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Citizens of foreign countries usually travel to different countries for leisure, education, or work; And Iran as a touristic country due to its ancient history and culture, countless attractions, ethnic diversity, and special geography, attracts a large number of tourists every year.
However, in recent years, the number of tourists who travel to Iran for health and medical treatment purposes has grown, for various reasons including the low cost of treatment in Iran, medical centers with advanced equipment and facilities, as well as specialized and experienced physicians.
As a result, and to boost health tourism revenue, special attention has been focused on this sector taken to the point that Medical Visa (T-type Visa) was added to the variety of Iranian visas, so that patients could travel to this country more easily.
In the following article, we will explain the medical visa and requirements for receiving it. Before elaborating on the medical visa, it is better to get acquainted with the definition of health tourism.
What is Health Tourism?
Health tourism is not a new concept and has long been practiced although it has flourished in recent years. The story began when, thousands of years ago, the Greeks traveled from the eastern Mediterranean to what was called the sanctuary of the god of healing for their ailments.
Also, cities that benefit from hot springs were the destinations of those who believed that minerals of these springs were useful for healing pains such as gout, liver disorders, bronchitis, and joint pains. These areas were the first destinations that attracted the attention of medical tourists.
Over time and with the increase of this type of travel in the tourism industry, the term “health tourism” was coined, covering a wide range of activities. In general, organized travel for the purpose of maintaining, strengthening, healing, or treating one’s health, whether physical or mental, is called health tourism.
People who travel to other countries for the treatment of certain diseases, dental procedures, infertility treatments, and cosmetic surgeries are called “health tourists” who, by choosing this type of travel, have a better chance of treatment in developed countries or can benefit from better health services at a lower cost.
Now that you are familiar with the concept of health tourism, the following article will elaborate on Medical Visa.
Definition of Treatment or Medical Visa
There are 12 types of visas issued in Iran, and applicants can apply for the appropriate type according to the purpose of their trip to Iran. Medical visa is one of the visa types by which, foreign nationals can travel to Iran to benefit from medical services.
The medical visa is issued in a short time and is valid for 30 days. Of course, in certain circumstances, the Iranian medical visa can be extended. We will further discuss how to extend the validity of the Iranian Medical Visa.
To learn about the types of Visas in Iran, refer to the article written about Iranian visas for foreigners.
How to Get a Medical Visa
- Obtaining a Visa via Facilitator Companies
The easiest way to obtain a medical visa is to apply through a facilitator or travel agency that can help patients get an invitation and go through the process of getting a medical visa. Moj Aramesh Amitis Health Tourism Company is one of these facilitators that you can refer to order to obtain a visa.
Moj Aramesh health Tourism Company, as the first company to receive the “Certificate of Competence in Health Tourism Services” from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran, helps patients seeking treatment in Iran, to go through the treatment process easily.
To contact the company, you should first visit Amitismedtour.com and consult with the company’s experienced staff via online chat, email, WhatsApp, or phone calls.
After the initial consultation, you must submit the scan of your medical records, passport, and medical visa application form to the relevant expert. The company will submit the documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran to apply for visa. The applicant, then, can go to the Iranian embassy or consulate in his place of residence within 4 to 7 working days and obtain his or her medical visa.
It should be noted that the experienced staff of Moj Aramesh Amitis Health Tourism Company are fluent in English, Arabic, and Azeri languages and provide valuable services to health tourists by introducing experienced physicians in various fields of medicine, dentistry, and beauty.
Other services of this company include booking the flight, hotel reservations, intercity transfers, currency exchange, and conducting tours to visit cultural and tourist attractions of the country. Also, providing services and welfare facilities to the patient’s companions is another advantage of Moj Aramesh Amitis Health Tourism Company.
- Receive a Medical Visa upon Arrival (Airport Visa)
Citizens of 10 foreign countries can apply for a medical visa upon arrival at one of Iran’s international airports. Citizens of Venezuela, Turkey, Syria, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bolivia, Egypt, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, need to have received an invitation from a medical center in Iran before traveling to Iran. They, then, receive a medical visa at one of Iran’s international airports. Of course, we do not recommend this method to you because the possibility of rejection in this method is higher.
Required Documents to Obtain a Medical Visa
- Scan of a passport with at least 6 months of validity.
- Photo with a clear background and matching the applicant’s current face.
- Admission Letter from IPD (International Patients Department) of the intended medical centers.
- Medical records including ultrasound, radiology, CT scan, etc.
Validity Period and Extension of Medical Visa
By obtaining a medical visa, applicants can travel to Iran in 3 months and stay in the country for 30 days to go through their treatment process. However, if this time is not enough for the treatment of the applicant’s illness, the validity of the health visa can be extended up to 90 days. Even if a person is forced to stay in Iran for a longer period, he or she can obtain a permit to renew his/her medical visa by visiting the Iranian Immigration and Passport Police Office or the +10 Police. The following documents are required to extend a visa:
- Physician’s confirmation that the treatment process is incomplete
- Receipt of expenses paid for treatment of the disease
- Receipt for payment of medical visa extension fee
- Presenting proof of the start date of treatment in Iran
Medical visa fees
- Visa Issuance and Service Fee
To issue a visa, the Embassy of Iran receives a visa service fee from the applicant. While you can apply for medical visa personally, we recommend that you obtain a visa through a facilitator company, such as Moj Aramesh Amitis Health Tourism Company; This company has the advantage of being directly associated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs making the visa process much smoother and the chance of getting the visa higher, while you will not be burdened with doing the paperwork or extra charges for visa services.
- Prepayment Fee (Deposit)
In the pandemic of Coronavirus, where strict health measures are imposed on the entry and exit of travelers, many applicants travel to Iran on the pretext of treatment, obtaining a medical visa, while their aim is not to receive treatment. In such circumstances, Moj Aramesh Amitis Health Tourism Company receives a prepayment fee of $500 from the applicants to ensure that the passenger only visits Iran for treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Medical Visas
Can citizens of all countries receive Iranian medical visas in the shortest time?
No, issuing visas to US citizens take longer.
How long does it take to issue a medical visa in Iran?
After submitting the documents, it takes about 4 to 7 business days. On special occasions you can get a medical visa by receiving a doctor’s confirmation letter within 3 days.
Citizens of which countries cannot apply for a medical visa?
Israeli nationals and persons with the Israeli entry stamp on their passports are not allowed to travel to Iran or obtain a visa.
Do cosmetic procedures that can change people’s faces cause problems with the entry and exit of patients?
Most cosmetic surgery applicants are concerned about changing their face after surgery and not being identified by airport inspection officers, but these applicants should know that after cosmetic surgery, they can receive a valid medical letter from the hospital and leave the country without any problems.
Written by: Z. Noroozi
Translated by: N. Rahimifar
