Visa and entry guide · 2026 edition
Iran Visa
All about Iran Visa Policy, Fee & Requirements + Online application
Updated for 2026. This edition reviews the entry requirements, application routes, fees, and visa-on-arrival guidance covered in this guide.
01Requirements at a glance
02Local visa support
03Clear collection guidance
Your route inApplication → authorization → arrival
Before you book Visa rules can change without notice. Confirm the current requirements with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy serving your country.
Four clear steps
All you need to do to get an Iran visa
Iran Visa Process has never been so easy
01
Complete the application form
Click here to fill the form. We will contact you ASAP.
02
Pay the service fee
Free with a Cheetah Adventures tour package, €19 for other applicants and €90 for ABC nationals.
03
Receive authorization
We’ll do the paperwork and send you your visa grant notice/ authorization number within 2-10 working days.
04
Collect your visa
Use the authorization to collect the visa at an Iranian embassy or an eligible airport in Iran. Wasn’t it easy with Cheetah-Adventures? 😉
01
A clear place to begin
Obtaining a travel visa is one of the first steps of traveling abroad. Countries all around the world have different conditions for travelers entering their country based on their nationality. Travelers coming to Iran are obligated to obtain an Iran travel visa with the exception of 11 countries due to political agreements between them and the government of Iran. The visa acquisition process has been facilitated during the last few years in order to attract travelers; thus most travelers will have to follow a certain and straight forward process to acquire a travel visa.
We’ll go through the details of getting an Iran visa in this article.
02
What you need to apply
- A passport (the passport should have at least six months of validity, beyond the actual travel date)
- A clear picture of the applicant (women must have their hair covered)
- Travel insurance
- A return ticket (not obligatory)
- Visa fee (should be paid at the embassy or the airport in cash)
Travelers from countries other than the US, UK, Canada (known as the ABC countries: American, British, Canadian) can apply for an Iran travel visa on their own (at the nearest embassy of Iran or the official website of the ministry of foreign affairs) or through a travel agency like Cheetah Adventures. However; as applying through a travel agency will reduce the risk of rejection it’s normally preferred by travelers. Read How to get Iran visa for more detailed information.
An example of iran Visa Grant Notice (after approval) application by cheetah adventures
03
Rules by nationality
Passport holders that do not require a Iran visa
Most nationalities require a visa for entering Iran; however, currently passport holders of 11 countries can travel to Iran without any visa for various amounts of time depending on their nationality. These countries and the time their citizens are allowed to spend in Iran without visa are listed below:
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan (30 days)
- Bolivia
- Egypt (30 days)
- Georgia
- Lebanon (30 days)
- Malaysia
- Oman (30 days)
- Syria
- Turkey (90 days)
- Venezuela (15 days)
- China (21 days)
Passport holders eligible for Iran VOA
The passport holders of more than 70 countries are eligible for a Iran visa on arrival (VOA). The countries the nationals of which are not eligible for an Iran visa on arrival are the following:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Canada
- Colombia
- Jordan
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- United Kingdom
- United States
Learn more about Iran before Visiting Iran:
04
Choose how to apply
It’s recommended to apply for an Iran visa in advance as visa on arrival is time-consuming and the risk of rejection is higher.
05
Applying in advance
Applying for an Iran visa in advance is highly recommended as it reduces the risk of rejection and the process is rather easy. In addition, long waiting lists for Iran VOA are avoided. All nationalities except for ABC countries are allowed to apply for an Iran visa on their own or by an Iranian travel agency. The process and details of each form of Iran visa application is explained below:
1-Applying by an Iran travel agency
Obtaining an Iran tourist visa through an Iranian tour operator is the easiest and most recommended way. This way of application significantly reduces the risk of rejection; however, it doesn’t guarantee an Iran visa. In addition, leaving visa application in the hands of a reliable Persian tour operator such as Cheetah-Adventures accelerates the process and reduces the travelers’ concern before their Iran trip. For those who chose to travel with us, visa acquisition is part of our services and charge free. It’s also possible for other travelers to get a visa through our agency but a fee will apply.
To apply for an Iran visa by Cheetah-Adventures Iranian travel agency and tour operator travelers have to follow the steps below:
- Fill the application form on our website (Here)
- Pay the application fee / service fee (free for those who have purchased an Iran tour package from us, 19€ for others, 90€ for ABC nationals)
- Receive your visa grant notice/ authorization number within 2-10 working days
- Collect your visa at an embassy or at the airport in Iran
2-Applying for Iran visa individually
All nationalities are eligible to apply for an Iran visa on their own with the exception of citizens of ABC countries. Travelers can apply for an Iran tourist visa either online (Iran E-visa) or at the embassy of Iran in their country. Applying for an Iran visa individually has a higher risk of rejection and the process takes longer due to the new policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support Iranian travel agencies.
