Iran Suspends Visa-Free Entry for Indian Passport Holders
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an urgent travel advisory on Friday after Iran officially suspended its visa-waiver facility for ordinary Indian passport holders. This significant policy change will take effect on November 22, 2025, after which all Indian nationals must obtain proper visas before entering or transiting through Iranian territory.
Multiple Kidnapping Cases Prompt Policy Change
The suspension comes as a direct response to numerous incidents where Indian citizens were allegedly lured to Iran through deceptive employment opportunities or false promises of onward travel to other countries. According to official MEA statements, several Indian nationals fell victim to sophisticated scams where they were encouraged to exploit Iran's previously available visa-free entry facility.
The attention of Government has been drawn to several incidents of Indian nationals being lured to Iran on false promises of employment or with assurances of onward transit to third countries, the MEA declared in an official statement. These individuals were systematically tricked into traveling to Iran by taking advantage of the visa waiver provision, only to face kidnapping and ransom demands upon arrival.
Real Victims, Real Stories: The Human Cost
The advisory follows specific, documented cases that highlight the severity of the situation. In one particularly disturbing incident, Himanshu Mathur, a 26-year-old man from northwest Delhi's Karala area, was kidnapped and held captive in Iran for an entire week. His family was forced to pay a ransom of Rs 20 lakh to secure his release.
Mathur's ordeal began when he was contacted by Aman Rathi, who convinced him of a job opportunity and an Australian work visa. After completing a 15-day course in Noida, Mathur traveled to Jakarta and then Tehran as arranged. Instead of continuing to Australia as promised, both Mathur and Rathi were abducted in Chabahar and held by a criminal gang.
In a separate case that underscores the widespread nature of these scams, Gurpreet Singh from Granthgarh village in Amritsar's Ajnala Tehsil became another victim. Singh traveled to Iran on September 14 believing that a UK visa would be arranged for him from there. He was subsequently taken hostage, with his kidnappers demanding a massive Rs 50 lakh ransom for his safe return.
Government Response and Travel Advisory
In response to these alarming patterns, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken the decisive step of halting the visa-free entry provision to prevent further misuse of their immigration system.
The MEA has strongly advised all Indian citizens planning to travel to Iran to remain extremely vigilant and strictly avoid any agents or middlemen offering visa-free entry or transit arrangements through Iranian territory. The ministry emphasizes that proper visa procedures must be followed to ensure traveler safety.
This advisory serves as a crucial warning to Indian travelers about the real dangers of falling prey to international visa and employment scams that exploit loopholes in immigration policies.
