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Iran visit visa for Pakistan passport holders
VisitVisaInfo Editorial Team
Our Iran guide is built from official government and embassy sources.
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Iran · Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan · Amir Pashaei · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary
- Visa type
- Iranian visa via the MFA Electronic Visa System, completed at an Iranian embassy or consulate
- Stay limit
- Set on the visa
- Entries
- As stated on the visa
Pakistan is not among the countries whose citizens Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists as visa-exempt or as allowed a 15-day visa-free tourist stay. The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Islamabad states that visa applications are processed only through the Electronic Visa System: you fill in the online form, print it with its barcode and take it to the Consular Section with your original passport and National Identity Card.
Iran is Pakistan's western neighbour and one of the most visited countries for Pakistani travellers, above all for ziyarat. Mashhad's Imam Reza shrine and the holy sites of Qom draw pilgrims year round, while Isfahan, Shiraz, Persepolis and the Caspian coast attract tourists who come for history, gardens and food.
Pakistani passport holders need a visa for Iran. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the countries whose citizens enter without a visa, and the 27 countries allowed a 15-day visa-free tourist stay. Pakistan is on neither list.
The process starts online. The Embassy of Iran in Islamabad says visa applications are handled only through the Electronic Visa System. You complete the form in English, verify your email address, print the confirmation page with its barcode and note the tracking code.
You then take the printout to the Consular Section in Islamabad with your original passport and National Identity Card. The section accepts applications Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and returns passports in the afternoon. The e-visa system says processing should finish within 10 business days, and some applicants are interviewed.
Choose the visa type that matches your trip: tourist, pilgrimage for ziyarat, entry visa with an invitation, or medical visa with a hospital approval letter. Your passport needs six months of validity beyond your travel date, and no fee is published online, so confirm the amount with the consular section before you go.
Checklist
Document requirements
- Pakistani passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel date
- Online application on the MFA e-visa system, completed in English and verified by email within three days
- Printout of the application with its barcode and tracking code
- Original passport and National Identity Card (CNIC), taken to the consular section
- Digital personal photo and scan of the passport data page uploaded to the form
- Travel itinerary, if you have already booked
- Invitation letter or approval letter where your visa type needs one, such as an entry visa or medical visa
- Consular visa form (ir_visa_form.pdf) from the embassy website, if the consular section asks for it
The Embassy of Iran in Islamabad asks Pakistani applicants to apply on the e-visa system first and then visit its Consular Section with the barcoded printout, the original passport and the National Identity Card. Applications are handed in Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, and passports are returned from 2:00 pm to 3:45 pm.
Checklist source: islamabad.mfa.ir, evisatraveller.mfa.ir, evisa.mfa.ir
Money and time
Fees and timeline
Fees
Official fee
Fee not published
Neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-visa portal nor the Embassy of Iran in Islamabad publishes the visa fee for Pakistani applicants. The consular section tells you the amount when you hand in your printed application, so confirm it with the embassy or consulate you choose before you go.
Fee source
Timeline
Processing and appointments
The MFA e-visa system says applicants should wait for their application to pass all required steps within 10 business days, and that some applicants may be called for an interview. A status email is sent whenever the application status changes.
Official links
How to apply
You will leave VisitVisaInfo for an official government or designated VAC website.
- eVisaIran MFA electronic visa system: new applicationevisatraveller.mfa.ir
- GovernmentIran MFA e-visa portal: how to apply and required documentsevisatraveller.mfa.ir
- GovernmentIran MFA e-visa portal: visa typesevisatraveller.mfa.ir
- Embassy / ministryEmbassy of Iran in Islamabad: Consular Section (visa)islamabad.mfa.ir
- Embassy / ministryConsulate General of Iran in Karachikarachi.mfa.ir
Check another passport
Not travelling to Iran on a Pakistani passport? Pick other countries and the flight animation takes you to that guide.
