Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Iran?

Visa-free. Enter with just your passport — no visa needed (for tourism, up to the stated number of days). Indians can typically stay up to 15 days. Always verify current rules with the official embassy before you travel.

When is the best time to visit Iran?

The most comfortable months are typically Mar · Apr · Oct, based on climate normals.

How far is Iran from India?

Iran is roughly 2,350 km from Delhi — about a 3.5-hour non-stop flight.

🇮🇳 Indian passport

Flying into your destination…

Cleared for take-off…

Iran visa for Indians — Visa-free — Raahi

Asia

Iran

Visa-free · 15 days

Boarding pass · Raahi

From

DEL

Enter with just your passport — no visa needed (for tourism, up to the stated number of days).

Passenger

Iran

Flight

~3.5h · 2,350km

Best window

Mar · Apr · Oct

₹1,000 buys

1,43,52,356 IRR

Destination

Iran

Should you choose Iran?

A passport-first decision desk — tune the month and trip length

Raahi fit score

78Worth a look

Balances entry ease, Jul climate, value profile, flight effort and India-friendly payments.

Entry100

Weather63

Value58

Flight96

Set your travel window

Trip lengthPleasant · 38°C · 9mm rain

Best for

low entry friction
a short break from India

Think twice if

you need a specific niche experience not covered by the current brief

Price this trip with real dates

Flight and hotel costs depend on your exact dates, route, room and traveller count. Raahi deliberately does not turn a distance or a generic daily band into a price.

Estimate with live prices →

The live estimator combines current flight and hotel offers for your dates before you book.

Entry-friction timeline

Visa-free · up to 15d

No advance embassy visit in the normal tourist flow.

1Check passport validity, onward ticket and stay proof.
2Board with your travel documents ready.
3Complete arrival formalities at immigration.

Build a document checklist →

Month-by-month decision table

Climate normals; demand is an editorial signal, not live pricing.

Flight reality

2 carriers and 2 non-stop routes in our route snapshot.

~3.5h non-stop flying from Delhi · 2,350 km straight-line

Direct from Mumbai, Delhi

First-timer confidence

81/100

Based on entry effort, flight length, payments and your selected month—not a safety rating.

Carry an international card and local cash plan.

Accommodation reality

Before booking, test a listing’s claimed walk time, review patterns and photos against open-map evidence.

Run the Stay Truth check →

Make it a wider trip

🇶🇦 Qatar · ~740 km · On arrival 🇧🇭 Bahrain · ~710 km · e-Visa 🇮🇶 Iraq · ~850 km · e-Visa 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · ~890 km · e-Visa

See route pairings →

Live watchlist

Visa record: refreshed from the passport dataset daily. No category change against Raahi’s tracked baseline.

Travel advice: the official UK FCDO advisory further down this brief is checked daily when available.

Open passport change watch →

How to get in

1Ensure your passport meets international validity requirements.
2Book your travel arrangements including flights and accommodation.
3Check for any temporary updates to entry rules or health protocols before departure.
4Present your valid passport to immigration officials upon arrival in Iran.

The fine print — documents, pitfalls & local tips (tap to open)

Typically bring

Valid passport with significant remaining validity beyond your stay.
Confirmed return or onward flight tickets.
Proof of accommodation or hotel reservations.
Evidence of sufficient funds for the duration of the trip.

Watch out for

Ensure your stay does not exceed the 15-day visa-free limit to avoid legal issues.
Be aware that some international credit/debit cards may not work in Iran due to banking sanctions.
Verify current travel advisories from the Indian government regarding local safety or regional stability.

Good to know

The local currency is the Iranian Rial (IRR).
Persian (Farsi) is the official language.
Internet access can be restricted, so consider using a reliable VPN or local SIM card.
It is advisable to carry some physical cash since international cards are often not supported.

Dataset value: 15 · guidance explained by AI — verify official sources before you travel.

Official advisory · Iran

Updated 22 Jul 2026

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Full UK FCDO advice

Getting there from India

Delhi → Iran: ~3.5h non-stop · 2,350 km

Check live flights

carriers non-stop

non-stop routes

Tehran

arrival cities

Find lowest fare

Route snapshot, not a live timetable. Confirm schedules and fares before booking.

