Iran student visa, application, and required documents

• Azerbaijan
• Bolivia
• Turkey
• Syria
• Lebonan
• Georgia
• Armenia
• Venezuela
• Egypt
• Malaysia
• China

If you are from the above countries and your course is for the short-term, you don’t need a visa. But you need to inform the officials of your presence and studying. You can take language courses or a workshop in Iranian universities.

But if your course is for the long-term, you need a student visa. It is true for the non-visa waived countries as well. They have to apply for a visa to attend Iranian education centers.

If your nationality is not on the above list, you need a student visa, and the duration of your course or stay doesn’t matter.

Iran student visa application process

The application process for an Iran student visa is as follows;

Step 1. Apply to the Iranian university or education center and receive acceptance

The first step to applying for an Iran student visa is to get an admission letter from an Iranian university, school, or education center.

Besides the good universities, there are some religious education centers where foreign Muslims want to study there. Mashhad and Qom are examples of the Shia Clery education centers.

Applicants need to receive admission from the education center and get the official admission or acceptance letter.

The letter you receive must be from:

• the science ministry,
• education ministry,
• or an accredited academic institution

Visit the university website and find out the admission requirements for the program you want to apply for. Some of the top Iranian universities are as follows:

• University of Tehran
• Imam Khomeini International University
• Sharif University of technology
• Amirkabi University of Technology
• University of Tabriz
• Iran University of Science and Technology
• Tehran University of Medical Science
• Shiraz University
• Mashhad University of Medical Science
• Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
• Shahid Beheshti University
• Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Visit the website of the above universities and find out their admission requirements. After applying for them and getting the admission letter, you can apply for a visa.

Step 2. Gather the requirements

There is a list of supporting documents for the Iran student visa. You need to collect them and submit them to the embassy.

You might have to complete the online application form on the MFA website. If so, the embassy will tell you to do so. If not, you have to get the paper application form from them.

You can find out a list of them in the below section. However, the Iranian embassy in your home country could require further supporting documents. You would better visit their website or visit them in person to know what they require.

If you provide a full list of documents,  the processing time will be less, and you will get a result sooner.

Step 3. Apply to the Iranian embassy or consulate

Schedule a visa meeting with the Iranian embassy or consulate in your home country. The rules for each embassy are different, and you need to figure out how they provide you with a meeting.

Go to the embassy on the scheduled date and bring all the gathered requirements. You need to submit them to the officials, pay the fees and answer the questions regarding why you have chosen Iran for your studies.

The embassy informs you of the following procedures to give you via. It takes some time until they work on your application and decide to issue the visa or not.

You can also ask Iranian travel agencies to help with visa processing. They can receive the admission and necessary documents from the organizations.

Step 4. Move to Iran

When you receive your visa, you can move to Iran. But you should know that Iran is an Islamic country, and they are strict with rules and regulations. It is necessary to wear a headscarf for women when entering Iran. They need to wear long shirts and pants. Men also have their clothes, and they can not wear shorts.

When you arrive at the Iranian airport, the officials might ask you questions about your purpose of visit and your studies. Prepare an honest answer in advance.

How long is Iran student visa valid for?

It is up to the Iranian embassy or consulate to grant you the visa validity. However, they will drive you a visa valid until your course ends. The BA course takes four years, and the MA takes about two years. The standard Ph.D. course takes 3-5 years. It depends on which course you apply for and how long it takes. If your visa is about to expire, you need to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to extend it.

Iran student visa requirements

The requirements for an Iran student visa are up to your nationality. Also, the embassy could ask for further documents. So the following list is a common general list;

Passport 

It must be valid after the date your course ends in Iran. Having one blank page is also a must.

Application form 

You can get the form from the Iranian embassy in your home country. You would better visit them to know if they have special requirements or not.

Photo 

One or two photos of the applicant are required. They must be new and take in the past three months.

Admission letter 

Submit the university’s approval letter that they have accepted you as their student.

Proof to have enough funds If you need the Ministry of education or other organizations’ approval, submit that letter as well.

Cover letter 

Write a letter and explain the reason you have picked Iran to continue your education./

Proof to have enough funds 

You need to prove that you have enough money to cover your expenses in Iran.

Tuition fees The tuition fees are about £700/$900 and £5,500/$7,000 per year. The cost of living is about  £380/$500 to £700/$900 per month. But it is different for each Iranian city. You have to pay more in large cities such as Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, and the capital city Tehran. Bear in mind that the rent is high in Iran as the economy and stocks are risky; people buy accommodation as an investment.

Due to foreign currency depreciation, you would better keep your savings in the US dollar or EUR.

Proof of accommodation 

Explain where will you live during your visit and provide proof. If you stay in a dormitory, see it is clear in the admission letter or not. Klid.com, Iranfile.com, and sheypoor.com websites can help you find a palace to rent or know the rental costs.

Language proficiency test

You might have to provide proof of language proficiency so that you can attend the course and continue your education. It is up to the course and university.

The two language proficiency tests for Farsi or Persian are:

• SAMFA
• AZFA are

Visit the website of the University of Tehran for further information on language proficiency tests.

Previous education certificates 

Submit the latest education certificates you have achieved.

Health insurance 

You need valid insurance in Iran to cover your travel expenses, including the Covid-19.

Vaccination certificate 

You need a Covid-19 vaccination certificate to enter Iran. The vaccine must be approved by the government. You also need a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before you enter the country.

Iran student visa for Pakistani

Pakistan is a neighboring country of Iran located on the east side of the country. It used to be part of Iran but was separated by British Colonialism. The official language of the country is Urdu and English. Urdu has similarities with Persian or Farsi, so Pakistani nationals have the advantage of applying for an Iran student visa.

They need to apply to an Iranian university and then apply for a visa. The application process is the same for them, and they have to follow it.

Iran student visa fee

The fee for an Iran student visa is up to the country you apply from and the Iranian embassy or consulate services. You need to ask them in advance. There is no fixed fee for the visa but you need to pay it in cash.

Let’s sum up…

Almost everyone who wants to study in Iran needs a student visa. This article explains who needs an Iran student visa, who doesn’t, what are the requirements, and how to apply.

If you have questions regarding Iran student visas, write them down in the commend section. The Visa Library team will respond to them right away.

To know about other Iran visas, look at the left sidebar.