A 38-hour detention of Indian travel influencer Sachin Awasthi and his wife at South Korea’s Jeju Island immigration counter has ignited debate over the limits of visa-free access for Indian passport holders. Visa consultant Priyesh Sharma told the Times of India that “even celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan have been held—host countries care about paperwork, not follower counts.”(timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Jeju operates a unique visa-waiver programme separate from mainland Korea, allowing Indians to enter only on direct international flights or cruises. The couple reportedly arrived via Seoul, triggering refusal and confinement in an air-side holding room. South Korean officials have not commented, but the incident underscores that special economic or tourism zones often apply stricter onward-travel rules than travellers realise.
For Indian citizens trying to decode these patchwork rules, VisaHQ can be a lifesaver: its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) tracks real-time entry policies—including quirks of special zones—and provides documentation checks and application processing so travellers avoid last-minute detentions.
![Jeju Detention Incident Sparks Warnings on Visa-Free ‘Special Zones’ for Indian Passports]()
Sharma advises Indians to research ‘special-status’ territories—from Hong Kong’s Pre-Arrival Registration to Jordan’s Aqaba Special Zone—where exemptions differ from national norms. Corporate travel heads echo the warning, noting that missteps can lead to missed client meetings and reputational harm.
The episode also revives discussion on the Indian passport’s relatively low mobility ranking (85th in the 2026 Henley Index). While outbound numbers are soaring, Indians remain subject to pre-departure vetting or arrival questioning in many destinations, a reality mobility managers must factor into risk assessments.
Practical tips include double-checking flight routings that bypass mainland hubs, carrying printed proof of onward tickets and accommodation, and maintaining emergency contacts at India’s overseas missions.
Jeju operates a unique visa-waiver programme separate from mainland Korea, allowing Indians to enter only on direct international flights or cruises. The couple reportedly arrived via Seoul, triggering refusal and confinement in an air-side holding room. South Korean officials have not commented, but the incident underscores that special economic or tourism zones often apply stricter onward-travel rules than travellers realise.
For Indian citizens trying to decode these patchwork rules, VisaHQ can be a lifesaver: its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) tracks real-time entry policies—including quirks of special zones—and provides documentation checks and application processing so travellers avoid last-minute detentions.
Sharma advises Indians to research ‘special-status’ territories—from Hong Kong’s Pre-Arrival Registration to Jordan’s Aqaba Special Zone—where exemptions differ from national norms. Corporate travel heads echo the warning, noting that missteps can lead to missed client meetings and reputational harm.
The episode also revives discussion on the Indian passport’s relatively low mobility ranking (85th in the 2026 Henley Index). While outbound numbers are soaring, Indians remain subject to pre-departure vetting or arrival questioning in many destinations, a reality mobility managers must factor into risk assessments.
Practical tips include double-checking flight routings that bypass mainland hubs, carrying printed proof of onward tickets and accommodation, and maintaining emergency contacts at India’s overseas missions.
