Iran ends visa-free entry for Indian citizens from Nov 22
From November 22, Indian nationals with ordinary passports will no longer benefit from visa-free entry or transit through Iran.
The government of Iran has formally suspended the visa-waiver scheme previously applicable to ordinary-passport holders from India, effective 22 November 2025.
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Under the new arrangement, all Indian travellers entering or transiting Iran must obtain a valid visa in advance.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported the change was prompted by several cases involving Indians who were “lured into travelling to Iran under false promises of employment or onward transit” and subsequently faced kidnapping or ransom demands.
The MEA has issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to be vigilant, particularly cautioning against agents offering visa-free access or onward travel via Iran.
Earlier, Iran had offered limited visa-free travel to Indian citizens in an effort to enhance tourism and bilateral cultural ties.
The suspension marks a sharp reversal of that policy and comes amid intensified concerns over cross-border immigration abuse and human-trafficking networks.
The new visa requirement covers both direct visits and those transiting via Iran to third countries, placing additional obligations on airlines and border officials to verify visa status before departure.
As India and Iran have close historical and cultural links, this policy change could affect Indian pilgrim and tourism flows to Iranian sites, as well as transit routes for budget travellers bound for Central Asia.
The shift signals a tightening of Iran’s immigration and visa regime at a time when regional migration pressures and security concerns are rising.
