans and Canadians has not been easy.
Can I travel to Iran as an American, British or Canadian Passport Holder?
The good news: yes, you can. Even after the current US President’s latest anti-Islamic legislation in June 2017. The position of the Iranians is clear: Americans are welcome in Iran. (Americans see latest update at the top)
Now for the less good news. As a Brit, every time I read about couch surfing in Iran or the wonderful experiences travellers had hanging out hitchhiking with Iranians, my heart would bleed a little. I knew that that experience of Iran was out of reach for me, and here’s why:
Americans, British and Canadian Passport Holders need to go on an organised tour of Iran or be accompanied by a Licensed Iranian Tour Guide during their entire trip. That’s unless you have managed to find an Iranian to sponsor your visa application and accept legal responsibility for you during your time in Iran.
Need to get a visa for Iran in the UK? Check out my guide to getting an Iranian Visa in London, UK, here.
Can Americans Travel to Iran?
American travel to Iran has been a sticky subject politically since the Iranian Revolution in the 1970’s, and despite a brief entente in relations in 2016-17, sadly the situation has since deteriorated. However – it is still possible to travel to Iran as an American. The only nationality that *can not* travel to Iran are in fact Israeli citizens (and if you even have Israeli border stamps in your passport you’ll be denied entry – see more below).
Americans face the toughest restrictions when it comes to travel in Iran – in addition to the requirements for travel to Iran laid out here, Americans need to have a pre-booked airport transfer for arrival in Iran.
If you are an American – Iranian citizen with dual nationality OR you are a woman who’s a) father is Iranian or b) husband is Iranian you are regarded as an Iranian citizen (only) by the Iranian government, and a whole different set of advice applies and it may not be advisable for you to travel to Iran – please read your government’s travel advice for the latest recommendations.
British Travel to Iran
UK nationals can travel to Iran so long as they are part of a pre-booked recognised tour group or hire a licensed Iranian Tour Guide for the duration of their stay in Iran. If staying before/after an organised tour, an guide must also be hired for those days (your tour company will be able to help with this). In 2017 I stayed an additional day without needing to hire a guide and was not asked to do so, but the rules have become stricter since that time.
I travelled to Iran in 2017 as part of an organised tour on my British passport and encountered no problems and found Iran very safe to travel in.
If you are a British – Iranian citizen with dual nationality OR you are a woman who’s a) father is Iranian or b) husband is Iranian you are regarded as an Iranian citizen (only) by the Iranian government, and a whole different set of advice applies and it may not be advisable for you to travel to Iran – please read your government’s travel advice for the latest recommendations.
Read more in my guide to getting an Iran Visa for UK Citizens here.
Canadian Travel to Iran
Canadian nationals can travel to Iran so long as they are part of a pre-booked recognised tour group or hire a licensed Iranian Tour Guide for the duration of their stay in Iran. If staying before/after an organised tour, an guide must also be hired for those days (your tour company will be able to help with this). In 2017 I stayed an additional day without needing to hire a guide and was not asked to do so, but the rules have become stricter since that time.
On my tour in 2017 I had a Canadian room-mate who encountered no problems and found Iran very safe to travel in.
If you are a Canadian – Iranian citizen with dual nationality OR you are a woman who’s a) father is Iranian or b) husband is Iranian you are regarded as an Iranian citizen (only) by the Iranian government, and a whole different set of advice applies and it may not be advisable for you to travel to Iran – please read your government’s travel advice for the latest recommendations.
Bear in mind that travel advisories issued by governments are always pessimistic, as well as politically driven.
Is Iran Safe for British, American and Canadian Citizens?
Contrary to what you might think from watching the news, Iran felt – to me – like probably one of the safest countries I’ve visited. If you were to drop your wallet while wandering its bazaars or craning your neck to admire its beautiful mosques, chances are that a throng of locals would run screaming after you to return the wallet to you, full of its contents. Problems with crime are arguably a lot less than your average European or American country.
