TEHRAN – Iran has increased its visa on arrival extension from 1 month to 3 months, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicraft Organization Director Masoud Soltanifar announced.

For the time being, citizens of 190 countries can obtain visa on arrival at the country’s airports with one-month validation, he added.

“The decision will pave the way for development of tourism industry in Iran,” he said.

He named Imam Khomeini International Airport as well as airports in Shiraz, Isfahan, Mashhad, Tabriz, Bandar Abbas, Larestan, Kish, and Qeshm as places which issue visa on arrival up to now.

“Airports of Urmia, Ahvaz, Yazd and Tehran’s Mehrabad will issue visa on arrival in the near future,” he noted.

In August 2015, Iran extended visa on arrival from 15 days to 30 days. 
In October 2015, Soltanifar said the easing of visa rules was opening the door for the return of foreign tourists to Iran.

Even before sanctions are lifted, the number of foreigners visiting Iran has grown 12 percent in each of the past two years. 

In 2014, Iran hosted over five million tourists, bringing in some $7.5 billion in revenue.

SB/MG