Bino

How to Get a Tourist Visa to IRAN

June 11, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

Iran is on a most deserving rise as a travel destination, thanks in part to a government that’s been perceived to be more liberal in recent years. While it’s still common to be thought of as mad for traveling there, people are discovering the many wonders of this Middle Eastern country in greater numbers. And there’s no shortage of these wonders – from the ancient ruins of Persepolis to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in cities like Esfahan, and of course the very friendly citizenry which makes traveling around Iran a true delight!

It’s been a few years since I visited Iran but until today, I am still getting a lot of questions on how to get a visa to enter the country. Here, I share my personal experience in obtaining a tourist visa to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Iran. The only exceptions as of this writing are Malaysian, Sri Lankan, Bolivian, Venezuelan, Azeri, Syrian and Turkish nationals.

Most other nationalities can apply for a visa either at an Iran embassy in their home country or obtain a visa on arrival. There are notable exceptions to the granting of visa on arrival however and this includes Americans, British and Canadian passport holders. These nationalities can only get their visas at the embassy in their home country.

Singapore and Philippine passport holders can opt to get a visa-on-arrival. This facility is available only for those entering by air at key airports which include Tehran, Shiraz, Esfahan, Tabriz and Mashhad. Compared to elsewhere however, a visa-on-arrival isn’t as straightforward as an approval code still needs to be procured before being eligible to enter! While there have been many reports of people successfully getting a visa-on-arrival without an appoval code, it’s still wise to get one just to play it safe.

I applied for my visa via Pars Tours Agency. Their website can be found here. There are other agencies that handle approval code applications

My approval code application process:

Contacted Pars Tours Agency via the email address found on their website. Got the visa application form, filled it out and sent it back along with a copy of my passport
They charged me EUR 30 for processing which I had to remit to their account in Germany. At that time, they also charged me for the visa cost itself. This is no longer practiced and the actual visa fees are collected only upon arrival at the airport
Around 2 weeks later, I got the approval code

I chose Shiraz as my airport of entry in Iran. The departure process from Singapore was quite uneventful. I took Qatar Airways from Singapore to Shiraz via Doha and at no point did airport authorities ask me for my Iran visa.

The flight to Shiraz from Doha took a mere hour. I was only among a handful of foreigners on the Doha to Shiraz flight. I arrived at the airport in Shiraz at around 4AM and had to call someone to man the visa on arrival desk. They got my passport and approval code and processed my visa which took about an hour. Other than the long wait, it was quite painless. They visa they gave me was a 15-day single entry visa.

Although not particularly straightforward in that they required an approval code, Iran’s visa application process is relatively easy. Unlike in other countries, I never had to submit my bank or employment details. Aside from the application form, the only other thing they took from me was a copy of my passport photo page. That being said, the whole process is definitely worth it!

How I Got My Canadian Tourist Visa in 2 Weeks (2017 Update)

June 4, 2015 by Bino 497 Comments

As I originally intended to visit Canada to attend my cousin’s wedding, I went to apply for a Canadian visa (officially called a temporary resident visa if you’re entering as a tourist) some months back. I recall my past experience in applying for a Canada visa – that was some 10 years back – and my experience then was unique for it was the only developed country visa application that did not require me to personally appear at the embassy or consulate. Canada’s visa policy was already progressive back then in 2005 and I was relieved to find that over the past few years, they pushed the button further where visa applications are concerned. They now allow applicants to submit entire applications online, saving one a long commute to the post office just to submit documentary requirements for visa applications!

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A Heritage Staycation Experience at Manila Hotel

May 27, 2015 by Bino 3 Comments

If there was one hotel in Manila that I’ve long wanted to try, it would be the historic Manila Hotel located near Rizal Park and Manila Bay. The property is to Manila as the Raffles is to Singapore, the Metropole is to Hanoi or the Strand is to Yangon. For several years, I’ve admired the hotel for its iconic lobby but circumstances never led me to stay there or even try the food options available in-house.

Manila Hotel has the distinction of being the longest surviving luxury hotel in Manila and is 103 years old. It is the biggest and most distinct heritage hotel in the city dating its roots from the American colonial period in the early 20th century. It has seen World War 2, where the hotel subsequently became living quarters for the Japanese Army and the martial law years when Imelda Marcos used to host lavish parties in the hotel. The property has witnessed the ups and downs of the city and due to its strategic location, the ups and downs of the country as well. During Manila Hotel’s centenary year in 2012, the rooms were renovated and in-house restaurants were spruced up and revamped.

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Inside Pyongyang’s Yanggakdo Hotel – A Taste of North Korean Hospitality

May 21, 2015 by Bino 6 Comments

the unpainted exterior of the yanggakdo hotel

The experience of choosing a hotel to stay in North Korea is quite unlike that of any other country. To put it simply, one does not get to choose at all. In the overwhelming majority of cases, accommodations are assigned without taking into account travelers’ preferences. That being said, options are rather limited. In the capital for instance, the number of hotels open to foreigners can be counted in one hand.

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Tapella by Gaudi – The Quintessential Spanish Meal at Greenbelt 5

April 2, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

For a culture that’s already ingrained in local society, Manila has perhaps one of the best selection of Spanish cuisine among all the major cities of Asia. Several chains have made their mark in the Philippine capital, including Gaudi which prides itself with an interpretation that is as close as possible to the delights of the Iberian peninsula.

I remember first eating in Gaudi at Serendra some seven years back and being wow-ed by their angus prime ribs which were cooked on our dinner table. Gaudi eventually diversified their Castillan offerings through Tapella in Greenbelt 5. Last weekend, I managed to try this cozy restaurant at the end of the mall, close to Greenbelt 1.

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CRU Steakhouse at Marriott Manila – An Instant Favorite

March 18, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

In an extremely competitive foodie scene such as Manila’s, it’s quite rare for non-buffet hotel restaurants to be critically acclaimed. While most luxury hotels place heavy emphasis in creating well-curated menus with high quality items, all too often these restaurant still get overshadowed by the brand name of the hotel.

CRU Steakhouse, a restaurant at Marriott Manila, has a strong potential to make it on its own despite being a staple steakhouse name across multiple Marriott hotels. I tried it just last week and it instantly became a personal favorite. I was really quite impressed and after researching a bit on this gem of a place, I realized that I’m not alone in the praising. Best Hotel Fine Dining Restaurant 2014, Best Dessert, Philippines’ Best Restaurant of the Year – the list of the awards its received just goes on.

Entering CRU for dinner, I was again reminded of the wonderful staycation I had at Marriott Manila just a month back, when I also entered Cru as it was part of Marriott Cafe’s Sunday Brunch.

I was served by Cyndee, who definitely knew her way around Cru. We basically took in everything she recommended which turned out to be a great decision. Everything, as in 100% of the things she recommended, was fantastic!

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Sunday Brunch Buffet at Marriott Manila’s Marriott Cafe

March 3, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

During my short but fantastic staycation at Marriott Manila, I had the opportunity to try their well-known Sunday Brunch. Since I live in the northern part of the metropolis whenever I’m in town, this was my first time to sample the delights of the Marriott Cafe in Manila – though I’d always been curious to try it since I’m a semi-regular at the Marriott Cafe in the Singapore hotel.

trendy interiors of marriott cafe

The popularity of the Sunday Brunch concept at Marriott Manila was evident from the moment I stepped in. The restaurant was filled to the brim with families enjoying a slow and leisurely meal at one of the best-value upmarket buffets in town.

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