Visa and entry

United Kingdom: entry rules for Iranians

Visa requiredPopular destination

Apply at an embassy or visa centre before travelling.

Confirmed on gov.uk: Iranian nationals need a visa in advance; the Standard Visitor visa allows stays of up to 6 months.

Checked 5 November 2026Official sources

What we could not confirm

Whether a UK visa application centre currently takes biometrics in Tehran, or Iranians must travel to Ankara, Istanbul, Dubai or Yerevan, was not checked.

At a glance

Maximum stay: up to 180 days
Fee: 135 GBP

How to apply: Apply for a Standard Visitor visa on gov.uk, pay 135 GBP, book an appointment at a visa application centre for biometrics, and upload or hand in your documents; a decision usually comes within 3 weeks.

Official page

Conditions

Iran is on the UK visa national list (Appendix Visitor: Visa national list, item 49), so entry clearance is needed before travel for any purpose; the gov.uk checker gives 'You'll need a visa to come to the UK' and points to the Standard Visitor visa.
Apply online on gov.uk, then attend a visa application centre to give fingerprints and a photo and show your passport.
Earliest application: 3 months before travel. Standard decision time for visit visas applied for outside the UK: 3 weeks after the appointment, longer if extra checks are needed; a paid faster decision may be offered.
Fee 135 GBP for a visa valid up to 6 months; long-term multiple-entry options cost 506 GBP (2 years), 903 GBP (5 years) or 1,128 GBP (10 years), each visit still limited to 6 months.
Show funds, ties to Iran and a return plan; the visa does not allow work or settlement.

Plan the trip

Before you book

Your passport should be valid for at least six months after the trip; many borders refuse less.
Exit tax is paid before leaving Iran; the amount depends on how many trips you made this year.
Iranian bank cards do not work abroad: plan cash or a card from outside Iran.