‘Remain vigilant’: MEA’s advisory for Indians as Iran suspends visa-waiver; cites kidnapping risks | India News

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday issued a travel advisory after Iran suspended its visa-waiver facility for ordinary Indian passport holders. The suspension takes effect on November 22, 2025, from when Indian nationals will be required to obtain a visa to enter or transit through Iran.The move follows multiple incidents in which Indian nationals were allegedly lured to Iran on false job promises or assurances of onward travel to other countries.According to the MEA, several Indian nationals were deceived with fake job offers or promises of onward travel to third countries and were encouraged to use Iran’s visa-free entry to make the journey. Once they arrived, many were reportedly kidnapped for ransom.“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. These individuals were tricked into journeying to Iran by taking advantage of the visa waiver facility available for ordinary Indian passport holders. On arrival in Iran, many of them were kidnapped for ransom,” the MEA said through a statement. In response, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has halted the visa-free entry provision to prevent further misuse.The MEA has strongly advised Indians planning to travel to Iran to “remain vigilant” and to avoid any agents offering visa-free entry or transit arrangements via Iran.Earlier this year, a 26-year-old man from Karala in northwest Delhi was reportedly kidnapped and held in Iran. The victim, Himanshu Mathur, was detained for a week and released after his family paid a ransom of Rs 20 lakh.Mathur was reportedly kidnapped and held in Iran after being lured with promises of a job and Australian work visa. He initially contacted Aman Rathi, who convinced him to complete a 15-day course in Noida and later arranged for him to travel to Jakarta and then Tehran. Instead of proceeding to Australia, Mathur and Rathi were abducted in Chabahar and held by a gang.In a separate case, a young man from Amritsar, who had hoped to move to the United Kingdom, reportedly fell victim to an international visa scam and was held hostage in Iran. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh for his release. Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Granthgarh village in Ajnala Tehsil, had travelled to Iran on September 14, believing a UK visa would be arranged for him from there.