Medical Treatment in Iran: A Planning Guide for International and Domestic Patients

How treatment in Iran works

Most trips follow six steps. Patients already living in Iran skip the visa step.

1. Request a free consultation on LSevin and share your reports, scans and medical history.
2. A doctor or hospital reviews your case and you receive a written quote covering treatment, accommodation and extras.
3. You are accepted by an IPD-licensed facility, a licensed health tourism company arranges the invitation, and you apply for a treatment visa if you need one.
4. Book flights, an airport transfer and a hotel near the hospital, or a hotel with care services.
5. In-person consultation, treatment and recovery under your treating physician.
6. Discharge with a medical summary and a remote follow-up plan after you go home.

Who travels to Iran for treatment

According to a Health Ministry official, Iran received about 1.1 million medical tourists in the Iranian year 1401 (which ended in March 2023), mostly from neighbouring countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The same report said about 200 medical centres were permitted to accept foreign patients.

In Mashhad, Tehran Times reported in August 2024 that more than 20,500 health tourists used licensed centres in the first quarter of the Iranian year. The leading source countries included Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Bahrain, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman.

These are officially reported figures and may have changed after the regional conflict of 2026.

IPD-licensed hospitals

An IPD (International Patient Department) is a unit in a hospital, clinic, day-surgery centre, fertility centre or dental clinic that holds a Ministry of Health licence to admit international patients. The ministry publishes the list on its health tourism portal, iht.behdasht.gov.ir, and advises against referring patients to centres without a valid IPD licence.

Moving international patients between their home country and Iran is the job of health tourism companies licensed by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts. LSevin works within this framework, coordinating with licensed facilities and facilitators. LSevin does not issue invitations or visas itself.

Cities and common treatments

The right city depends on your treatment, flight options and what your companions want to do. The table shows how each city fits into a plan built with LSevin.

Treatment visa in brief

Iran issues treatment visas to foreign nationals who have been accepted by a reputable medical centre in Iran and approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You apply through evisa.mfa.ir, and your passport needs at least six months of validity.

The ministry lists citizens of Iraq, Oman, Turkey, Azerbaijan and several other countries under visa waiver rules. See the visa guide for the full procedure.

Hotels near hospitals and in-hotel care

After many procedures you need to stay in the city for follow-up visits. LSevin shows hotels close to hospitals and, where available, lets you add in-hotel care such as nurse visits or transfers to the hospital. Your treating physician decides what level of care you need.

Payment and currency

Because of sanctions, debit and credit cards issued outside Iran do not work in the country, and changing money is legal only at licensed exchange offices. Agree the payment method before you travel, as part of your quote. LSevin does not publish fixed prices; you receive a written quote after the consultation.

Travel and safety status (checked 26 October 2026)

The region saw war and tension in 2026. As of 26 October 2026, the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran and the Government of Canada says to avoid all travel.

Before you book, read your own government's latest travel advisory and ask your insurer whether you are covered. LSevin does not declare travel safe, and will help you reschedule if conditions change.