Iran Revokes Visa-Free Access for Indians Amid Safety Concerns

• Written by Yash

  Reviewed by Anjali Sharma

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Iran has suspended its visa-free entry facility for Indian nationals, a policy introduced less than two years ago to boost tourism. The suspension, effective 22 November 2025, applies to all Indian travellers, including those entering or transiting through Iranian airports.

The change comes after Iranian authorities flagged significant misuse of the visa-waiver program, particularly by criminal networks involved in trafficking and fraudulent job operations. Officials have reported a surge in cases where Indian citizens were lured to Iran with promises of employment or onward passage to other countries. Many of these individuals were subsequently kidnapped, with traffickers allegedly demanding ransom from families back home.

Iran’s 2024 Visa-Free Tourism Policy

In February 2024, Iran introduced a visa-free entry policy for ordinary Indian passport holders to boost tourism and strengthen bilateral travel. Under this initiative, Indian travellers were allowed to visit Iran without a visa for up to 15 days, strictly for tourism purposes. The policy applied to single-entry visits only and did not permit employment, long-term stays, or repeated back-to-back entries.

The visa exemption helped increase tourist inflow and positioned Iran as a more accessible destination for Indian travellers. However, over time, authorities observed a rise in misuse of the facility, including illegal job-related travel and trafficking activities. These concerns ultimately led Iran to suspend the policy in November 2025.

India’s MEA Issues Advisory for Travellers

Following Iran’s announcement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a cautionary advisory urging citizens to avoid falling prey to unauthorised agents promising visa-free travel or job opportunities in Iran. The MEA emphasised that the earlier visa exemption was never intended for employment-related travel and warned of rising incidents involving Indian nationals trapped in scam operations.

The suspension is expected to affect both tourism and air transit, with travellers now required to obtain a valid visa before departure. Airlines operating via Iranian hubs will need to strengthen document checks to prevent the boarding of inadmissible passengers.

While the Iranian government maintains that the move is essential to prevent further misuse of the facility, the decision underscores growing concerns over transnational trafficking networks targeting Indian workers in West Asia.