Official statistics
Visa ratio
Not officially published
Iran does not publish visa approval or refusal rates by nationality.
A percentage is shown only when an official source published one for this route. Blog tables and estimates are left out.
Quick answers
FAQ
Do Pakistanis need a visa for Iran?
Yes. Pakistan is not on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list of visa-exempt countries, nor among the 27 countries allowed a 15-day visa-free tourist stay. Pakistani passport holders apply on the e-visa system and complete the process at an Iranian mission.
How do I apply from Pakistan?
Fill in the online form on the MFA electronic visa system, verify your email address, and print the confirmation page with its barcode. Then take the printout, your original passport and your National Identity Card to the Consular Section of the Embassy of Iran in Islamabad.
Can I apply at the embassy without the online form?
No. The embassy in Islamabad says visa applications are processed only through the Electronic Visa System, so the online form comes first.
Which visa should I choose for ziyarat?
The e-visa portal lists a pilgrimage visa (type C) for Muslims who intend to visit holy places in Iran. Tourists choose the tourist visa (type B), and visitors with an invitation from an Iranian organisation or relative choose the entry visa (type A).
How long does processing take?
The e-visa system says applications should pass all required steps within 10 business days. Some applicants are invited for an interview, and you receive an email each time the status changes.
How much does an Iran visa cost for Pakistanis?
No fee is published for Pakistani applicants on the MFA portal or the Islamabad embassy page. Ask the consular section for the current amount before you hand in your application.
What are the embassy's visa hours in Islamabad?
Monday to Thursday. Applications are submitted from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and passports are returned from 2:00 pm to 3:45 pm. The consular email is consuly@iranembassy.pk and the phone number is 051-8318901-3.
Where is the embassy?
At Plots 222-238, Street No. 2, G-5/1, Diplomatic Enclave, Islamabad. Iran also has a Consulate General in Karachi, at 81 Khayaban-e-Iran, Clifton, with a consular section on 35874370-71.
What photo and passport scan are needed?
A digital personal photo and a digital image of the first page of your passport, both meeting the standards set on the portal. The portal has an image tool to check both files before you upload them.
How long must my passport be valid?
At least six months beyond your actual travel date. The portal will not accept an application if the passport expires sooner.
What happens if I do not verify my email?
Your application expires after three days and you have to start again. Keep the tracking code shown on the confirmation page, because you need it to check the status later.
Can I get a visa on arrival at an Iranian airport?
The MFA says airport visas are only for citizens of countries entitled to them, but its visa-on-arrival page does not list those countries. Because the embassy in Islamabad sends Pakistani applicants through its consular section, finish that process before you fly.
What if I do not travel during the visa validity?
The portal warns that failing to travel within the validity shown on the visa sticker prevents entry, and you then need to apply again.
I am going for medical treatment. Is there a separate visa?
Yes. The medical visa (type T) is for patients who already have an approval letter from an authorised medical centre in Iran. The Karachi consulate publishes a list of health tourism companies.
Is there an official refusal rate?
No. Iran does not publish visa refusal statistics for Pakistani applicants.
Checked against
Official sources
- Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs: electronic visa portal, visa-exempt and 15-day visa-free countriesIran source: evisa.mfa.ir/en/
- Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa on arrival at international airportsIran source: evisa.mfa.ir/en/visa-arrival/
- Iran MFA electronic visa system: how to complete the applicationIran source: evisatraveller.mfa.ir/en/request/how_to_apply/
- Iran MFA electronic visa system: directory of visa categoriesIran source: evisatraveller.mfa.ir/en/request/visa_types/
- Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Islamabad: Consular Section, visaIran source: islamabad.mfa.ir/en/generalcategoryservices/9583
- Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Karachi: consulateIran source: karachi.mfa.ir/en/generalcategoryservices/12856
Last checked for Iran visas on 3 November 2026. Rules change without notice, so confirm on the official pages before you apply or travel.
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