- Capital
- Tehran (IKA & THR)
- Dialing Code
- + 98
- Time Zone
- UTC / GMT +3½
- Language
- Persian (Farsi)
- Best Time to Go
- March - May & September - November
- Currency
- Iranian Rial (IRR)
Travel Tips
- Prices are sometimes quoted in Toman. One Toman is equal to ten Rials
- Turkic, Kurdish and Arabic are also spoken. English may be understood
- Mains water is chlorinated, but visitors may prefer bottled water
- As a predominately Islamic country, dress should always be conservative: men should wear long pants, and women should keep their arms, legs and head covered and wear loose fitting clothing. Women should also avoid looking into men’s eyes directly
- During Ramadan, smoking, eating and drinking in public are prohibited between sunrise and sunset
- Check the local political situation before travelling. There is an anti-Western sentiment, and visitors are advised to avoid political demonstrations. Avoid the areas around the Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan borders
Last updated 30 September 2026
Visa Guide
Foreign Representation in South Africa
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
245 Melk Street, New Muckleneuk, Brooklyn, Pretoria
Telephone: 012 001 0555
Email: iranemb.pry@mfa.gov.ir
Website: pretoria.mfa.ir/en
Hours:
Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 16:00
Collection and Submission Hours:
Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 12:00
Public Holidays
2026
January: 3, 17
February: 3, 11
March: 11, 19 - 21
April: 1, 13
May: 27
June: 4 - 5, 24 - 25
August: 4, 12, 14, 21, 30
November: 13
December: 23
Visa Requirements
Visas are required by SA and all other passport holders
STEP 1: Apply online at: evisa.mfa.ir/en
- Passport - valid for 6 months beyond travel date, with 2 opposite blank pages
- Travel itinerary, if you have already made travel arrangements.
- Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
- Digital personal photo
- Digital image of your passport
- You may be asked to provide additional information
- After submitting the application online, you may be requested to attend an interview.
STEP 2: After submitting all documents online, the following needs to be sent to the Embassy:
- The original passport
- Copy of online application form.
- Proof of payment
- Valid Travel insurance
- You may be asked for the following health tests: The Original Pathologist Test results, Report for HIV, TB Test, Hepatitis B & C Tests. These tests should not be older than one (1) month
- Visa Grant Notice page with visa barcode (Authorization number).
Warning: Travelers with passports issued by occupied Palestine regime will not be granted entry into Iran.
Visa Processing Time
Approximately 10 working days
Visa Cost
Advised during online application
Health / Vaccinations
Compulsory:
Yellow Fever (Dependant on Country of Origin/Stopover)
Recommended Travel Vaccines:
Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio
Malaria Risk
South African Representative Abroad
South African Embassy
No 5 Yekta Street, Vali-E-Asr Avenue, Tajrish, Tehran
Telephone: + 98 21 2270 2866 - 8
Email: tehran.consular@dirco.gov.za
Website: southafricanembassy.ir