Applying online ( E-visa)
Applying for an Iranian E-visa is a straightforward process. This type of Iran tourist visa is granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The process is as follows:
- Fill the application form on MFA website : https://evisa.mfa.ir/en/
- Receive the visa grant notice / authorization number after 14-21 working days
- Collect your Iran visa at an embassy or at the airport in Iran
After receiving the visa authorization code/ grant notice travelers must collect their Iran visa either at an airport upon arrival in Iran or at an embassy of Iran in their country. Note that collecting a previously granted Iran visa at the airport is not the same as getting a visa on arrival (VOA).
Applying at an embassy of Iran
It’s also possible to apply for an Iran visa at an embassy of Iran; however, this way of obtaining a visa is rarely chosen as obtaining an E-visa is faster and easier. To apply for an Iran visa this way, travelers must go to an embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in their country with the required documents. Note that women are obliged to wear hijab upon entering the embassy.
The documents required to collect the Iran visa and the airports in Iran where visas can be collected are listed below.
Required documents
- A passport valid for at least 6 months after leaving Iran
- Copy of passport
- A clear picture of the applicant ( women must have their hair covered)
- A travel insurance for Iran
- A return ticket ( not obligatory)
- Iran visa fee 30-145€ (list) depending on your nationality
Airports
- Isfahan International Airport (Isfahan)
- Kish International Airport (Kish Island)
- Mashhad International Airport (Mashad)
- Shiraz International Airport (Shiraz)
- Tabriz International Airport (Tabriz)
- Imam Khomeini International Airport (Tehran)
- Mehrabad International Airport (Tehran)
Countries that travel agencies cannot apply for their Iran visa
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
06
Visa on arrival
Visa on arrival (VOA) is a type of Iran tourist visa applied for and obtained at the airport. To obtain this type of Iran visa, travelers must apply for their visa at the airport upon arrival in Iran and wait until they receive it. Iran VOA is usually granted for 15 to 30 days. Citizens of more than 70 countries worldwide are eligible for an Iran visa on arrival. Nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Jordan, Pakistan, Somalia, United Kingdom and the United States are NOT eligible for an Iran VOA and must apply in advance.
Countries whose Nationals CAN Apply for the Iranian Visa on Arrival:
Albania, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, China (People’s Republic), Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea. Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
It’s recommended to apply for an Iran visa in advance as visa on arrival is time consuming and the risk of rejection is higher.
Countries that can’t get Iran Visa on arrival
- Canada
- USA
- UK
- Colombia
- Jordan
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- Somali
The airports in Iran where Iran visa on arrival is granted and the required documents are listed below.
Airports
- Isfahan International Airport (Isfahan)
- Kish International Airport (Kish Island)
- Mashhad International Airport (Mashad)
- Shiraz International Airport (Shiraz)
- Tabriz International Airport (Tabriz)
- Imam Khomeini International Airport (Tehran)
- Mehrabad International Airport (Tehran)
Required documents
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months)
- Personal photo (a clear photo of the applicant with white background. The face must be fully visible)
- Travel insurance (A travel insurance for traveling to Iran)
- Return flight tickets with a date less than 30 days after your arrival date
- Visa fee (depending on the nationality of the applicant)
- Hotel/hostel reservation
- travel itinerary (not obligatory)
Note: The visa fee must be paid in cash and credit card and international debit cards are not accepted.
ABC Countries
Citizens of The United States, The United Kingdom and Canada (ABC countries) are obliged to be accompanied by a certified guide throughout their trip and have a clear travel itinerary. These travelers have to apply for a visa by an agency or a personal guide and are not eligible for Iran visa on arrival (VOA).
Iran Visa for citizens of Israel
Citizens of Israel and passport holders with an Israeli stamp in their passport will be denied entry in Iran.
Free trade zones In Iran
Some of the port cities and Islands in Iran are considered free trade zones meaning travelers are allowed a maximum of 14 days-long stay without any visa. Visa free zones in Iran are: Kish Island, Qeshm Island, Chabahar port, Maku port, Bandar-e Anzali port and Aras port.
