Iran Announces Visa-Free Travel List, Only One African Country Included
The Iranian government has released an updated list of countries whose citizens are allowed to enter Iran without obtaining a visa in advance, with only one African nation appearing among the eligible countries.
According to the announced list, Egypt is the only African country out of 54 African nations to receive visa-free access to Iran. Egypt joins nine other countries, including Turkey and China, whose citizens can travel to Iran without applying for a traditional visa before arrival.
However, citizens from most African countries will still be required to follow existing visa procedures, including applying through Iranian embassies or consulates, obtaining an eVisa, or using visa-on-arrival services where available.
For Somali passport holders, Iran has not included Somalia in its visa-free program. Somali citizens wishing to travel to Iran must continue to apply for a visa through the nearest Iranian embassy or consulate.
The visa application process remains under the previous system, with the required fees reported to be below $100, depending on the type and duration of the visa.
The decision highlights Iran’s selective expansion of visa-free access, while many African countries remain outside the program despite growing diplomatic and economic ties between Tehran and the continent.