By Desmond Nleya
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued an urgent advisory after Iran announced the suspension of its visa-free entry facility for ordinary Indian passport holders, effective November 22, 2025. The decision comes in response to a surge in human-trafficking incidents, fraudulent job schemes, and kidnapping cases involving Indian nationals.
Iran had initially introduced visa-free access for Indian tourists in February 2024 to boost cultural and heritage tourism to cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, Qom, and Mashhad, and to support low-budget travellers using Iran as a transit hub for Central Asia and Europe. However, Iranian authorities have now withdrawn the facility following growing evidence of the system being abused.
According to reports, several Indians — especially youths from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh — were misled by unauthorised recruitment agents who falsely promised lucrative jobs abroad. Many were told that Iran would only serve as a transit point en route to Europe, Australia, or Central Asia, but instead found themselves trapped in trafficking networks. Some victims were kidnapped upon arrival, with ransom demands reaching up to ₹1 crore, triggering urgent diplomatic interventions.
What the suspension means
Visa-free entry for Indian nationals ends on November 22, 2025
Applies to both entry and transit — visas now mandatory even for stopovers
Airlines instructed to verify visas before boarding
Violators risk being offloaded, detained, or deported at their own expense
The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi confirmed the decision via an official statement on X, noting the halt of the one-way tourist visa cancellation arrangement for ordinary Indian passport holders.
The MEA has urged Indian citizens to exercise extreme caution and avoid unregistered or illegal travel agents offering overseas job placements or visa-free routes through Iran. Recent rescue cases and rising criminal activity have prompted the government to issue a strong warning against using unofficial channels for foreign employment.
“All Indian nationals intending to visit Iran are strongly advised to remain vigilant and avoid agents offering visa-free travel or onward transit to third countries via Iran,” the advisory states.