What you do want to avoid of course, is a stint in Iranian jail for arousing suspicion for being an American / British / Canadian spy. This does not happen often, but of course there have been a couple of high profile examples. Let’s be clear, the average tourist is at very low risk of getting in trouble, as long you abide by the rules.
Especially seeing as an American, British or Canadian traveller, you need to go on a guided tour, your guide will always advise you of any behaviour that might cause problems. During my time in Iran I encountered no problems whatsoever – the only time we were clearly told not to take any photos was in our bus as we drove past the infamous Natanz uranium enrichment facility (just off a main road!)
In short, Iran is safe for travel. As an American, British or Canadian tourist, be particularly mindful of the following things:
- Photography of official buildings is prohibited. Anything with army/police outside, government buildings, and even the political murals by the “US den of Espionage” are best avoided for photoshoots.. If in doubt, ask your guide (or an official).
- Do not even think about taking a drone into Iran.
- Obey the hijab dressing rules (see below) and stay clear of any political or anti-hijab demonstrations.
- Take a guided tour, and don’t try to get creative with travelling independently if you are travelling on a British, American or Canadian passport.
- Generally keep a low profile during your visit to Iran, don’t make critical statements of Iran (or post them on social media), and don’t ask probing questions about Iran’s political, religious or (especially) nuclear status while travelling in Iran.
- If you have Israeli stamps (or even evidence of Israeli border crossings) in your passport, you won’t be allowed into Iran.
- If you are questioned about something “suspicious”, remember, you are just a dumb, snap-happy tourist 🙂 trying to capture beautiful Iran.
- If in doubt… ask your guide.
Note that the above does not apply if you have dual Iranian – American/British/Canadian citizenship. You will then purely be treated as an Iranian national and Iran will not acknowledge your other nationality. If your family comes from Iran generations back, then this is again a more complicated situation. Consult your government’s travel advisory for advice.
How to Choose a Tour of Iran?
So we’ve established that (unless you have an Iranian sponsor) you’re going to need a guide or a tour of Iran. If you’re short on time, you can find all the info on the G Adventures Discover Persia tour that I took (and loved!) here.
How to choose an Iranian tour?
In my research for my trip to Iran I contacted a mix of local and international operators, asking a load of annoying questions. Ultimately, your decision will probably come down to a number of factors:
- Time
- Budget & level of comfort required
- How you want to travel (local transport vs private a/c coach)
- “Must See” places – destinations you want to include vs off the beaten track
- Other specific interests – food, hiking/wintersports, art, train travel.. etc.
Interested in responsible travel in Iran? Check out my tips for travelling responsibly in Iran here!
Iran is a huge country. It sounds obvious but this is something I underestimated when starting research for my trip. Two weeks in Iran (which is what I had) is barely enough to scratch the surface and visit the main cities along with some more off-beat places mixed in.
Iran is also not particularly cheap compared to some other Middle Eastern or Central Asian countries. A mid range hotel room will easily go for 100 USD per night, and hotels in Esfahan in peak season get booked up far in advance (a tour / travel agent comes in very handy here). You can compare accommodation prices and find the best fit with cozy cozy.
I chose to travel with G Adventures for my escorted tour to Iran due to a couple of deciding factors. Firstly, they use some local transport on their trips (something that’s a bit of an obsession for me), and secondly, they have a global commitment to sustainable tourism. Something that was not easy to find in Iran where the tourism infrastructure is relatively un-developed.
During my research I found some Iranian operators that offered more budget trips (travelling entirely on public transport), desert experiences, and others that even offered tours of Iran by private train if that’s more your thing, but communication was not straight forward like it was with G Adventures.
Private guides and drivers are also available through travel agencies, and are likely to cost significantly more than a group tour which allows individuals to join.
Find out more about G Adventures Discover Persia trip / sign up for special offers with G Adventures here.
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So does this mean I’m going to be “followed” around / have no time to explore by myself?