Live trip estimate

Flight + stay, grounded in current offers

Delhi · 1 traveller · 1 room

Fly outCheck out

Uses live flight offers and live hotel inventory. INR subtotal uses the current mid-market USD/INR rate; it excludes return flights, food, transfers, taxes or fees not in the provider total, and can change before checkout.

Live stays

Hotel rates for your dates

No daily-budget guesswork

🗓️ When to visit

Open-Meteo · ERA5 2021–2023

Sweet spotMarch · 21°CApril · 26°COctober · 27°C

The best time to visit Iran is during the spring and autumn months when the temperatures are mild and rainfall is low, making it ideal for sightseeing. The top comfort months of March, April, and October offer perfect conditions with high comfort scores and pleasant weather.

Best window

March – April and September – October

Shoulder tip

November is a great shoulder season month with a high comfort score of 92, offering decent weather and potentially fewer crowds compared to the peak months.

Maybe skip

June, July, and August should be avoided due to the extremely high temperatures, with July being the hottest month with a high of 37.9°C and low rainfall offering little relief.

Pack layers for the cooler winter months
Be prepared for very hot days during the summer months
The dry summer months may be ideal for desert trekking
Spring and autumn are ideal for outdoor activities like hiking and sightseeing

Comfort is a travel guide from climate averages, not a forecast · timing notes explained by AI. Always check current conditions before booking.

What to pack

Clothing

Tech & power

Health

Documents & money

Built from this destination’s climate, plugs & vibe — tick as you pack.

Staying connected in Iran

eSIM, local SIM, or roam on your Indian number

eSIM — easiest

Buy before you fly and activate on landing — no shop, no swapping. Works on most phones since the iPhone XS / recent Android. Providers: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad.

Iran eSIMs

Local SIM — cheapest

Best value for longer stays. Grab a prepaid tourist SIM at the airport or a carrier store — carry your passport (needed to register).

Roam on your Indian SIM

Simplest — keep your number. Activate an international-roaming pack (activating abroad is costlier).

Your money in Iran

💱 Quick converter

You spend (₹)

You get (IRR)

1,43,52,356

Indicative mid-market rate — not a transaction rate.

Pay like home in Iran

UPI

UPI QR payments

○ Not live yet

RuPay cards

○ Not live yet

UPI and RuPay aren't live here yet — carry an international debit/credit card and some local cash for small spends.

Acceptance changes as NPCI adds corridors — confirm at the point of sale.

Money & forex in Iran

Forex card, cash & cards — the cheapest ways to spend

Forex card — best value

Load ₹ into USD/EUR before you flyat a locked rate — no ~3.5% card markup, works at ATMs & shops. IRR usually isn't loadable, so carry a USD/EUR card and withdraw IRR locally.

BookMyForex Niyo

Cash

Buy IRR or USD from an authorised dealer in India (your bank, BookMyForex) before travel — it beats airport rates. Abroad, use bank ATMs and skip airport exchange counters.

How “home” Iran feels

Iran can feel surprisingly familiar to Indian travellers through shared spices, warm hospitality and a strong tea culture, though the language and some customs differ. The cuisine leans heavily on herbs, rice and kebabs that will remind many Indians of home-style cooking.

Indian community

≈ 4,337 of Indian origin

A small but long-standing Indian community, mostly traders and students, is concentrated in Tehran and the border areas near Iraq and Turkey.

Veg / Jain food

Strict vegetarian food is harder to find by default since Persian dishes often use broth, but Tehran and Isfahan have dedicated Indian and vegetarian restaurants.

Indian food

Look for Indian/Pakistani restaurants in Tehran's Jordan and Niavaran areas, and stock up on spices and dried fruits at the Grand Bazaar.

Places of worship

There are a few Hindu and Sikh temples in Tehran serving the Indian community, and many mosques welcome visitors; churches also exist for Christian minorities.

Safe & healthy in Iran

Most visitors find Iran safe and welcoming, with low petty crime, though political demonstrations should always be avoided.

Health

Drink only bottled or properly boiled water and avoid ice in rural areas.
Ask a doctor about hepatitis A, typhoid and routine boosters before travel.
In summer, stay hydrated and avoid midday sun, especially in central cities like Yazd and Kerman.

Watch for

Unofficial guides offering cheap tours near major sites may overcharge or disappear mid-trip.
Some carpet sellers inflate prices sharply once they sense tourist interest.
Beggars near holy shrines and tourist spots can be persistent.