07
Types of Iran visa
There are several types of Iran visa granted according to different entry purposes. Different types of Iran visa are the following:
- Entry visa : Intended for those holding an invitation from a company or organization for business purposes such as signing contracts
- Tourist visa : Intended for those looking to travel to Iran as a tourist
- Pilgrimage visa : Intended for Muslim travelers looking to visit the holy shrines in Iran
- Diplomatic and Service visa : Intended for diplomatic and official passport holders
- Education visa :Intended for students looking to study in Iran
- Temporary work visa : Intended for those looking to work in Iran
- Transit visa :Intended for those who only want to pass through Iran
- Media visa: Intended for all media employers such as reporters, directors , etc. looking to work temporarily in Iran
- Investment visa: Intended for investors holding an investment permit approved by the Organization for Investment Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran.
- Marital visa : Intended for foreign men who are married to Iranian women and their relatives
- Medical visa: Intended for those traveling to Iran for medical purposes
Tabiat Bridge, Tehran, Iran
LEARN MORE ABOUT IRAN SAFETY
LEARN MORE ABOUT IRAN ATTRACTIONS AND DESTINATIONS
IRAN TOURS AND TRAVEL
08
Applying with Cheetah Adventures
As an Iranian Travel Agency, Cheetah-Adventures can apply for an Iran visa in your stead to accelerate the process and save you the trouble. For those who choose to travel with us, visa acquirement is a part of our services and charge-free. It’s also possible for other travelers to get a visa through our agency but a fee will apply (depending on the nationality).
The process of Applying Visa by Cheetah-Adventures is pretty simple. First you have to fill out the visa application form available on our website with your personal information (name, nationality, address, preferred Iranian embassy or airport to get the visa, etc.). A clear scan/picture of your passport and a photo of yourself that meets the standards must be attached. We’ll afterwards apply for a visa on your behalf and send you the visa grant notice (a document with authorization code) within 10 working days. You can obtain your visa from the previously chosen embassy or at the airport upon arrival. Having your passport, travel insurance and photo is necessary for obtaining the visa.
Notes:
- Since 2018 the travelers’ passports will not be stamped to avoid further issues regarding sanctions.
- The travel visa is usually valid for three months and allows travelers to spend a maximum of 30 days in Iran.
- Citizens of Israel are not allowed to enter Iran.
Best time to apply for Iranian Visa
We recommend a month before to be on the safe side, mentioned earlier it takes us 2-10 working days, you should also allow a couple of days to manage to be shown at the embassy so 2 weeks in advance would be the minimum time less than that it would be risky.
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Start your application
Fill out the following form and we will do the rest of the visa application process for you
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Visa fees by country
| Row | Country | Visa Fee | Row | Country | Visa Fee |
| 1 | Azerbaijan | 0 € | 87 | Suriname | 40 € |
| 2 | Argentina | 35 € | 88 | Syria | 0 € |
| 3 | South Africa | 40 € | 89 | Somalia | 80 € |
| 4 | Albania | 0 € | 90 | Sierra Leone | 80 € |
| 5 | Germany | 50 € | 91 | Chile | 90 € |
| 6 | USA | 60 € | 92 | Serbia | 65 € |
| 7 | Andorra | 50 € | 93 | Iraq | 35 € |
| 8 | Angola | 70 € | 94 | Saudi Arabia | 30 € |
| 9 | Austria | 50 € | 95 | Oman | 50 € |
| 10 | Ethiopia | 15 € | 96 | Ghana | 45 € |
| 11 | Jordan | 50 € | 97 | France | 50 € |
