Iran has halted its visa-free entry facility for ordinary Indian passport holders following a series of alarming incidents in which Indian citizens were lured into the country under false pretences and subsequently kidnapped for ransom. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the suspension on Monday, noting that the decision—effective November 22, 2025—was aimed at preventing criminal networks from exploiting the system.

According to the MEA, several Indian nationals were tricked into travelling to Iran by agents offering fake job opportunities or promising onward transit to third countries. These individuals were encouraged to take advantage of Iran’s visa-waiver scheme, which allowed Indians to enter the country without prior documentation for tourism. Once they arrived, many were abducted by criminal gangs that demanded steep ransoms from their families in India.

The MEA’s statement highlighted an increasing pattern of exploitation. Criminal entities, the ministry said, had been “misusing the visa waiver facility” to entice unsuspecting Indians, creating a lucrative pipeline for trafficking and extortion. “From November 22, Indian nationals with ordinary passports will be required to obtain a visa to enter or transit through Iran,” the ministry clarified.

The government has also issued a fresh advisory urging Indians to remain vigilant and avoid agents who promise visa-free travel, job placements, or transit through Iran. This advisory follows another warning issued in September when similar kidnapping cases were brought to the government’s attention.

The MEA emphasized that visa-free entry to Iran was permitted strictly for tourism. Any agent claiming to arrange jobs, onward migration, or other opportunities under the visa-waiver programme “may well be in connivance with criminal gangs,” the ministry warned. Citizens were urged to exercise “the strictest vigilance” and to reject such offers outright.

The recent spate of kidnappings underscores the growing sophistication and reach of international trafficking networks. Just a month ago, four residents of Gujarat—Ajaykumar Chaudhary, Priyaben Chaudhary, Anilkumar Chaudhary and Nikhilkumar Chaudhary—returned home after a harrowing ordeal in Tehran. They had travelled to Iran through Bangkok and Dubai, assisted by a third-party agent who promised them covert passage to Australia through a network of handlers spread across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Upon landing at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, the group was abducted. The kidnappers assaulted two of them and circulated a video of the attack to their families, demanding a ransom of nearly ₹2 crore. The families sought the help of their village sarpanch, who escalated the matter to the local MLA, Jayantibhai Somabhai Patel of Mansa. Patel then reached out to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel, deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Union home minister Amit Shah. Swift coordination between Indian and Iranian authorities ultimately secured the victims’ release.

Cases like this have become increasingly common, prompting the MEA to adopt a firmer stance. Officials stress that most victims are young job-seekers who fall prey to traffickers posing as recruitment agents. These networks, often operating across multiple countries, take advantage of economic vulnerabilities and the allure of overseas employment.

The visa-free entry facility had been viewed as a gesture of goodwill between the two nations, intended to boost tourism and people-to-people ties. However, its misuse by organised crime groups has forced Iran to reconsider its continuation for Indian citizens. For now, Indian travellers will need to apply for a visa through formal channels, allowing both governments greater oversight of who enters the country and for what purpose.

The MEA reiterated its call for caution: “Indian citizens are therefore advised not to fall prey to such offers.” It added that the safety of Indian nationals abroad remains a priority and that the government is working closely with foreign authorities to combat such transnational crimes.

The suspension marks a significant shift in India-Iran travel policy and serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of unregulated migration routes. As investigations continue and more victims come forward, both governments are expected to strengthen safeguards to prevent further exploitation and ensure that no Indian citizen travels abroad under false promises of employment or transit.