I had visions of not being able to leave my hotel room without my tour guide, or my guide being required to inform on any suspicious activity I might engage in (blog posts?!).
I didn’t experience anything of the sort.
On my G Adventures trip we had plenty of free time, and as a Brit I was treated no differently than the other group members of different nationalities. On landing in Tehran I haggled my way through the taxi line and made my own way into the city.
Throughout the trip I wandered freely, rode the Tehran metro alone, and when asked where I was from and said British, I was never once asked where my guide was. On telling people where I was from I was never once met with hostility or suspicion, only curiosity, friendliness or mild indifference. There were no Americans in our group, but my Canadian group mate’s experience was similar.
Policemen even came up to us and told us they would love to have a photo with us but couldn’t due to the rules!
In addition to your organised tour of Iran, you can stay one extra day either side of your organised/guided trip individually. For additional extra days you need to organise a guide.
There’s one exception to the above for Americans – who at time of writing (July 2017) were required to have a pre-booked airport transfer via their travel agent. Let’s call it the red carpet treatment!
Female Travel in Iran.
Though I did not travel as a solo female traveller to Iran, I did on occasions make a point of walking around by myself to get an idea of what it might feel like. My feeling of Iran was safe and I did not feel threatened or harassed – although of course you are likely to draw a bit of curiosity / attention. If able to return independently, I would feel comfortable travelling as a solo woman in Iran.
In cities like Tehran, Esfahan and Shiraz it seemed the norm for women to be out in the evening enjoying dinner and meeting friends. In smaller cities I would avoid going out alone after dark to avoid sending out the wrong message.
There are also marked differences in how women dress between these cities and more religious areas – smaller towns and the religious cities of Yazd, Mashhad. As a solo female it is better to dress more conservatively especially outside the main metropolitan areas. See more on what to wear below!
What Should I wear for Travel in Iran?!
This is an important one, especially for women.
Hejab – modest islamic dress – is mandatory in Iran, including for foreign visitors. Ladies, it means you’ll need to cover your hair at all times (except inside your hotel room), and wear loose fitting long tops that cover your derrière. You’ll also need to make sure you cover your legs down to your ankles and arms down to at least over your elbows. Flip flops / sandals are fine as feet do not need to be covered. Guys: just make sure you wear long trousers, shorts are not allowed. Regular short sleeved T-shirts are fine for men, no need for long sleeves.
You’ll be expected to be wearing the appropriate clothing and cover your hair from the moment your plane lands in Iran. So don’t try to enter Iran without your hair covered ladies!
Sound a bit confusing? For more on what to wear for travel to Iran check out Travel Geekery’s post on what to wear for travel in Iran here!
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I want to go to Iran!! What next?!
Great! You’ll have an amazing time and wonder what all the fuss was about.
The first step is to book a tour or guide through a travel agent. At 90 days out prior to departure of your trip they will need to submit an application (with input from you) for your Letter of Invitation from the Ministry of Tourism in Iran. No Letter of Invitation = No Visa.
For more on Visas you can read my post about Getting an Iranian Visa in London here!
American, British and Canadian passport holders are NOT eligible for Visa on Arrival in Iran.
You’ll need to provide standard information plus the itinerary of your trip which your travel agent will provide, plus you’ll need to send a copy of your CV / resume in. Needless to say, it’s best to avoid mentions of military service, journalism / media, or other job titles that might make you sound suspicious. Another deal breaker is Israeli stamps in your passport. Update: you now need to provide a cover letter with your CV. It should contain details of:
– Your education and employment, and if you have had any change in location (countries only).
– Marriage / Divorce & name of spouse / ex spouse.
– Children (if any) and their names.
– Other citizenships (if a citizen of more than one country).
– Any social media IDs.
– If you are retired, please also include your date of retirement.
