No more travelling around Iran on your own

According to the Travel and Tour World portal, Iran introduced new visa regulations in August 2025. These regulations stipulate that foreign tourists will only be able to visit Iran if they purchase a trip as part of an organised tour through a travel agency officially registered in Iran. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on these reports, but reliable sources in the industry seem to confirm this information. In practice, this means the end of solo trips to Iran on your own. If a foreign tourist wants to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran on their own, they may either be refused entry to the country or be forced to purchase a tour from a special agency on site.

This is the biggest change in Iran's tourism policy in recent years. The decision is intended to increase control over tourist traffic, promote safe and organised tourism, and increase security in the country by monitoring travel routes and providing visitors with licensed guides. However, such measures may kill tourism in Iran, a country rich in historical sites, tourist attractions and an unusually interesting culture and traditions.