Indians Can Now Travel To Iran Visa-Free, All You Need To Know

Iran has become the latest country to allow visa-free entry to Indian nationals.

Iran on Tuesday announced a visa-waiver programme for Indians entering the country by air for tourism for a maximum stay of 15 days.

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Iran announces visa-free entry for Indians

The visa-free entry has been rolled out for Indian citizens from February 4 subject to four conditions, the Iranian embassy said.

Iran had announced a new visa-free programme for India and 32 other countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia in December.

But only on Tuesday, the conditions for the visa-free entry was announced.

Who is eligible?

Individuals holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter Iran without a visa.

What are the limitations of the visa-free entry?

The visa-free entry applies only to individuals entering Iran for tourism purposes. Indians who visit Iran for business or educational purposes would have to apply for visas under the respective categories.

How many days can an Indian stay in Iran without a visa?

A maximum stay of 15 days.

Can the visa-free stay be extended?

It is important to note that the 15-day period cannot be extended.

How frequently can visa-free access used?

Once every six months.

How can Indians enter Iran visa-free?

Visa-free entry would be applicable only to those Indian tourists who arrive in Iran by air. Those coming to Iran via the land route through Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan or any neighbouring nation would not be allowed to enter without a prior visa.

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Indians wanting to stay for a longer period or make multiple entries within a six-month period or require other types of visas must obtain necessary visas from Iranian missions in India.

Tourism in Iran

Historically, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not among the most welcoming in the world to tourists, especially to those from Western countries.

However, in recent years things have started changing and according to the Iranian government data, some 4.1 million tourists visited the country in 2022. It also showed that some 31,000 Indians had visited Iran in the first six months of 2023.

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Tourist attractions in Iran

Iran, which was once called Persia is home to a rich cultural and religious heritage. It is home to some of the most famous religious places of Shia Muslims around the world.

It is also where Zoroastrianism, the religion followed by Parsis in India was born.

Countries where Indians can travel without visa

Earlier, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka had also eased visa rules for Indian tourists.

According to the Henley Passport Index, as of 2023 Indian passport holders had visa-free access to 62 destinations globally.

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