An Iran visa for German citizens is required for every visit, and Germany’s Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) currently warns against all travel to Iran and calls on German nationals to leave the country. This summary of the official entry rules was checked on 2 November 2026.
Reviewed by Saye Shams, SURFIRAN.
Contents
1. A formal travel warning is in place
The Auswärtiges Amt has issued a travel warning for Iran (Reisewarnung) and asks German nationals in Iran to leave, citing the risk of arbitrary arrest. It stresses that the German Embassy in Tehran can offer consular help only to a very limited extent, if at all.
2. Which documents are accepted
German citizens can enter with a passport, a temporary passport or a children’s passport. National identity cards are not accepted. Travel documents must be valid for at least six months on the date of entry.
3. You need a visa, issued electronically
German nationals need a visa to enter Iran. The visa is not stuck into the passport but issued electronically, and you carry a printout; as a result, there is no entry stamp in the passport. Information is available from the Iranian Embassy in Berlin, and an online e-visa can be applied for before travel.
4. Visa on arrival is not recommended
The Auswärtiges Amt says it has no reliable information on whether visa on arrival has worked consistently since the COVID-19 pandemic, and strongly advises against relying on it.
5. Use the right visa for your purpose
Non-tourist stays, such as journalism or work, require the correct visa category. Breaching Iran’s entry rules can lead to prosecution and disproportionately heavy penalties, including prison sentences of several years.
6. German-Iranian dual nationals
Iran treats German-Iranian dual nationals solely as Iranians, so they must enter on an Iranian passport and German consular help is not possible. Men become liable for military service from the Iranian year in which they turn 18 and can face an exit ban. According to the German Embassy, a German woman who marries an Iranian under Iranian law automatically acquires Iranian nationality, and her husband can prevent her and their children from leaving.
Before you plan
Visa rules and travel advice can change quickly. SURFIRAN cannot guarantee that any visa will be issued; that decision rests with Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For the general process, see our Iran visa guide and the latest official travel advice for Iran. Our private tours resume only when official advice allows.
Official sources
- Auswärtiges Amt: Iran, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise
- Botschaft der Islamischen Republik Iran in Berlin
Frequently Asked Questions
Do German citizens need a visa for Iran?
Yes. German nationals need a visa for every visit to Iran. The visa is issued electronically and carried as a printout rather than stuck into the passport. Information is available from the Iranian Embassy in Berlin, and an online e-visa can be requested before you travel.
Can Germans enter Iran with an identity card?
No. Iran accepts German passports, temporary passports and children’s passports, but not national identity cards or temporary identity cards. Whatever document you use must be valid for at least six months on the date you arrive in Iran, so check the expiry date first.
Is a visa on arrival available for German citizens?
The Auswu00e4rtiges Amt says there is no reliable information on whether the visa on arrival process has worked consistently since the COVID-19 pandemic, and strongly advises against relying on it. Arrange an electronic visa before departure instead, and carry the printout with your passport.
What does the German Foreign Office currently advise about Iran?
The Auswu00e4rtiges Amt has issued a formal travel warning for Iran and calls on German nationals in the country to leave, citing the danger of arbitrary arrest. It adds that consular support from the German Embassy in Tehran is severely limited or may not be possible at all.
Can German-Iranian dual nationals travel on a German passport?
No. Iran treats German-Iranian dual nationals only as Iranians, so they must enter on an Iranian passport and German consular help is not possible. Men may be liable for military service and can face exit bans, and the Auswu00e4rtiges Amt highlights the particular risks for dual nationals.
