Iran cancels visa-free entry for India after surge in crimes

The Iranian government has announced the cancellation of its visa-free regime with India starting November 22.

Indian nationals will now be required to obtain a visa both for entry into Iran and for transit, Caliber.Az reports, citing Indian media.

The decision follows a rise in crimes targeting Indian nationals.

Iran had introduced a visa waiver for Indians in February 2024, aiming to boost tourism.

However, since then, several incidents have been reported where Indians were lured to the Islamic Republic on false promises of employment or with assurances of transit to other countries, prompting Tehran's move.

All airlines must now verify that passengers travelling to Iran, including transit passengers, hold valid visas.

In May, three men from Punjab who had attempted to reach Australia through an illegal route were abducted in Iran. An agent in Punjab had promised to send Hushanpreet Singh (Sangrur), Jaspal Singh (SBS Nagar) and Amritpal Singh (Hoshiarpur) to Australia via the Dubai–Iran corridor, assuring them they would be accommodated safely in Iran.

But shortly after arriving on 1 May, they were kidnapped. The three were eventually freed after India appealed to Iranian authorities to step in.

Iran’s visa-free entry for Indians applied exclusively to tourism, allowing a 15-day stay once every six months and excluding any form of employment.

With heritage centres such as Isfahan and Shiraz, pilgrimage sites like Qom and Mashhad, and its desert landscapes and historic Silk Road routes, Iran has remained a popular destination among Indian travellers.

By Jeyhun Aghazada