Iran Suspends Visa Exemption for Indian Tourists

Iran has suspended its visa exemption rules for Indian tourists, saying travelers from the country must obtain visas in advance for both entry and transit.

The Iranian embassy in New Delhi said in a post on its X account on Monday that the suspension of visa exemption for Indian tourists will take effect on November 22.

“The implementation of the one-way tourist visa cancellation regulations for Indian nationals holding ordinary passports, in the Islamic Republic of Iran has been suspended,” said the post.

“Indian nationals with ordinary passports will be required to obtain a visa to enter or transit through the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it said.

Iran announced in February 2024 that Indian tourists could enter the country’s air borders without a visa once every six months, with a maximum stay of 15 days and no possibility for extension.

Reports in Indian news websites said the new visa requirement is expected to affect travel plans for a large number of Indians visiting Iran’s tourist sites, especially pilgrims travelling to the cities of Qom and Mashhad.

Iran has also been a convenient transit hub for Indians heading to Europe or Central Asia as well as for Shia pilgrims from Indian-administered Kashmir seeking to visit holy cities in Iraq.

There has been no official comment from the Iranian foreign ministry authorities on the reasons behind the suspension of the visa exemption.

However, Indian sources said Iran has suspended the exemption following recent incidents in which people were lured to Iran with false promises of employment and then taken onward to a third country. - Press TV