Iran Suspends Visa-Free Entry for Indians Amid Rise in Kidnappings and Ransom Demands
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Iran has abruptly ended its visa waiver program for Indian citizens, effective November 22. The decision comes after a surge in cases where Indians were lured to the country with false job offers or promises of onward transit to other nations. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), several Indian nationals were tricked into traveling to Iran, only to be kidnapped for ransom upon arrival. The MEA had previously warned citizens that the visa-free entry was exclusively for tourism purposes, valid for 15 days every six months, and did not cover employment. Criminals, often in collusion with unscrupulous agents, exploited the visa waiver facility by promising Indians fake job opportunities. The MEA stated that Iran suspended the visa waiver program to prevent further misuse by these criminal elements. Indian travelers are advised to remain vigilant and avoid agents offering visa-free travel or onward transit to third countries via Iran. The MEA had issued a warning in September about the risks of traveling to Iran for employment purposes, highlighting several cases of Indian nationals being kidnapped and held for ransom.
