Iran/Iran Foreign Office ask for guide for french ?
 

Hello
At least 4 different french motorised travellers (car, camping-car and 2 motrorbikers) has been ask to give fingerprints prior to ask a registration number from Iranian Foreign Office and has since been asked to give a guide's name to get a visa while entering Iran with their own vehicule...
It seems that other nationality has not been ask to find a guide
We know we can ask for visa in Trazbon without fingerprint nor guide
I would like to know if others citizen has been ask to find a guide and who did you choose ?
thanks for sharing
cheers, drive safe

Things seem to be changing in Iran. I have just read from a reliable Iranian blogger than British and Canadians now need to be guided in Iran, just like Americans, with or without car.

As for a guide with a car, I do not think this is only French. Try contacting member FLH80 who lives in Iran. These rules are new and it has yet to be established how widely they are implemented.

It looks like the Asian Overland route is changing again. Sad times.

Does anyone know the latest ,on British/Canadian passport holders needing a guide. ?

No rumours please,just hard evidence.

It seems that Brits and Canadians are still travelling independently in Iran:

No More Independent Iran Travel for British & Canadians! - Iran Message Board - TripAdvisor

Allright, I've got news, but it's still not white or black:

I phoned with somebody from the Iranian Embassy in Belgium (acquaintance of my father) and explained him the situation. He knew nothing about it and thought it was bullsh#t but would have a look at it. He phoned me half an hour later back with details of a Dutch agency that handles these kind of stuff as they are better informed than them (doh)

So I phoned the Dutch agency. After half an hour of talks (aaargh my phone bill!) this is the result as they told me, hard facts (for you tee bee :innocent:).

IF all your documents are 100% ok, this means your passport with the visa AND all the required paperwork for the bike/car (including the CPD!) you should have no problem getting in.

BUT, they clearly told me that it is not because you have alle the papers that the borderguard is obliged to let you in the country.
And thus one of the things they could use to refuse you (if he has a bad day or so) is that you need a guide.

They also told me that last week (!) a group just went from Turkey into Iran without any problems and without a guide.

I also asked them about the fact that Iranian tour operators are now telling everybody that you NEED a guide. Their answer was that Iranian companies don't want to take responsibility for the fact that you MIGHT get refused at the border.
Which I can understand and which makes sense. Reason why they are telling everybody that you need a guide, to be sure.

So, after all these phonecalls this leaves me with the following thought and conclusion; one needs to have all the documents (and pay for it) and then once you show up at the border you still have a chance that you're not allowed to get in... but then this is the case at almost any border, no?

:welcome:

Great, thanks for doing that Seb. It sounds like we should be OK... get refused at one border, go and try another :thumbup1:

Lol, this is exactly what we are going to do. Got one chance in Armenia, two in Kurdistan and one (or two?) in Turkey...

Hey, leave me one!

Cheers Seb,

:confused1:...............As always........

Yeah I know.

I'm planning on going through Iran, but at the same time I'm making plan B without Iran, shouldn't we get in...

Hello everybody!
Can anyone tell me what is the best way to apply for the visa for Iran?
I am leaving by the end of march for an overland trip to Australia. I very much hope to enter Iran via Armenia. And exit Iran with the ferry to UAE. Should I mention that I will be travelling by bike, overland, or say as little as possible about the trip?

Or will they be pleased to get as much info as possible?
I want to get this right the first time, I don't have to much time anymore...
The Carnet the Passage is almost in my hands...

Here are a few questions from the application from:
-At what adress will you stay in iran?
Can I just give an adress from a guidebook?

-name, adress and tel. nr of foreign national sponsor(s)/ contact(s) in Iran?
What is this? Can I leave it blank?

Advice please? Help!

It is looking like it might be wise NOT to mention any form of private transport, but do so at your own risk. I personally find it unlikely that they will refuse you entry without a guide, except perhaps at the busiest border at Bazargan (Turkey).

Yes, any guidebook address will do, and no, you do not need to mention a sponsor or host in Iran.

Hello

I've been told its better to not mention that you traveling by your own vehicle as nobody checks and you should be alright if you don't mention it but recommended to give them a detailed itinerary and it will work perfectly fine with no problem.
Please note : That's much better to mention a host name from Iran but Sponser is not necessary.

By the way you will enter into Iran without a guide.

Cheers!

Hi all,
anyone went to Iran during the past month ? I'll probably try to get in without the carnet de passage, helped by Hossein (I've read many posts about him). I just hope not to be asked for a guide..