Iran Medical Visa: Who Needs One and How to Apply

If you are planning surgery, dental work or fertility treatment in Tabriz, the visa is usually the first practical question. This guide explains what an Iran medical visa is, who may need one, and the general steps to apply for an Iran visa for treatment, so you can plan calmly and avoid the most common mistakes.

One thing first: visa rules, fees and processing times change, and they differ by nationality. This article describes the general process only. The current rules for your passport are the ones published on the official Iranian e-visa portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Iranian embassy or consulate in your country.

Key points

• Iran issues a visa category for treatment. Check its current name and conditions on the official portal before you apply.
• The usual first step is a treatment plan or acceptance letter from the medical center, not the visa application itself.
• You apply through the official Iranian e-visa portal or at an Iranian embassy or consulate, then collect the visa or enter with the approval you receive.
• A tourist entry may not match a treatment stay, even if your nationality can enter visa-free for a short visit.
• Tabriz Health does not issue visas and cannot guarantee approval. We can help you understand what the center's letter should contain.

What is a medical visa, and do you need one?

A medical visa (also called a treatment visa) is a visa issued to a foreign national who travels mainly to receive medical care. Many countries offer one. It usually links your stay to a named medical center and a planned treatment, and it may allow a longer stay than a short tourist visit.

Iran issues a visa category for treatment. Its exact name, the documents it requires and the length of stay it allows are set by the Iranian authorities and can change, so check the current details on the official portal rather than relying on older articles or social media posts.

Who might not need one

Some nationalities may enter Iran visa-free or get a visa on arrival for limited stays. Whether that applies to you depends on your passport and on current Iran visa policy, so check it officially. Even if it does, a tourist entry may not match a treatment stay: surgery, recovery and follow-up visits can take longer than a short tourist stay allows, and some centers prefer patients to arrive with the treatment visa. Ask the center and check with the embassy before you decide.

How to apply for an Iran medical visa: the general steps

The exact order and forms can differ by nationality, but the process usually follows these four steps.

1. Get a treatment plan or acceptance letter from the center

Before applying, you normally need a letter from the hospital or clinic confirming that it has reviewed your case and accepted you for treatment. To get one, you share your medical reports with the center and agree a treatment plan. You can start with a free consultation request, and our coordinators will pass your documents to suitable clinics and hospitals in Tabriz.

2. Apply through the official portal or an embassy

Applications are made through the official Iranian e-visa portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or at an Iranian embassy or consulate. You fill in the form, choose the treatment category if it is offered to you, and upload your documents. Use only official channels and be careful with look-alike websites that charge extra.

3. Receive the authorisation code

If the application is approved, you usually receive an authorisation (reference) code or approval notice. Keep it safe, both digitally and on paper, and check that your name and passport number are correct.

4. Collect the visa or enter Iran

Depending on your application, you then collect the visa at the embassy or consulate you chose, or at the point of entry named in your approval. Follow the instructions in your approval exactly.

Documents commonly requested

The following documents are commonly requested for a treatment visa. The official list for your nationality applies, and the embassy may ask for more.

• Passport with enough remaining validity and blank pages (check the minimum validity required).
• Recent passport-style photo meeting the portal's size and background rules.
• Medical reports about your condition, such as test results, scans or a letter from your own doctor.
• The center's letter accepting you for treatment, usually on official letterhead with the planned treatment and expected dates.
• Travel or medical insurance covering your stay, if requested.
• Companion details if someone is travelling with you.

If your documents are not in English or Persian, ask the center whether translations are needed.

Companions, extensions and travel insurance

Travelling with a companion

Many patients travel with a family member, especially after surgery. An accompanying person usually needs their own visa. In some cases it can be applied for alongside the patient's treatment application, with the companion named in the center's letter. Check with the portal or embassy which visa type the companion should use.

If treatment takes longer than planned

Recovery does not always follow the schedule. Extending a stay may be possible in some cases through the immigration and foreign nationals police office, but the conditions are set by the authorities and are not guaranteed. If you think your stay may run longer, tell the center early. They can advise whether an updated medical letter is needed and what the usual steps are. Never overstay a visa.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance that covers medical travel is worth reading carefully. Many standard policies exclude planned treatment or its complications. Check what your policy covers in Iran, and check your own government's travel advisory before you book. Our article on safety and medical travel to Iran explains what to look at.

Advice for patients from Iraq and Afghanistan

Patients from Iraq

Many Iraqi patients, including those from the Kurdistan region, travel to Tabriz for treatment. Entry rules and fees for Iraqi citizens can change, so we do not state them here. Read our visa guide for Iraqi patients and confirm the current rules with the Iranian embassy or consulate before you travel.

Patients from Afghanistan

Persian-speaking patients from Afghanistan often ask about the conditions for a treatment visa and about extending it. The same general process applies: a letter from the center, an application through official channels, and early planning if you may need longer. Conditions, fees and extensions are decided by the Iranian authorities, so confirm them with the embassy or consulate, and ask the center early if your treatment may take longer.

Planning your timeline and how Tabriz Health helps

Plan the timeline

• Start early. Getting the center's letter and the visa decision both take time.
• Do not book non-refundable flights or hotels before your visa is approved.
• Leave room in your schedule for recovery and follow-up visits. Your surgeon will advise how long to stay.
• Keep copies of all documents, including the center's letter, in your hand luggage.

How we help, and what we cannot do

Tabriz Health is a facilitation platform, not a government agency or a travel agent. We do not issue visas and cannot guarantee approval. What we can do:

• Offer country guides in our visa guide, including pages for Gulf countries, the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkey.
• Explain what the center's letter should usually contain, and follow up with the center if something is missing.
• Help arrange hotels, airport transfers and interpreters once your plans are confirmed.

For the wider picture, read our guide to medical tourism in Iran.

Next steps

Send a free consultation request with your medical reports so a center can review your case and, if it accepts you, prepare the letter you will need. If you would like to speak with a doctor before you travel, you can book a paid online video visit. More general answers are in our FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an Iran medical visa for treatment?

It depends on your nationality and on how long you will stay. Some nationalities may enter visa-free or get a visa on arrival for limited stays, but a tourist entry may not match a treatment stay. Check the official Iranian e-visa portal or the embassy.

How much is the Iran visa fee for treatment?

Visa fees differ by nationality and change over time, so we do not quote them. Check the current fee on the official portal or with the Iranian embassy or consulate.

How long does it take to get an Iran visa for treatment?

Processing times vary. Apply as early as you can, and do not book non-refundable travel until the visa is approved.

Can a family member come with me?

Usually yes, but a companion normally needs their own visa. Ask the center to name your companion in its letter if that is required, and check which visa type applies to them.

Can I extend my medical visa in Iran?

Extension may be possible in some cases through the immigration and foreign nationals police office, but it is not guaranteed. Tell the center early if your treatment may take longer.

Does Tabriz Health issue visas?

No. We are not a government office and cannot guarantee approval. We share visa guides by country and help you understand what the center's letter should include.

This article is general information, not medical advice. It does not replace an examination by a qualified doctor who knows your case. Read our medical disclaimer and editorial policy.