Iran ended unilateral visa-free entry for Indian citizens from November 22, 2025 as Iran alleged that India grossly misused this facility.
The increasing criminal activities of Indian citizens, fake job scams and incidents like kidnapping for ransom had jeopardized the security of not only Iran but also the entire region, which led to Iran taking this decision.
According to the Iranian government, India grossly misused the visa-free facility. Indian citizens used to reach Iran through fake agents, then criminal groups there used them for illegal activities, smuggling, money laundering and in some cases even terrorist networks. Several Indian nationals also tried to enter Iran illegally spread instability within the country.
Attacks on Iranian interests in India, social media propaganda campaigns and anti-Iranian Indian narratives have also damaged the relations between the two countries. Iran has clearly said that the “suspicious activities” of Indian citizens forced them to take this step.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has issued a new advisory in panic, admitting that several Indian citizens have reached Iran on false promises of employment and then been kidnapped there. According to the Indian government, such incidents had increased to such an extent that Iran was forced to end the visa-free facility. This was the same facility that Iran had kept specifically for India in the name of “friendship”, but Delhi misused it so much that now the entire door has been closed.
Under Iran’s new rules, any Indian citizen must obtain a visa to enter Iran or even just for transit. Airlines have been strictly ordered not to allow any Indian to board without a visa. There are also demands for a crackdown on fake Indian agents who used to send Indians to Iran by deception.
Iran’s decision has sent a message to the world that India is now being considered a “high-risk country” for travel. Thousands of Indians used to visit Iran every year in the name of tourism, but increasing crime, suspicious activities of Indian gangs and incidents of human trafficking have forced the Iranian authorities to take strict measures.
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