Once you have your Letter of Invitation you need to mail or bring it to the Iranian Embassy in London (UK), or the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC who handle Iranian Consular affairs in the US and also for Canada (no Iran Embassy in the US for obvious reasons…). If you live in another country but hold a passport of one of these 3 countries, you will likely be able to get your visa processed by the Iranian Embassy of the country you are resident in.
Travel Insurance for Iran
Due to sanctions and government travel advisories, Iran is not covered by some general travel insurance policies – so be careful to read the small print and ask your travel insurance company straight out if they cover Iran!
I used True Traveller who do cover travel to Iran and had no need to claim – True Traveller Insurance is available to UK & EU Residents (only). An alternative that also covers Americans and Canadians (and most other nationalities) is IATI insurance.
Click here to get an insurance quote from The True Traveller or from IATI Insurance now.
Next Step: Get yourself an Iran travel guide (I use and recommend Lonely Planet) – and let the countdown begin!
Happy travels and enjoy the wonderful country that is Iran!
Want more on Iran? Check out my post on getting off the beaten track in Isfahan here or Staying in a Silk Road Caravanserai here!
This is a really interesting read. I had no idea that tourists had to have a tour guide or be sponsored by an Iranian in order to travel there. I have to say, it does look beautiful though!
Thanks Christine- the sponsor / tour requirement is only for American British and Canadian passport holders. I had a wonderful time and can’t recommend Iran enough – with or without tour! Ellie
This is actually really good to know! My friend and I are planning to visit Iran either 2018 or 2019, and being from the UK, this is really helpful! Thanks 🙂
Hi Chiera, that’s great to hear, thanks! I hope you make it there and enjoy beautiful Iran! Ellie
oh wow, I did not know about the visa restrictions for Americans, Canadians and Brits! I’m Irish and my partner is British and we’ve always wanted to visit. Your post makes us want to visit even more but first, we will have to assess the visa side-of-things and may have to do an organised tour.
Hi Aimee, yes that’s a tough one – if you want to go together you’d need to do a tour or get a local to sponsor you. I had concerns as well initially but the tour with G Adventures was not at all restrictive (we had a load of free time and could wander as we pleased) and was actually a great way to get an introduction to Iran as the country is so huge! So much to see, not enough time as always :-). Happy travels! Ellie
I am so very tempted!
Good to hear Tamsin! Thanks for your comment. Ellie
I loved reading about your experience and your photos are gorgeous. I hope to travel there one day, I keep reading about how amazing it is. I didn’t realize that there were visa restrictions but I think it’s worth the hassle because it’s such a beautiful place! Thank you for the info, I’m bookmarking this page 🙂
Thanks for the comment Indie Chick! The visa restrictions depend by country – the tour requirement is in place for British, Canadian and American passport holders and not for other nationalities. I found taking a tour to be a great introduction to this vast and beautiful country 🙂 Happy travels, Ellie
I am so keen to travel here – but as a British citizen, with US residency, I was worried! Glad that you can still do it, even with restrictions. The architecture and art really appeals to me! Beautiful! And I love G adventures!
hi Nikki – yes I know that feeling. I can’t recommend the trip enough and G Adventures were fab – I had the most amazing (female) tour leader! Hope you get to go too 🙂
Great post with very useful advice. I just want to say how lovely the photos are, too!
Thanks Kristen! Iran is a feast for the camera as much as the eyes and the heart!
This is so helpful! I’m American and have been wanting to go to Iran for years, but I also had this idea that I’d be pretty much constantly in the company of a guide, which isn’t really my thing. Glad to hear you had a good experience there and your photos are amazing!
That’s Carrie so glad to hear this has been helpful! I had some of the same concerns to be honest – about being followed around / having to be accompanied at all times – but I really didn’t feel that at all. Me and a few others from my group happily picnicked away on our own in the evenings in Isfahan’s square and got to chat with plenty of locals :-).
Oh I want to go so bad. Thanks for the great information here! It looks simply stunning!
