Documents You Need for the Bus from Turkey to Iran

Coach operators will not let you board an international service without the right documents, and border officers will not let you through without them either. This guide explains what passengers on the Turkey–Iran buses need, who has to arrange a visa in advance, and how to avoid the mistakes that end journeys at the border.

1. A valid passport

Every passenger, including children and babies, needs their own passport. Check the expiry date: Iran expects at least six months of validity beyond your date of entry, and Turkey applies a similar rule for many nationalities. Make sure there are blank pages for stamps. The name on the bus ticket must match the passport exactly, letter for letter, because the operator's passenger list is checked against passports at the border.

Iranian citizens travel on their Iranian passport and do not need a visa for Turkey for short visits. Dual nationals should decide in advance which passport they will use for each country and carry both.

2. A visa for Iran, arranged before you travel

This is the point that catches people out. Iran issues visas on arrival only at international airports, not at land borders. If you cross by coach, you must already hold a visa or an approved electronic visa authorisation when you reach Bazargan, Razi or Serow.

Rules depend on your nationality:

• Many European nationalities can apply for an Iranian electronic visa in advance through the official Iranian e-visa system, usually with a reference from a licensed Iranian agency. Allow two to three weeks.
• British, American and Canadian passport holders face stricter rules and are normally required to travel with an authorised guide or on an organised tour, with a longer authorisation process. Check the current position with the embassy well before booking any ticket.
• Iranian nationals need no visa for Iran.

Print the visa or authorisation. Phone screens are accepted inconsistently at land borders.

3. A visa for Turkey, if your nationality needs one

Citizens of most EU countries, the UK and many others enter Turkey without a visa for short stays. Several nationalities need an electronic visa, which is quick to obtain online but must be done before travel. If you are starting the journey in Iran and crossing into Turkey, check the Turkish rules for your passport, not just the Iranian ones.

4. Travel insurance

Iran requires visitors to hold medical insurance valid in Iran, and officers may ask for proof. Many European policies exclude Iran, so read the policy wording or buy a policy from an insurer that covers it. Keep a printed copy with your passport.

5. Your ticket

Carry the ticket we send you, printed or on your phone, together with the passport it was issued against. Be at the terminal at least 45 minutes before departure. International coaches close boarding early so the passenger list can be prepared for the border.

What is not allowed across the border

Alcohol cannot be taken into Iran. Drones, satellite phones and some medicines need permits. Large sums of cash should be declared. If in doubt about an item, leave it behind. Customs officers at Bazargan do open bags.

Children

Children need their own passport and, for Iran, their own visa where applicable. A child travelling with one parent may be asked for written consent from the other parent at some borders, so carry it if it applies to you.

Check official advice before you buy

Entry rules change, and governments publish safety advice that may affect your insurance. At the time of writing the UK government advises against all travel to Iran. Read the UK travel advice for Iran and your own country's guidance, and make your decision with that in front of you.

Checklist before you request a ticket

• Passport valid for six months beyond entry, with blank pages
• Iranian visa or e-visa authorisation already approved, printed
• Turkish e-visa if your nationality needs one
• Medical insurance valid in Iran, printed
• Names for the ticket copied exactly from each passport

When you request a ticket, tell us the nationality of every passenger. We will point out which of these items applies, before anyone pays for a seat. For the journey itself, read what the Istanbul to Tehran bus is like.