Late on 18 November 2025, Iran announced that its one-way visa-free entry programme for Indian citizens will end on 22 November, citing a surge in human-trafficking and kidnap cases involving Indian job-seekers. New Delhi’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) immediately urged nationals to “remain vigilant” and avoid agents promising labour transit via Tehran .
Under the change, ordinary Indian passport holders must secure a visa before travelling to or even transiting through Iran. The MEA says organised gangs—some allegedly Pakistani—lured victims with fake Gulf or European job offers, exploited the visa-free entry to Iran and then kidnapped them for ransom. Indian missions in Tehran have rescued several hostages this year.
![Iran Scraps Visa-Free Entry for Indians; MEA Issues Advisory]()
For travel-risk managers the implications are clear: remove Iran from approved layover lists for Indian employees without valid visas, and brief assignees in the Gulf on the scam. Logistics firms that use Iranian ports for crew changes should revisit schedules; visa issuance times are expected to jump as Tehran processes a new class of travellers.
The episode underscores a wider regional pattern: Gulf states and neighbouring countries have tightened controls on informal labour mobility after a spike in trafficking cases post-pandemic. Corporates should audit recruitment supply chains to ensure third-party agents are licensed and transparent.
Under the change, ordinary Indian passport holders must secure a visa before travelling to or even transiting through Iran. The MEA says organised gangs—some allegedly Pakistani—lured victims with fake Gulf or European job offers, exploited the visa-free entry to Iran and then kidnapped them for ransom. Indian missions in Tehran have rescued several hostages this year.
For travel-risk managers the implications are clear: remove Iran from approved layover lists for Indian employees without valid visas, and brief assignees in the Gulf on the scam. Logistics firms that use Iranian ports for crew changes should revisit schedules; visa issuance times are expected to jump as Tehran processes a new class of travellers.
The episode underscores a wider regional pattern: Gulf states and neighbouring countries have tightened controls on informal labour mobility after a spike in trafficking cases post-pandemic. Corporates should audit recruitment supply chains to ensure third-party agents are licensed and transparent.
