Fake Job Offers, Abduction, Ransom: Why Iran Blocked Visa-Free Travel Privilege For Indians | World News
Earlier this year in May, three men from Punjab who were trying to travel to Australia illegally were kidnapped in Iran.
Visa-Free Travel: Indians will not be able to enter Iran without a visa from November 22 as Tehran has decided to suspend the visa-free travel facility following a rise in cases of fraud and human trafficking. The visa waiver, introduced in February 2024, was intended to boost tourism, but numerous incidents of deception and crime led Iranian authorities to reverse this policy.
“Implementation of one-way tourist visa cancellation regulations for Indian citizens holding regular passports in the Islamic Republic of Iran has been suspended as of 22 November 2025,” Iran’s embassy in India said in a statement.
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The statement also stated, “From this date, Indian citizens holding ordinary passports will need to obtain a visa to enter or transit through the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Iran’s Tourism Attraction
Iran had offered Indians special visa-free entry for tourism, valid for 15 days every six months. The policy excluded employment opportunities. With its historical cities such as Isfahan and Shiraz, pilgrimage centers such as Qom and Mashhad, vast desert landscapes and ruins of the ancient Silk Road, Iran is one of the popular destinations for Indian travelers.
The country also serves as a major transit hub for budget travelers heading to Europe or Central Asia.
India Responds
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement, said the government had been alerted to numerous cases of Indian nationals being diverted to Iran with fake employment offers or promises of travel to third countries.
“Individuals were tricked into traveling to Iran by taking advantage of the visa exemption facility offered to ordinary Indian passport holders. On arrival in Iran, many were kidnapped for ransom,” the ministry said.
The MEA confirmed that in light of these cases, Tehran has decided to suspend visa exemption for ordinary Indian passport holders.
“The purpose of this measure is to prevent further misuse of the facility by criminal elements. From this date, Indian citizens holding ordinary passports will be required to obtain a visa to enter or transit through Iran.”
Travelers are also advised to be careful and avoid agencies offering visa-free travel or transit through Iran.
Fraud and Hijacking Cases
The suspension follows the high-profile incident in May when three men from Punjab – Hushanpreet Singh from Sangrur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur – were kidnapped in Iran. The trio had attempted to reach Australia via an illegal route and had been assured by a Punjab-based agent that they would stay in Iran before proceeding to Dubai.
The men were reportedly kidnapped after landing in the country on May 1, and the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 1 million rupees, according to their families. The three were later rescued after India intervened with Iranian officials.
In September, the Indian government warned its citizens looking for work in Iran to take the “strictest measures” due to the increasing number of fake job offers.
