Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit IR?

UK ordinary passport holders need a visa obtained in advance from an Iranian embassy/consulate before travelling to Iran. There is no visa-on-arrival or eVisa channel for British citizens, and you must apply either as part of a pre-arranged organised tour or with a sponsor in Iran. Note: the UK FCDO advises against all travel to Iran. British (GB) ordinary passport holders cannot enter Iran without a visa arranged before departure. Iran's visa-on-arrival (VOA) and eVisa systems explicitly exclude UK, US and Canadian nationals. Under rules confirmed for 2025-2026, British applicants must travel on a pre-arranged guided tour booked through an authorised Iranian agency (or have an in-country sponsor); the agency submits a day-by-day itinerary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for approval, and a government-approved guide may be required throughout the stay. The standard tourist visa allows up to 30 days, extendable twice for up to 90 days total. Processing is slow and unpredictable - around 6-8 weeks (roughly 40 working days). Separately, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all travel to Iran due to a heightened risk of arbitrary questioning, arrest and detention of British and dual British-Iranian nationals; this is a serious safety consideration beyond the visa itself.