Visa for Iran
 

Does anyone know what the latest situation is for obtaining a visa for Iran. We leave UK in May and will probably want to enter Iran around September so will need to apply for the visa on the road, probably in Turkey.

The webpage of the Iranian embassy in London says that tourists have to apply through an agency. I got mine through Magic Carpet travels (www.magiccarpettravel.co.uk, email Zoreh on info@magiccarpettravel.co.uk) in January. The system is great - you send only your details, not your passport. If approved by Tehran, you are issued with a reference number which allows you to collect the visa from any Iranian embassy (you specify which when you apply). You have 3 months to collect the visa, then 3 months to enter the country. Sadly it costs a lot - I paid 70 quid agency fee, then it was about 45 when I picked it up in Delhi. A friend also recently got one via Sireh agency in Tehran (email the helpful Hamid in info@sirehtours.com), but he's gone quiet on us recently. He wanted 25 dollars for his troubles but didn't say how to pay him!

James