Representational Image
New Delhi: The government of Iran has suspended its visa-free entry facility for Indian nationals after reports of organised criminal networks trafficking Job-seekers into the country with fake offers, The Indian Express reported.
The suspension of the facility will come into effect from November 22 requiring all Indian citizens, holding ordinary passports, to obtain a visa for both entry and transit through Iran.
The Ministry External Affairs (MEA) reportedly said that Iran stopped the visa waiver as part of curbing its misuse by organised criminal networks luring and exploiting job aspirants.
The MEA has reportedly been alerted of multiple incidents involving Indians being deceived into travelling to Iran after offers of high-paying jobs.
They were offered easy transit to Gulf or European countries alongside visa-free job opportunities.
However, criminal gangs kidnapped many of these individuals upon arrival, demanding ransom from their families, it said.
‘The attention of the Government has been drawn to several incidents of Indian nationals being lured to Iran on false promises of employment… On arrival in Iran, many of them were kidnapped for ransom,’ the advisory reportedly said.
The warning follows similar advisory issued by MEA a month earlier about fraudulent agents sending people to Iran offering employment.
The ministry made it clear that visa-free access had strict limits and was not applicable to employment.
Iran in February last year allowed Indians to travel in the country without visa once every six months for a non-extendable stay of 15 days, exclusively for tourism purposes.