Embassies and consulates in Iran

Outside Tehran, missions are found in Mashhad (6), Tabriz (4), Isfahan (2), Zahedan (2), Bandar Abbas (2), Rasht (1), Urmia (1) and Sari (1), among other towns; most of them are consulates general, consulates and honorary consulates.

Of the 198 passports in the visa data, 43 can enter visa-free, 145 get a visa on arrival, 9 need a visa from an embassy or consulate and 1 is not admitted for Iran.

Schengen consulates in Iran received 107,512 short-stay visa applications in 2025, the 24th highest number of any country, and issued 73,723 visas. 29.1% of applications were refused (worldwide: 14.6%). The refusal rate rose by 3.1 points from 26.0% in 2024. Applications fell by 34% compared with 2024 (162,017).

Most applications went to France (27,597), Germany (17,134), Spain (14,253) and Italy (12,987).

Among the states with at least 500 applications, the lowest refusal rate was Romania’s (16.6%) and the highest Austria’s (46.2%). The sharpest rise since 2024 was at the consulates of Germany (+8.3 points), the largest fall at those of Bulgaria (−7.5 points).

Bulgaria and Romania began issuing Schengen visas on 31 March 2024, so their 2024 figures cover part of the year. The numbers include every nationality applying in Iran.

In fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025) the United States issued 8,963 nonimmigrant visas to citizens of Iran, the 83rd highest number of the 206 nationalities listed. Visitor visas (B1/B2) made up 77%, student visas 12% and exchange visitor visas 3%. That is 48% fewer than in fiscal year 2024 (17,381).

From October 2025 to February 2026, citizens of Iran received 71, 99% fewer than in the same months a year earlier.

For visitor visas (B1/B2) the State Department reports an adjusted refusal rate of 62.4% for citizens of Iran in fiscal year 2025 (fiscal year 2024: 55.5%).

Iran itself has 117 missions abroad, in 95 countries. Its largest networks are in Pakistan (4), Turkey (4), Afghanistan (3), Azerbaijan (3) and Italy (3).

Where the embassies are

All 80 embassies are in the capital, Tehran. Russia has the most missions in Iran, 5, followed by Afghanistan (4), India (4), Turkey (4) and China (3).

Travel advice for Iran

Foreign ministries’ advice on travel to Iran: the US State Department rates Iran at Level 4, do not travel (updated 22 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all travel to Iran (updated 27 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has a travel warning (Reisewarnung) for Iran (updated 29 October 2026).