Urgent travel advisory: Indians lose Iran's visa-free entry from November 22 — here’s why

Dubai: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong advisory to Indian citizens after Iran suspended its visa-free entry facility for ordinary Indian passport holders, following a disturbing rise in human trafficking, fraudulent employment rackets and kidnapping incidents involving Indian nationals.

Iran had introduced the visa-free entry for Indians in February 2024, intended purely for tourism and short visits to heritage-rich locations such as Isfahan, Shiraz, Qom, Mashhad, and desert travel circuits connected to the ancient Silk Route. The measure also boosted traffic from budget travellers using Iran as a transit stopover for Central Asia and parts of Europe.

However, according to Indian reports, Iranian authorities decided to suspend the facility starting November 22, 2025, after noticing a pattern of criminal misuse.

Several Indians — particularly youth from states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh — were allegedly lured by unauthorised recruitment agents with fake promises of lucrative jobs abroad. Many were assured that Iran would only be a transit point on their way to Europe, Australia, or Central Asia, but instead fell into organised trafficking chains.

• Key highlights

• Visa-free entry for Indians to Iran suspended from November 22, 2025

• Applicable for both entry and transit — visa now mandatory

• Move follows multiple cases of fraud, kidnapping and trafficking

• Fraudulent agents promised jobs and onward travel to third countries

• Victims often kidnapped on arrival; ransom demanded from families

• Visa waiver was meant only for tourism — max 15 days, once in 6 months

• Airlines instructed to verify visa status before boarding

• MEA warns citizens to avoid unauthorised travel agents

• Recent rescue cases triggered diplomatic concern

• Government urges highest caution regarding overseas job offers

The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi, through an official announcement posted on X (formerly Twitter), said: “The implementation of the one-way tourist visa cancellation regulations for Indian nationals holding ordinary passports in the Islamic Republic of Iran has been suspended as of 22nd November 2025.”

The change applies to both entry and transit, meaning travellers cannot even fly via Iran without a valid visa.

Instructions to airlines

A report stressed that the move impacts travellers, airlines and travel agents alike. Airlines have now been formally instructed to verify visa compliance at departure airports, failing which passengers may be denied boarding, detained on arrival, or sent back at their own cost.

The outlet further highlights that this marks a major shift in bilateral travel openness, especially when cultural and religious tourism between both sides has historically remained high.

Meanwhile, ANI reports that MEA’s advisory is firmly worded, noting multiple recent kidnappings, especially cases where ransom demands up to Rs10 million were made to families in India.

Underworld networks allegedly work alongside illegal agents in India and brokers active in Iran. In one incident, three Punjabi youths, who travelled through an illegal route towards Australia, were kidnapped soon after reaching Iran, before being rescued after urgent diplomatic intervention.

MEA also warned that tourism-only visa-free access never permitted employment, and Indians must avoid agents promising overseas jobs through unofficial channels.

The Government has reiterated that:  “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.”