Solo / women

Dress modestly in public (headscarf and loose clothing) to respect local norms and avoid hassle.
Solo female travellers generally feel safe in cities, but extra caution is advised on long-distance buses and in remote areas.

“Iran is still a relatively low-crime country, although thefts and muggings occur. Keep your wits about you, and take the usual precautions against pickpockets in crowded bazaars and buses.”

On the ground · via Wikivoyage

General guidance, explained by AI — confirm health needs with a doctor and safety with official advisories before you travel.

Time it with a festival

Nowruz

around 21 March

Persia's ancient New Year marks the spring equinox with family gatherings, house cleaning and public festivals in parks and squares.

Ashura

late August to early September (date moves yearly)

A major Shia observance marked by processions and mourning ceremonies, especially vivid in Karbala-style shrine cities like Mashhad and Qom.

Isfahan Handicrafts Festival

late September to October

A colourful celebration showcasing traditional music, dance, carpet weaving and local food in Isfahan's historic Naqsh-e Jahan Square.

Tehran International Short Film Festival

late October to November

One of Iran's premier cultural events, drawing filmmakers and art lovers to screenings across Tehran's cinemas and cultural centres.

Ask about Iran

Grounded in this page's data — visa, timing, money, safety

Answers are grounded in this page’s data and won’t invent fees, dates or numbers. General info — verify official sources before you travel.

Pair Iran with…

Nearby hops for one big trip

~740 kmQatar

On arrival

~710 kmBahrain

e-Visa

~850 kmIraq

e-Visa

~890 kmUnited Arab Emirates

e-Visa

Straight-line distance between capitals — a rough sense of how close, not a route.

Iran through travellers' eyes

Real photos shared by people around the world

📷 Sajad NoriUnsplash

📷 Morteza F.ShojaeiUnsplash

📷 Shahab ZolfaghariUnsplash

📷 Steven SuUnsplash

📷 Mehrshad RajabiUnsplash

📷 Faruk KaymakUnsplash

📷 Arman TaherianUnsplash

📷 sina drakhshaniUnsplash

📷 Reza ModiriUnsplash

📷 mohammad nasrUnsplash

📷 MeSSrroUnsplash

📷 Akbar NematiUnsplash

📷 POOYAN ESHTIAGHIUnsplash

📷 Alireza HeydarifardUnsplash

📷 Shino NakamuraUnsplash

📷 Faruk KaymakUnsplash

📷 Mario CruzUnsplash

📷 Moslem DaneshzadehUnsplash

Evidence ledger · Iran

What Raahi used, when it was last refreshed, and what it cannot promise

Entry category ↗Passport-index dataset for the Indian passport · refreshed daily Climate timing ↗Open-Meteo · ERA5 2021–2023 Non-stop route context ↗OpenFlights community route snapshot · not a live schedule Official safety advice ↗UK FCDO summary when available · refreshed daily

Source data supports Raahi’s recommendations; it does not replace the destination’s immigration authority, airline or live booking provider.

Important — verify before you travel

Raahi presents visa and entry information for the Indian passport compiled from public datasets. This is general information for planning, not legal or immigration advice.

Visa rules, fees, and processing times change frequently and without notice, and the underlying data can be outdated, incomplete, or wrong. Requirements also depend on your specific situation — purpose of travel, length of stay, past travel history, and connecting/transit countries.

Before you book or travel, always confirmwith the destination country's official embassy, consulate, or immigration website, and with your airline. Raahi holds no responsibility for travel decisions made using this information.

🇮🇷Iran

Should you choose Iran?

Getting there from India

Flight + stay, grounded in current offers

Hotel rates for your dates

🗓️ When to visit

What to pack

Staying connected in Iran

eSIM — easiest

Local SIM — cheapest

Roam on your Indian SIM

Your money in Iran

Pay like home in Iran

Money & forex in Iran

Forex card — best value

Cash

How “home” Iran feels

Safe & healthy in Iran

Time it with a festival

Ask about Iran

Pair Iran with…

Iran through travellers' eyes

Evidence ledger · Iran

Important — verify before you travel

Regular cards

Iran through travellers' eyes

🗓️ When to visit

How “home” Iran feels

Safe & healthy in Iran

Time it with a festival

Iran