I am a resident of India, my friend and me are planning a motorcycle trip from Iran to France we will ship our motorcycle to Bandar Abbas Iran and ride through Iran into Turkey.

As per visa requirements which we have initiated on 27th April 2012, a local resident from Iran has to apply to the Motorcycle Federation of Iran and after their approval which has been approved, then the request is forwarded to the Foreign Ministry of Iran, All is confirmed but now at the last moment they are demanding $8000 (USD Eight Thousand) each from us, we are lost of words as our we are on a shoe string budget and don’t know what to do and where to go for help. Is this the normal procedure to ride through Iran?

Please help, your reply will be highly appreciated

Hi there
I'm not sure of the requirements for India citizens but I have NEVER heard of a $8000 required to get your letter of invitation. You can go through companies like Persian Voyages to get your letter of invitation and it costs about $200 USD.
There are other companies that can organise this for you - google Iranian Visa to see who else is available and also look at which companies other people have recommended on the HUBB. Best of luck

First let me tell you about entering to TURKEY.
Visa Information For Foreigners / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
For you.
India: Diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels to Turkey up to 90 days. Ordinary, Special and Service passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary, Special and Service passport holders with a valid Schengen or OECD member's visa or residence permit may get their one month single entry visas at the Turkish border gates upon their arrival.
For your bike.
You will buy a Turkish road insurance at the bordergate if your green insurance doesn't cover Turkey.
No carnet needed..your bike will be stamped on your passport page..You will be asked nothing more...
About IRAN;
Sorry to say that we are hearing unpleasant and sad stories such as unofficial guys asking for money to make customs formalities faster at bordergates where they can't enter normally... (gave some photos of those guys to Iran consulate authorities but nothing has changed and still keep 2 photos.) Also since last september,3 bikers had their tank bags stolen in Esfahan, 1 had his pump stolen on the road, 1 tent,1 passport and 1 wallet stolen...But never heard such a comedy story..If you have the visa for your citizenship, your vehicle can enter together with you when you have the regular documents for your bike..
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ALL BIKERS;
don't let local people make a crowd around you in town centers,be careful when a bike comes towards you on the opposite and wrong direction...Ask the nearest police and he will help you with the stick in his hand...Iran police and soldiers are very helpful and friendly AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT OUTSIDE MAIN ROADS BETWEEN TOWNS....

May be one of the Iran visa agencies will solve your visa problem much more cheaper..Best is make your applications personally as we do here and certainly you will meet spirit of adventure biking,friendly and helpful stuff when your documents are completed and satisfying..

A big hello to all friends in New Delhi,Mumbai and magnificient members of 60kph. club in India.

Wish you all the best and luck..

Hi guys thanks for the prompt reply . . . the problem is that we have to go through the Motorcycle Federation of Iran as we are traveling on our motorcycles and the federation is asking us to pay USD 8000/- as fees for the visa for 2 motorbikes.

Are there any other agencies that we can go through apart from the Motorcycle Federation of Iran who will be able to help us?

Amman77,

Do you know by yourself and for sure that you have to go through the Motorcycle Federation of Iran or you were you told that by that Iranian and you accept it as true fact?

If answer is b), I strongly guess that it is not true and it is actually a SCAM.

I don't know about the case of being European resident in India and bringing the motorcycle on a ship into Iran, but in general terms to enter Iran from Turkey/Armenia with your own vehicle you need passport, Iranian Visa, Carnet de Passage (some people refer to another procedure without CdP, but I don't know it, I only wonder if this 8000 USD may actually be this deposit, could be, no idea) and the normal documents (driving licence, documents of the vehicle, etc). Did the guy ever mention the Carnet de Passage? Regarding invitation letter, I can't tell, I never needed one (I'm Spanish but Swiss resident), but it seems the case with other citizenships.

If I were you, I would forget everything you were told by that Iranian guy and would start a through research by yourself, being many threads in HUBB a good starting point, and later would confirm the details asking here, as well as directly with the Iranian Embassy in Delhi (if they are willing to help).

Even if you think it's a hassle, Iran hospitality will compensate all this boring stage (it took me 2 months and many phone calls to get the last Iranian visa).

Happy travels,

Esteban

Found this thread whilst doing some research for my own trip through Iran, my looking around suggests you may have to register with the Motorcycle Federation, although I can't actually determine if that's the case.

"If you wish to drive your own vehicle into Iran, you may be subject to Iranian customs and other regulations. There are particular requirements for travellers wishing to bring motorcycles into the country. We recommend that you contact the Iranian authorities for details well before you travel."

Iran travel advice

8,000 anything sounds excessive, and I'd suggest someone is trying to scam you - Have you tried contacting the federation directly? Or indeed trying to get a competitive quote?

Automobile & Motorcycle Federation of I.R. Iran
http://mafiri.ir/
Address: Tehran - Vanak - Sadra Avenue - Campus Avenue East - No. 31 - Fourth Floor, North
Tel: 88203910 to 88203911
Fax: 88203909
Email: info@mafiri.ir

(I'm not even sure that's the right federation)

Hope that helps...