Iran has suspended its visa-waiver facility for ordinary Indian passport holders following a series of kidnapping and job-fraud incidents involving Indian nationals.

The decision, effective November 22, has triggered fresh travel advisories from New Delhi urging citizens to exercise extreme caution.

India’s embassy in Tehran confirmed on Monday that Iran will end its one-way visa-free entry for Indian passport holders starting November 22. From that date, Indian citizens will be required to obtain a valid visa not only to enter Iran but also to transit through Iranian airports.

The advisory cited repeated cases of Indian nationals being lured to Iran with false job offers or with promises of onward travel to third countries, only to be kidnapped for ransom upon arrival.

“The measure is intended to prevent further misuse of the facility by criminal elements,” the embassy said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) echoed this, stressing that airlines must now verify visas before allowing passengers to board flights.

Criminal networks exploiting visa-waiver scheme

Indian authorities highlighted several incidents where people were tricked into travelling to Iran under the now-suspended visa exemption. Once inside the country, many were abducted by groups posing as employment agents or travel facilitators.

In May, three Indian men — Hushanpreet Singh, Jaspal Singh, and Amritpal Singh, all from Punjab — went missing after landing in Tehran. Their families later said they had been kidnapped and held for ransom.

The 3 kidnapped Indian citizens have been safely rescued & are now under the care of the Embassy of 🇮🇳, which is facilitating their early repatriation.We sincerely thank the Government of Iran for their swift and effective efforts in securing their release. @MEAIndia @IRIMFA_EN https://t.co/vFykxuxJub
— India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) June 4, 2025

Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported in early June that the men were rescued in a police operation in Varamin, south of Tehran. The Indian Embassy later confirmed they were “safely rescued” and were being prepared for repatriation.

Fresh travel advisories

The MEA has strongly urged travellers to remain vigilant and avoid agents offering visa-free travel or cheaper transit routes via Iran. It warned Indians to be cautious of fraudulent recruiters and to thoroughly verify any job or travel claims.

Indian media noted that the enforcement of visa requirements may impact travel for tourists, pilgrims visiting Qom and Mashhad, and those who use Iran as a convenient transit hub for Europe and Central Asia.

Iranian embassy confirms suspension on X

Iran’s embassy in New Delhi posted on X that the visa exemption is suspended effective November 22, reiterating that Indian citizens must obtain visas before entering or transiting Iran. No official statement from Iran’s foreign ministry has yet explained the move, though Indian officials linked it directly to the rise in kidnapping and trafficking cases.

https://t.co/4KBe3sQHVM
Advisory on suspension of visa waiver facility extended to Indian nationals traveling to Iran
— Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) November 17, 2025

Iran had originally introduced the visa-free entry policy in February 2024, allowing Indian tourists to enter the country once every six months for up to 15 days.

Impact on travellers and airlines

Under the new rules, all passengers, including those merely passing through Iranian airports, must hold valid visas in advance. Airlines have been instructed to check documentation thoroughly before boarding to prevent passengers from being stranded or denied entry.

The new regulations may significantly affect the travel plans of Indian tourists, pilgrims, and transit passengers who routinely relied on Iran’s open-entry facilities.