So with my trip to Iran being less than 50 days away, I thought it was about time I stopped procrastinating and get my visa sorted before it was too late. As an Australian, it is possible to get your visa on arrival at the airport however it costs almost double what the e-visa costs.

I had already completed the Letter of Invitation component so I just needed to complete the A2 form and include the payment for processing before sending it to the Iran Embassy in Canberra. As a single entry Australian tourist it is costing me $166. This can be sent either through money order or bank cheque. It’s been a while since I have had to use either one so I had to do my investigations.

I ended up going with the Money Order which you can purchase from Australia Post. There was no need for an appointment and does not take long at all. You must make sure you have the name correct that you are making it out to. Double and triple check this as you don’t want to balls it up. The post office is convenient to my home yet the main reason I went with the money order was the cost. At Australia Post, it is $9.95. You can pay via Eftpos and don’t necessarily need cash like I first thought. I posted my visa application and money order immediately and Bob’s your uncle.

Bank Cheques vary in price and you usually have to be a bank customer. Westpac and ANZ banks will charge $10 whilst the Commonwealth Bank charge $15 for a bank cheque. It is worth asking around first to save dollars. If you know someone who works for a bank or you yourself do, you can save your money, as employees can usually get them for free as part of their employment perks.

It also depends on how much money you need to send. If you need to send a significant amount you are best going for a bank cheque as they can be made out for larger amounts. Money orders have a maximum amount of $5000.

If the money order happens to be lost or destroyed, you can take your receipt back to the Post Office and a replacement can be issued.

So it's up to you. You just have to weigh up your options whether it be time, money or convenience is a priority to you. For me, the money order was a lot less hassle and expensive than a bank cheque.

What’s your experience with money orders and bank cheques? Feel free to leave your comments below…