| 12 | Armenia | 10 € | 98 | State of Palestine | 30 € |
| 13 | Eritrea | 25 € | 99 | Finland | 50 € |
| 14 | Uzbekistan | 45 € | 100 | Fiji | 40 € |
| 15 | Spain | 50 € | 101 | Philippines | 40 € |
| 16 | Australia | 100 € | 102 | Cyprus | 50 € |
| 17 | Estonia | 50 € | 103 | Kyrgyzstan | 30 € |
| 18 | Slovakia | 50 € | 104 | Kazakhstan | 30 € |
| 19 | Slovenia | 50 € | 105 | Qatar | 50 € |
| 20 | Afghanistan | 80 € | 106 | Costa Rica | 40 € |
| 21 | Ecuador | 25 € | 107 | Cambodia | 20 € |
| 22 | Algeria | 20 € | 108 | Cameroon | 40 € |
| 23 | El Salvador | 40 € | 109 | Canada | 50 € |
| 24 | UAE | 80 € | 110 | Croatia | 35 € |
| 25 | Indonesia | 20 € | 111 | South Korea | 25 € |
| 26 | England | 180 € | 112 | North Korea | 0 € |
| 27 | Uruguay | 30 € | 113 | Colombia | 80 € |
| 28 | Ukraine | 60 € | 114 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 120 € |
| 29 | Uganda | 70 € | 115 | Kenya | 40 € |
| 30 | Italy | 50 € | 116 | Cuba | 40 € |
| 31 | Republic of Ireland | 50 € | 117 | Comoros | 50 € |
| 32 | Iceland | 50 € | 118 | Kuwait | 40 € |
| 33 | Barbados | 30 € | 119 | Gabon | 55 € |
| 34 | Bahrain | 20 € | 120 | Gambia | 70 € |
| 35 | Brazil | 100 € | 121 | Granada | 40 € |
| 36 | Brunei | 30 € | 122 | Georgia | 0 € |
| 37 | Burundi | 60 € | 123 | Guatemala | 40 € |
| 38 | Belarus | 25 € | 124 | Guyana | 45 € |
| 39 | Belgium | 75 € | 125 | Equatorial Guinea | 30 € |
| 40 | Bulgaria | 75 € | 126 | Guinea-Bissau | 25 € |
| 41 | Belize | 50 € | 127 | Conakry | 45 € |
| 42 | Bangladesh | 40 € | 128 | Laos | 25 € |
| 43 | Benin | 30 € | 129 | Lebanon | 20 € |
| 44 | Bhutan | 30 € | 130 | Latvia | 50 € |
| 45 | Botswana | 60 € | 131 | Lesotho | 40 € |
| 46 | Burkina Faso | 60 € | 132 | Luxembourg | 50 € |
| 47 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 50 € | 133 | Poland | 50 € |
| 48 | Bolivia | 0 € | 134 | Liberia | 25 € |
| 49 | Paraguay | 50 € | 135 | Libya | 20 € |
| 50 | Pakistan | 40 € | 136 | Lithuania | 50 € |
| 51 | Panama | 55 € | 137 | Madagascar | 40 € |
| 52 | Portugal | 75 € | 138 | Macau | 50 € |
| 53 | Peru | 40 € | 139 | Malawi | 45 € |
| 54 | Tajikistan | 20 € | 140 | Malta | 40 € |
| 55 | Tanzania | 40 € | 141 | Maldives | 25 € |
| 56 | Thailand | 45 € | 142 | Malaysia | 5 € |
| 57 | Turkmenistan | 40 € | 143 | Mali | 15 € |
| 58 | Turkey | 0 € | 144 | Hungary | 50 € |
| 59 | Trinidad | 35 € | 145 | Morocco | 20 € |
| 60 | Tobago | 35 € | 146 | Egypt | 20 € |
| 61 | Togo | 35 € | 147 | Mongolia | 45 € |
| 62 | Tunisia | 25 € | 148 | Macedonia (FYROM) | 30 € |
| 63 | Jamaica | 35 € | 149 | Mexico | 30 € |
| 64 | Djibouti | 30 € | 150 | Mauritania | 30 € |
| 65 | Chad | 70 € | 151 | Mauritius | 40 € |
| 66 | Czech Republic | 50 € | 152 | Mozambique | 25 € |
| 67 | China | 85 € | 153 | Moldova | 50 € |
| 68 | Denmark | 50 € | 154 | Montenegro | 30 € |
| 69 | Cape Verde | 30 € | 155 | Myanmar (Burma) | 20 € |
| 70 | Dominican Republic | 50 € | 156 | Namibia | 45 € |
| 71 | Rwanda | 45 € | 157 | Nepal | 25 € |
| 72 | Russia | 40 € | 158 | Norway | 50 € |
| 73 | Romania | 50 € | 159 | Niger | 35 € |
| 74 | Zambia | 50 € | 160 | Nigeria | 40 € |
| 75 | New Zealand | 120 € | 161 | Nicaragua | 20 € |
| 76 | Zimbabwe | 30 € | 162 | New Zealand | – |
| 77 | Japan | 40 € | 163 | Venezuela | 25 € |
| 78 | Côte d’Ivoire | 40 € | 164 | Vietnam | 80 € |
| 79 | Sri Lanka | 25 € | 165 | Haiti | 50 € |
| 80 | Singapore | 50 € | 166 | Netherlands | 50 € |
| 81 | Senegal | 30 € | 167 | India | 30 € |
| 82 | Eswatini | 50 € | 168 | Honduras | 40 € |
| 83 | Sweden | 50 € | 169 | Yemen | 20 € |
| 84 | Switzerland | 50 € | 170 | Greece | 50 € |
| 85 | Sudan | 40 € | 171 | other countries | 40 € |
| 86 | South Sudan | 25 € | 172 |
Practical answers
Iran Visa FAQ
Do I need a visa to travel to Iran?
