Iran

Iran: Visa

Student visa and residence permit steps, timing and proof of funds for Iran.

Visa and residence permit

International students enter Iran on a student visa (type E) obtained after (1) registering on the Student Affairs Organization (SAORG/ADAB) system and receiving a code, (2) university admission and approval by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, and (3) approval by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and issuance at an Iranian embassy or consulate. After arrival the student reports to the university's consular office and the initial visa is converted to a residence permit that is renewed (university pages describe one-year permits). The University of Tehran page also lists the SAORG unrestricted educational licence as a registration requirement. Requirements and fees differ between universities and are not verified from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself.

Visa processing time: Not published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in sources reached. Sharif states final admission decisions within one month (Aug 2025 archive of FAQ). Visa announcement is by email after Ministry approval; the SBMU/Tabriz pages say the visa must be collected before a stated deadline (Tabriz medical university document: valid up to 2 months from issuance, search summary).Source
Proof of funds: Sharif (Sept 2023 archive): self-supported applicants need a current official bank letter showing funds for at least one year in Iran, estimated at 14,000 USD; sponsor declaration form if supported by a third party. No government figure verified; other universities did not publish a figure on pages reached.Source
Health insurance: Insurance is mandatory in practice: Tarbiat Modares budgets 8-10 USD per month; University of Isfahan requires a 'life insurance registration form (Hayat-e-Aman)' for the residence permit; University of Tehran scholarships can include insurance for the holder and family. Coverage details and international portability not verified.Source

Application steps

Choose a programme and check the university's call for international applicants (admission windows are limited).
Register on SAORG's system (adab.saorg.ir) and obtain the tracking/registration code; send it to the university (University of Tehran, Tarbiat Modares, Isfahan and SBMU all ask for it).
Submit the university's online application with authenticated degrees/transcripts (foreign documents approved by the Iranian representative office or embassy; non-English/Persian documents officially translated).
Admission is finalised through the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology; obtain the SAORG educational licence/clearance (University of Tehran: 'unrestricted educational license' from the SAORG Competence System).
University consular office requests visa authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the applicant collects the student visa (type E) at the chosen Iranian consulate.
Enter Iran with the same passport used in the application; report to the university's consular office promptly (SBMU: within 5 days; Tarbiat Modares: within 2 weeks) so the entry visa can be extended to a residence permit.
Pay first-semester tuition and register in person; renew the residence permit before expiry (SBMU: at least 40 days before) and obtain exit/re-entry permits when travelling.

Documents required

Passport valid at least one year from acceptance (SBMU); first-page passport scan and personal photo
Previous degree certificate(s) and official transcripts (foreign documents authenticated by the Iranian representation or the applicant's embassy in Iran; translated into Persian or English)
SAORG tracking/registration code
Visa Application Form of the university and CV (master's/PhD)
Health certificate and certificate of good standing (Tabriz archive page: certified by Iranian embassy doctors/representative offices)
Proof of Persian or English proficiency where required
Enrolment certificate, passport copies, entry stamp and insurance form for the residence permit (Isfahan)

Travel advisories, sanctions and payments

Fees: No Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee schedule verified. University of Isfahan (live page) lists consular fees in Toman: 30-day visa 70,000; 90-day visa 140,000; one-year residence 300,000; 1-4 year residence 450,000; exit/re-entry permit 40,000; overstay penalty 500,000 per day; and a 30 EUR visa fee for the Kish campus. Application fees: University of Tehran screening fee USD 50 (undergraduate), 60 (master), 70 (doctorate) per search summary of its admissions page (not on the pages fetched); Ferdowsi lists a 1,000,000 rial application fee (archive Oct 2025). Payment channels from abroad are not verified.Source

Nationality-specific notes: turkish: Türkiye Dışişleri Bakanlığı 'İran'a Seyahat Edecek Türk Vatandaşlarının Dikkatine' sayfası, umuma mahsus, diplomatik, hizmet ve hususi pasaport hamillerinin 90 gün süreyle vizeden muaf olduğunu belirtir; bu muafiyet turistik girişe ilişkindir, öğrenci kabulü için üniversiteler type E öğrenci vizesi ister. Dışişleri 13 Haziran 2025 tarihli duyurusunda zorunlu olmadıkça İran'a seyahatten kaçınılmasını önermiştir; Şubat 2026 tarihli daha yeni bir uyarı yalnızca haber kaynaklarında görüldü, resmî sayfadan doğrulanmadı.;

Our visa consulting

What to watch for in Visa

Right after the offer, check the document list and appointment calendar.
Prepare proof of funds in the format the country accepts.
Verify processing time on the official page and leave room for peak periods.
Missing or inconsistent documents are among the most common reasons for refusal.

Information on this page is compiled from official sources and was verified on the date shown. Fees, dates and visa rules change often; check official sources before applying. Empty fields have not been verified yet; ask our advisor for the current information.

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