Hi folks,

Just to let you know that I contacted key2persia agency by email 3 weeks ago and haven't yet received a reply but last friday I wrote to www.iranianvisa.com and had a reply waiting this morning - after the weekend- so it looks like they are a bit more on the ball. They say they will have an answer in about a week. I am hoping to pick it up in Istanbul.

Linda

Hi Linda

I am so sorry that I haven't replied earlier but have been trying to get my bike serviced and still closing off things from the UK while on the road.

By now you may have heard from key2persia or made other arrangements for Iran but thought I better get in touch. Unfortunately though I don't have alot to tell you!! We too provided an itinerary to key2persia and have heard nothing back. Another traveller said he has tried calling them and emailing them and has also heard nothing back. He is passing through in August and was also hoping to pick up his visa in Turkey. He emailed me to say he is looking at other options. I promise I will pass these to you when I hear. Likewise if you have any luck please let me know.

Garry

We are in the process of getting our Iranian visa's through:

http://www.iranparadise.com

They seem really on the ball, I always get a response the same day via email and they understand the wish for independence etc. I should hear next week if it has gone OK, they seem confident!!! So I'll let you know!

Just as an update, our tourist visas have now been granted. We pick them up in Turkey. We got them through the Iran Paradise link above. Initially we got turned down but the guys went to the ministry and got the decision reversed!!!! Well recommended!

Do the females need to have that cloth on hair for VISA photos, or it's not required?

If travelling with girlfriend do they hesitate giving the visa if not marryed?

We just had to send scanned copies of our passport for the visa confirmation but will probably need pictures with a headscarf when we actually pick it up in Turkey. As for being married I don't know, but I do know people who have been through as an unmarried couple so I don't think there is a problem.

I just had this from Iranparadise:

Dear Sir

We can grant visa +hotel reservation or with tour .we can not give you only visa .

Is this normal? Do I have to book a hotel through them and pay for it? Should I try another agency?

Thanks for any help.

No headscarfs for women needed for pictures if doing visum via Iran embassy in Helsinki, Finland! I guess it is the same for most of Iran European embassies, though, be sure to ask.

Cheers, Margus

Not sure. We didn't need it if i asked them - we had contacts in Iran but no hotel reservation and all of it was OK for embassy. Though we communicated directly with Iran embassy, not with agency.

Call embassy an ask.

[This message has been edited by Margus (edited 10 January 2006).]

I did call the embassy and they referred me to their web page. It says there that you should use an agency and when applying for the visa you need to give the magic number. It also says that head scarves are required. This is in Germany, it may well be different elsewhere. Maybe I'll try another agency.

i used www.key2persia.com based in Shiraz. No accomodation needed and picked up the visa 1 day after fronting up to the embassy in Delhi. You pay when you get to Shiraz as is the norm i think.
Sean

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Margus:
[B]Do the females need to have that cloth on hair for VISA photos, or it's not required?

The Iranian Embassy site (London) says women should wear headscarves in Visa pix.
Matt

hello,
the situation could be a bit weird in iran at the moment, if you look at the occidental news. but once you re there if you manage to get the visa, i guess there s nothing weird, as usual : our news are "manipulating" us. same stories with pakistan and many other countries.

visa delivery, as always, depends on your nationality. for americans who want to go to iran, it may be harder to get a visa than for the swiss people :-)
this "invitation business thing" (as money is required) with the bookings in advance of hotels etc ... is a local agreement between the iran embassy in a country and some traval agents.
it s official and not official, since some iran embassies in some countries require this "invitation business thing", some other iran embassies in other countries don't.
in france, for example, they used to ask this "invitation business thing" and i think it has changed now. if you ask for an iran visa in the -stans (what i did before), they require nothing to get a visa.
for the visa application pictures for the women, yes, it would be clever to wear a scarf, just to show that you care a bit about their culture, even if it's only appearance.
same story, to get a -stans visa : depending on your nationality, you need a "invitation business thing" or not.
finally, if things get bad in a country, they won t give you a visa.
hope it helps,
nb : more practical info about iran on : Informations pratiques : Iran


[This message has been edited by vincent danna (edited 12 January 2006).]