Hours after the first reports of US-Israel strikes on Iranian targets, India’s Ministry of External Affairs quietly updated its travel advisory, urging all Indian nationals to “consider leaving Iran at the earliest opportunity” and avoid all non-essential travel. The guidance followed similar notices from Italy, Germany and China, and reflects growing concern that commercial links could be choked if the conflict widens. The advisory is significant for global-mobility teams because more than 8,000 Indian specialists—mainly in petro-chemicals, port operations and infrastructure—are currently on assignment in Iran. Large EPC contractors such as L&T and Afcons told clients they had activated evacuation protocols and charter options via Muscat and Doha if scheduled flights halt. Risk consultants warn that exit routes could narrow quickly.
![India urges citizens to leave Iran as US-Israel strikes raise security risks]()
At this juncture, many mobility managers are turning to third-party visa specialists for real-time guidance. VisaHQ, for instance, offers up-to-the-minute intelligence on exit permits from Iran, alternative transit visas and emergency paperwork for redeploying staff; its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can streamline applications digitally and coordinate courier pick-ups, cutting precious days off evacuation timelines.
Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International handled only half its normal traffic on 28 February, while insurers began re-pricing war-risk premiums for flights transiting the Tehran and Baghdad FIRs. Project managers with Indian staff in Iran have been advised to map exit corridors via Armenia and Azerbaijan as back-ups. For businesses, the recall may stall India-linked projects such as the Chabahar Port expansion, already delayed by US sanctions. HR directors should prepare for temporary redeployment of affected talent to the UAE, where remote-work visas can be processed in 48 hours. In the short term, assignment costs will spike due to emergency fares and accommodation, but companies that act quickly can mitigate legal exposure under India’s Duty-of-Care norms, which were strengthened after the 2020 Gulf evacuations.
At this juncture, many mobility managers are turning to third-party visa specialists for real-time guidance. VisaHQ, for instance, offers up-to-the-minute intelligence on exit permits from Iran, alternative transit visas and emergency paperwork for redeploying staff; its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can streamline applications digitally and coordinate courier pick-ups, cutting precious days off evacuation timelines.
Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International handled only half its normal traffic on 28 February, while insurers began re-pricing war-risk premiums for flights transiting the Tehran and Baghdad FIRs. Project managers with Indian staff in Iran have been advised to map exit corridors via Armenia and Azerbaijan as back-ups. For businesses, the recall may stall India-linked projects such as the Chabahar Port expansion, already delayed by US sanctions. HR directors should prepare for temporary redeployment of affected talent to the UAE, where remote-work visas can be processed in 48 hours. In the short term, assignment costs will spike due to emergency fares and accommodation, but companies that act quickly can mitigate legal exposure under India’s Duty-of-Care norms, which were strengthened after the 2020 Gulf evacuations.
