Iran is considered to be an energy superpower and filled with business opportunities. Couple this with the fact that telecommunication in Iran is one of the fastest-growing in the world, people travel to the country with the Iran business visa to attend business meetings, conferences, and other related activities.
The business permit is a sub-type of the ‘Entry’ visa for Iran. This is issued for people entering the country on a short term to attend business meetings, negotiations, contract signing, and other similar activities. Owing to the developing Indo-Iranian relations, the ‘Entry’ permit including the Iran business visa for Indian citizens can now even be obtained as multiple entries valid for 1 year. The permit is available on arrival or as an e-visa.
Note:- Due to political issues with the US, Iran has decided not to stamp the passports of the visitors. As a result, your Iran business e visa and the entry stamp will be on a separate paper instead of your passport.
The application for the Iran business visa from India is done online. However, before you start the application, you must ensure that you are eligible to apply for the business category. After this, you can proceed to make the application as follows -
Visa on arrival
Visa prior to arrival
Note: -
In order to apply for the permit, there are certain eligibility criteria you must meet. The following are the criteria you must meet -
As per the Iran business visa requirements from India, the following are the list of documents you will need for your application -
As per the Iran business visa photo requirements, the photo you upload must meet the following specifications -
The time taken to process your business visa application can depend on several factors. These include the volume of applications at the time, the stay duration, the time taken to validate the authenticity of your documents, etc. Normally you should receive a response within 10 working days.
The fees for the business permit can vary according to the foreign exchange rates. Note that the fees for the must be paid directly to the banking department at the port of entry in Iran. If you are getting it before your travel, you can pay it directly to the embassy/consulate.
Once you have submitted the application, it will be processed by the ministry. If you have been asked for an interview, you must attend it at the appointed slot along with the documents, e visa submission notice, and the fees in order to get the visa. Alternately, if you have not been asked to give an interview, you will only have to wait the processing time.
Note that you cannot modify the application once made. As a result, ensure that you fill in the details correctly to avoid visa rejection. Once approved, you can get the business visa on arrival by simply travelling to the port of entry and submitting your submission notice and the fees. Your visa will be issued on a separate paper instead of your passport.
In order to check the status of your business application, you can visit the tracking portal provided by the Iranian ministry. You will have to enter the application ID or a combination of the passport number and date of birth, or a combination of the passport number and your registered email address.
On successfully receiving the business permit, you must keep in mind the following few points to ensure that you have a pleasant stay -
Before you travel -
Due to its initiatives to increase the number of visitors, the Iranian ministry allows for business visa extensions in most cases. You can do this by visiting the nearest department of immigration and applying for an extension. Normally, you will be able to get extensions as long as your entire stay does not exceed 90 days in a year.
If your business visa has expired, you will not be able to stay back any longer. You must apply for an extension before your permit expires. Failure to do so can lead to hefty charges for each day you stay. In certain cases, you may even be deported.
In order to ensure the safety of the traveller as well as the people living in Iran, the government has made it mandatory for visitors from specific countries to get a medical test done even for the business category. If you are travelling from India, you will need a medical report stating that you are clear of HIV and from different types of Hepatitis.
No, it is not acceptable or possible to convert the business permit into a work permit. You are also not permitted to work on the payroll of an Iranian company. In case you require to work in the country, you must return to your home nation and apply for a work permit provided that you meet the necessary eligibility conditions.
There is no fixed rule on the exact amount you must possess for the business category. As per the requirements, you are expected to hold enough funds to support your entire stay duration. You must also be able to use these funds whenever necessary. While showing the bank statements, the transactions should be steady. Any unusual transactions may require explanations.
Although it may take only around 10 working days to complete the processing, it may take longer in certain cases. As a result, you must apply for the business permit at least 10 days before your intended travel. However, to be on a safer side, ensure that you apply about 3 weeks in advance as you may even require to attend an interview.
Normally, you will not be able to obtain the business visa or enter Iran if you have been stamped with an Israeli visa in your passport. However, as per recent changes in 2019, if you have travelled to Israel only in the past 6 months, you will be allowed entry into Iran. Although, due to the everchanging state of the political issues, you must stay updated on the regulations at the time of applying.