Thanks Cherene happy to hear that! Hope you make it there soon 🙂 Ellie
What a great post! You included lots of helpful info that I wouldn’t have thought about at all. This has definitely peaked my interest 🙂
Thanks Ella that’s great to hear! Highly recommend Iran 🙂
This is so helpful! I’m dying to visit Iran, but I’m American and with the refugee ban going back and forth in the courts I wasn’t sure how things would play out. I’ve been wanting to try G Adventures, so this sounds like a good opportunity! I think it’s so important for Americans to visit the countries Trump is trying to ban – these places get whittled down to political talking points but in reality they are so much more! Thanks for the insight!
That’s great to hear Emily, so glad you found this useful. I completely agree with you that it is important to travel to places like this. I found G Adventures great and had a wonderful time on their trip of Iran, as a Brit the process is also not straight forward, but once you get there you will discover how wonderful Iran is. Hope you get to go soon! All the best, Ellie
I went to Iran a couple of years ago with a group of us who had all (except for 3 of the spouses) had lived in Iran in the 60s and 70s. Our tour company (Distant Horizons) customized the tour so that we could visit our old schools and other familiar places. I had never traveled with a tour group before, but it was the best trip ever! Here’s a YouTube slideshow of our trip – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Hx6Eowg3g
Hi Barbara, thank you for sharing your video! I just enjoyed watching it – it must have been a wonderful and emotional experience going back after that time and seeing the changes in Iran! It sounds like your tour company did a wonderful job too. Thank you so much for sharing your story 🙂 Ellie
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Ellie! I’ve thought about that trip every single day since our return.
This is such a brilliant and informative guide! I didn’t realise certain nationalities got preferential treatment – definitely something for me to look into! 🙂
So glad you found it helpful Elise! Ellie
Hey, great blog and gorgeous photos. I’m booked to go to Iran at the end of October with GAdventures but my letter of invitation is still being processed (sent mid-August). They don’t seem to be concerned at this stage (although I am!). How long did the LoI process take for you, and the visa part? Many thanks.
Hi Dav, that’s great I’m sure you’re going to love it!!! Yes no need to worry about the LOI. Did you happen to read my post about getting my visa? Might amuse you 🙂 https://soultravelblog.com/getting-iran-visa-london-uk/
I got my LOI 5 days prior to departure – fortunately I was in London so could run to the embassy and get them to rush my visa. That’s not typical though, it was because they’d just added the CV requirement. Typically you get your LOI 4-6 weeks before departure. Hope you enjoy the experience at the embassy! Have a great time, Ellie
Thanks so much, Ellie. You seriously got rid of all my stress. Ah sorry I missed that post but thanks for flagging. I missed it with all of my visa anxiety! Ha. Coincidentally I just received my LoI today so I’m well chuffed! Off to London on Friday. Fingers crossed it goes well. I’ll definitely get there early! Thanks again.
Hi Ellie! Great blog! I have enjoyed reading about your trip to Iran! I am going on the G Adventures trip to Iran this month and just have one correction to make regarding Canadians getting a visa. After getting their LOI, Canadians have to obtain their visa through the Iranian Interests Section at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington D.C. The Iranian Embassy in Ottawa has been closed since 2012 and there are no plans for it to re-open anytime soon, unfortunately. After getting my LOI I sent my passport to DC by Fedex on a Monday, paid the $58 USD expedited fee, and received my passport back with visa on the Friday!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for your comment and for the correction – I’ll be sure to update that in the post. Sounds like your experience was pretty good with the visa! Have an amazing time in Iran with G Adventures! I heard just yesterday that the former US Embassy (The “Den of Espionage”) is now properly open as a museum. Things are changing so quickly! Happy travels, Ellie
I have always been a bit curious about Iran tourism and your post has definitely made me consider about taking a trip there. I just love the ethnic designs of those high ceilings..so detailed and beautiful…
Informative and interesting Blog! Beautifully written, as usual, I like the post. Thank you so much for nice sharing with us. Keep posting!