Indians to lose out on Iran's visa-free entry

SUSPENSION TO START FROM NOV 22 DUE TO RISE IN CRIMINAL MISUSE

- BY STEPHEN N. R.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong advisory to Indian citizens after Iran suspended its visa-free entry facility for ordinary Indian passport holders, following a disturbing rise in human trafficking, fraudulent employment rackets and kidnapping incidents involving Indian nationals.

Iran had introduced the visa-free entry for Indians in February 2024, intended purely for tourism and short visits to heritage-rich locations such as Isfahan, Shiraz, Qom, Mashhad, and desert travel circuits connected to the ancient Silk Route. The measure also boosted traffic from budget travellers using Iran as a transit stopover for Central Asia and parts of Europe.