For now, the MEA’s message is clear: Indian travellers should avoid risky intermediaries and ensure they have proper documentation before heading to Iran
Iran’s decision to halt visa-free entry for ordinary Indian passport holders marks a significant shift in a policy that had been in place for less than a year.
The suspension, effective November 22, follows a series of alarming incidents involving Indian citizens who were lured to Iran with fraudulent job opportunities and misleading promises of transit to third countries. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), these individuals were targeted by organised criminal networks exploiting the visa waiver system, which Iran originally introduced in February 2024 to boost tourism.
The visa-free facility allowed Indians to visit Iran for tourism for up to 15 days once every six months. Despite repeated advisories from the MEA stressing that the exemption was strictly for tourism and not applicable for employment or transit purposes, traffickers and fake recruitment agents used the waiver to send jobseekers into Iran under false pretences. Many of these unsuspecting travellers were kidnapped upon arrival and held for ransom, with families in India receiving extortion demands.
The episode also serves as a stark reminder of how travel privileges can be manipulated by criminal networks—and how quickly governments may recalibrate policies when citizen safety is at stake
In its statement, the MEA noted that criminals “took advantage” of the visa waiver, and the resulting security risk prompted Iran to withdraw the facility for Indian visitors. Now, all Indian nationals must obtain a visa prior to entering or transiting Iran. The ministry said the measure aims to “prevent further misuse” and protect vulnerable travellers from exploitation.
India has been cautioning citizens for months. In September, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the rising number of Indians deceived by overseas job agents and ending up in perilous situations. Several kidnapping cases, he said, underscored the urgency of avoiding employment-based travel to Iran.
The suspension is expected to affect travel plans for Indian tourists, businesses, and pilgrims who had benefited from simplified entry. Travel agencies have begun updating customers about visa requirements, while authorities urge the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious recruitment offers.