Most nationalities require a visa to enter Iran with the exception of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Egypt, Georgia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Syria, Turkey, China, and Venezuela.
Is there an American embassy in Iran?
No there isn’t. The Embassy of the United States of America in Tehran was the country’s diplomatic mission in the Imperial State of Iran. After the Iranian revolution in 1979, the embassy was taken by students supporting the revolution due to the role of the United States of America in 1953 Iranian coup d’état. Following these events, diplomatic relations were severed between the two countries. The United States of America doesn’t currently have an embassy in Iran.
What countries do US citizens need a visa to visit?
US citizens require a visa for visiting the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, China, Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Russia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen
They can obtain a visa on arrival for the following countries: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
How many countries can you travel with Iranian passport?
Iranian passport holders can travel to the following countries without any visa: Armenia, Dominica, Ecuador, Malasia, Micronesia, Turkey, and Venezuela. They are also eligible for visa on arrival for the following countries: Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lebanon, Maldives, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Palau, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
How can I get an Iran visa?
Most nationalities are eligible for both visas on arrival and normal visa. It’s best to apply for a visa in advance as the waiting lines for Iran visa on arrival are long. Also, there would be a little chance for rejection on VOA, and in this case, you have to return to your country. You can apply for an Iran visa online – using the official website of the ministry of foreign affairs-, at an Iranian embassy or by a travel agency. If you’re a citizen of the following countries you’re not eligible for VOA and have to apply for a visa in advance: Canada, US, UK(so-called ABC Countries), Colombia, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Somali. Citizens of Canada, the US, and UK are required to apply for a visa in advance and it has to be through a travel agency.
How much is Iran visa fee?
Iran visa fee varies according to the nationality of the applicant. You’ll find the fees listed in Table Above.
Do I need a visa to Iran?
You’ll need a visa for Iran unless you hold the passport of one of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Egypt, Georgia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Syria, Turkey, China, and Venezuela.
Are Americans allowed in Iran?
Of course. Americans are welcome in Iran as much as any other traveler. US citizens (as well as citizens of the UK and Canada) require a visa for traveling to Iran. They are not eligible for a visa on arrival (VOA), and they also are not eligible to apply on their own. American, British and Canadian citizens must apply for a visa through a travel agency with a preplanned and approved Iran travel itinerary and accompanying a registered tour guide.
How long is Iran visa?
Iran tourist visa is normally valid for 3 months and allows travelers to stay for a maximum of 30 days. It can be asked to be extended for another 30 days by a traveler him/herself while he/she is in Iran.
Is Iran visa on arrival?
Most nationalities are eligible for visa on arrival except for Canada, US, UK, Colombia, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Somali.
Can you visit US after Iran?
Since 2018, to get an Iran Travel Visa travelers’ passports won’t be stamped by Iranian Embassies to prevent any further issues.
How much is Iran visa on arrival?
Regardless of how you are going to apply for Iran visa (on arrival or in advance) or where you are going to collect your visa (at an Iranian embassy in your country or upon your arrival in an Iranian airport) Iran visa fees vary according to the nationality of the applicants. Check out the Table Above this page for the complete list of the Iran visa fees.
Can you visit Iran after Israel?
Probably not, if you have recently traveled to Israel You may not be granted an Iran visa with a stamp from Israel in your passport so it’s recommended to change your passport in case it’s stamped in Israel.
Can you get an Iran visa at the airport?
Most nationalities are eligible for getting Iran visa on arrival except for Canada, US, UK, Colombia, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Somali.
Which countries can Iranian go without visa?
Iranian passport holders can travel to the following countries without any visa: Armenia, Dominica, Ecuador, Malasia, Micronesia, Turkey, and Venezuela. They are also eligible for visa on arrival for the following countries: Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lebanon, Maldives, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Palau, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
Ready when you are
Let our local team handle the visa paperwork.
Submit the application form and we’ll review the details before starting the authorization process.