Earlier this 12 months in Might, three males from Punjab, who had tried to journey to Australia through an unlawful route, have been kidnapped in Iran.
Visa-free Journey: Beginning November 22, Indians will not have the ability to enter Iran and not using a visa as Tehran has determined to droop the visa-free facility following a surge in fraud and human trafficking instances. Launched in February 2024, the visa waiver had been aimed toward boosting tourism, however a number of incidents of deception and crime prompted Iranian authorities to reverse the coverage.
“The implementation of the one-way vacationer visa cancellation rules for Indian nationals holding unusual passports within the Islamic Republic of Iran has been suspended as of twenty second November 2025,” the Iranian embassy in India introduced on X.
“From this date, Indian nationals with unusual passports can be required to acquire a visa to enter or transit by the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it additional acknowledged.
Tourism Attraction Of Iran
Legitimate for 15 days as soon as each six months, Iran had supplied visa-free entry to Indians solely for tourism. The coverage excluded employment alternatives. With its historic cities like Isfahan and Shiraz, pilgrimage centres comparable to Qom and Mashhad, huge desert landscapes, and remnants of the traditional Silk Highway, Iran is a well-liked vacation spot for Indian travellers.
The nation additionally serves as a key transit hub for price range travellers heading to Europe or Central Asia.
India Responds
The Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) stated in an announcement that the federal government had been alerted to a number of instances during which Indian nationals have been lured to Iran on false employment affords or guarantees of onward journey to 3rd nations.
“People have been tricked into journeying to Iran by benefiting from the visa waiver facility out there for unusual Indian passport holders. On arrival in Iran, a lot of them have been kidnapped for ransom,” the ministry stated.
The MEA confirmed that, in mild of those instances, Tehran had determined to droop the visa waiver for unusual Indian passport holders.
“This measure is meant to forestall additional misuse of the power by felony parts. From this date, Indian nationals with unusual passports can be required to acquire a visa to enter or transit by Iran,” it added.
It additionally suggested travellers to stay vigilant and keep away from brokers providing visa-free journey or onward transit by Iran.
Fraud And Kidnapping Circumstances
The suspension comes after a high-profile incident in Might, when three males from Punjab (Hushanpreet Singh of Sangrur, Jaspal Singh of SBS Nagar and Amritpal Singh of Hoshiarpur) have been kidnapped in Iran. The trio had tried to succeed in Australia through an unlawful route and have been assured by a Punjab-based agent that they’d obtain lodging in Iran earlier than shifting onward by Dubai.
After touchdown within the nation on Might 1, the lads have been reportedly kidnapped, and the abductors demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore, in line with their households. The three have been later rescued following India’s intervention with Iranian authorities.
In September, the Indian authorities had additionally issued a warning to its residents searching for employment in Iran, urging them to train the “strictest vigilance” as a consequence of rising situations of faux job affords.