South Africa to Iran visa requirements

South African ordinary passport holders need a visa for Iran. The recommended route is an eVisa applied for in advance through Iran's official Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal (evisa.mfa.ir); visa-on-arrival is also available at major airports but is riskier because some airlines deny boarding without a confirmed visa. Iran is not visa-free for South African (ZA) ordinary passport holders. South Africa is on Iran's list of eVisa-eligible nationalities, so the most reliable option for a short tourist visit is to apply online in advance through the official MFA eVisa portal (evisa.mfa.ir). The process issues a "visa grant notice"/reference code; the actual visa sticker is then collected on arrival or at an Iranian consulate. A 30-day single-entry tourist eVisa is standard, with the eVisa authorisation valid for entry within roughly 90 days of issue. A visa-on-arrival (VOA) channel also exists for South Africans at major international airports (Tehran IKA, Shiraz, Esfahan, Mashhad, Tabriz, Kish, Qeshm) for stays up to 30 days, but since 2022 some airlines refuse boarding to passengers lacking a pre-issued visa or grant notice, so advance application is strongly advised. Mandatory Iran-valid travel medical insurance and a hotel/itinerary are required. Fees are quoted in euros and vary by nationality. Iran is NOT in the Schengen area, so Schengen 90/180 and ETIAS rules do not apply. Note for travellers: an Iran stamp/visa can complicate later US ESTA eligibility, so many request a separate visa paper rather than a passport stamp.