What you need to enter Iran with an Ethiopian passport
Ethiopian citizens need a visa for Iran, but they can get it on arrival at the border.
- Minimum passport validity
- 6 months
Why is this passport validity required? →
Last verified: 6 October 2026
Verified practical details
You can get your visa on arrival in Iran, but it's worth preparing the paperwork ahead of time:
Authorisation system
Visa with online pre-application
A visa valid for the whole stay is required. Iran stopped issuing visas at the border during the pandemic and has not officially announced their return; in any case an online pre-application must be made first, and the authorities may admit or refuse entry. Non-tourist trips (work, study, sport, journalism) and diplomatic or service passports need a visa from the Iranian Embassy in the country of residence, with prior authorisations that lengthen the process.
Visa, e-Visa, or electronic authorisation? What's the difference →
Required documents
- Passport with more than six months' validity and no Israeli visas or stamps: with them, entry is refused.
- Visa pre-application made on the official website before travel.
- Minors travel with a passport, visa and parental permission.
Transit rules
Iran does not recognise dual nationality, according to the UK Government. Anyone transiting through Iran to another country must already hold that country's visas.
More Iran rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the Iran page:
Official portal: . Destination data verified on 6 October 2026. Sources: exteriores.gob.es (travel advice of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Iran, updated 13 April 2026: advice against travel, airspace, visa, passport and Israel, exit authorisations, overstay fines, vaccinations, terrorism); gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iran (UK Government: dual nationality). All checked on 6 October 2026.
This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of Iran need an electronic visa to enter Ethiopia. See the Iran → Ethiopia page.
Of the 18 passports from Eastern Africa that VisaRadar tracks, for travel to Iran 4 enter visa-free, 13 need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival and 1 need a visa. Same result as Ethiopia: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya and Madagascar.
With a passport from Ethiopia, in the rest of Southern Asia you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; you need a visa for Afghanistan, India and Nepal.
A passport from Ethiopia ranks 183 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 40 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do Ethiopian citizens need a visa for Iran?
Yes, but you can obtain it directly upon arrival at Iran's entry point.
What minimum passport validity is required?
Passport with more than six months' validity and no Israeli visas or stamps: with them, entry is refused.
What currency is used in Iran?
Iranian Rial (IRR).
What do Ethiopian passport holders need for the countries near Iran?
With a passport from Ethiopia, in the rest of Southern Asia you need a prior authorisation or a visa on arrival for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; you need a visa for Afghanistan, India and Nepal.
Related pages
See Iran requirements for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.