Treatment in Iran for Patients from Afghanistan: Medical Visa, the Road to Mashhad, Mashhad or Tehran, Language and Payment

Medical visas for Afghan nationals

Iran's foreign ministry e-visa portal describes the T (medical) visa as being for foreign citizens who already have an approval letter from one of the authorised medical centres. The same portal says your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your travel date.

In August 2026 Pajhwok Afghan News, citing ISNA, reported Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi as saying the ministry had no obstacle to issuing visas for Afghan nationals, was ready to ease the process for genuine applicants, particularly medical tourists, and that specific procedures should be developed for them. Earlier, in February 2026, the head of the Khorasan Razavi health tourism association told Kojaro that medical visas were being issued with much stricter checks. These are reports, so confirm the current process with Iran's embassy or consulates. LSevin does not issue visas.

Getting there: Dogharoun and flights

The road from Herat to Mashhad crosses the border at Dogharoun, and flights to Iranian cities may also be available. Crossing hours, required documents and flight schedules can change, so check before you travel.

For a patient going home after surgery, a shorter route and a pre-arranged transfer are usually easier. Your treating physician decides when you can travel.

Mashhad or Tehran?

According to IMTJ, citing Iran's Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Afghan nationals made up 48.8% of the 125,000 medical tourists recorded in the Iranian year ending March 2020, mostly for gynaecology, obstetrics and infertility, eye, heart and orthopaedic care. In August 2024 a Mashhad health tourism official listed Afghanistan first among the city's top 10 source countries and said 46 hospitals and specialised clinics in Mashhad were licensed to accept health tourists. In February 2026 the head of the Khorasan Razavi health tourism association put Afghanistan's share of the province's health tourists at about 30 to 35%.

A shared language: Dari and Persian

Iran's official language is Persian, and Dari is a variety of Persian, so most Afghan patients can speak directly with doctors and nurses. Some medical terms and everyday words differ, so ask your doctor to explain anything unclear and to give you discharge instructions in writing.

Pashto speakers should ask before travel whether an interpreter is available.

Payment and currency

GOV.UK says non-Iranian debit and cash cards do not work in Iran and changing money on the street is illegal. Ask the facility before you travel how and in which currency you will pay, and have it written into your quote. LSevin does not publish fixed prices; you receive a quote after the consultation.

Avoiding brokers

IMTJ wrote in 2020 that most medical travel by Afghan nationals is in the hands of intermediaries and brokers. The Ministry of Health's announcement says transferring international patients is the responsibility of licensed health tourism companies.

• Deal only with a facility listed on iht.behdasht.gov.ir.
• Ask for the licence of any company arranging your trip.
• Do not trust strangers at the border or bus terminal offering to recommend a doctor or obtain a visa.
• Get all costs in writing before you travel.

Travel advisories (checked 27 October 2026)

As of 27 October 2026 the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran and to Afghanistan, and specifically against all travel within 100 km of the Iran-Afghanistan border. That advice is written for British nationals, so also read your own authorities' latest guidance. LSevin does not declare travel safe.