Iran has officially ended visa-free entry for Indian nationals holding ordinary passports, with the new rule taking effect from November 22.

The suspension also applies to airport transit, meaning Indians must now secure a valid visa before boarding any flight to or through Iran.

According to reports citing Iran’s interior authorities, the decision follows mounting concerns over the misuse of visa-free access by criminal networks, particularly those involved in trafficking, job fraud, and exploitation of vulnerable travellers.

Indian officials said Tehran’s move aligns with repeated warnings issued by New Delhi about illicit recruitment schemes targeting Indian citizens.

In a fresh advisory issued on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it had been alerted to multiple incidents of Indians being deceived into travelling to Iran with promises of high-paying jobs, easy transit to Gulf or European nations, and visa-free employment opportunities.

Instead, many of them ended up being kidnapped for ransom by organised criminal gangs upon arrival.

“The attention of the Government has been drawn to several incidents of Indian nationals being lured to Iran on false promises of employment… On arrival in Iran, many of them were kidnapped for ransom,” the MEA stated.

It warned that the now-suspended visa waiver had been “exploited by agents who prey on vulnerable job seekers.”

This latest warning comes barely a month after a similar advisory cautioning Indians against fraudulent recruitment agents sending people to Iran under the guise of employment.

The MEA once again stressed that visa-free access never applied to work opportunities, and that employment-related travel must follow authorised emigration channels.

The ministry reiterated specific precautions for Indian nationals:

  • Avoid any agent promising visa-free entry
  • Do not trust offers of overseas transit routed through Iran
  • Verify employment offers through official government platforms
  • Apply for visas only through authorised, government-approved procedures

Authorities added that even Indian tourists must strictly comply with the updated visa regime and plan applications well in advance.

Airlines operating routes to Iran have been instructed to check visa status at check-in, and passengers without a valid visa will be denied boarding.

Iran had initially introduced visa-free access to boost Asian tourism, but security concerns and increasing cases of exploitation have prompted a policy reversal.

The MEA said it is monitoring the situation closely and will update travel advisories as required.