Monalika Medatwal
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi on Tuesday announced that Indian citizens no longer have to get visas to travel to Iran Travellers holding Indian passports can enter Iran without a visa every six months for a period of 15 days, which is non-extendable Iran approved a new visa-waiver programme for 33 countries, including India, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore. Malaysia, Brazil and Mexico, in December.
 Iranian culture minister Ezzatollah Zarghami had said the move is aimed at boosting tourism and neutralising “Iranophobia campaigns” The Iranian government has abolished visas for Indian citizens from February 4 subject to four conditions, the Iranian embassy said in a statement Indians with ordinary passports will be allowed to enter Iran without a visa once every six months, with a maximum stay of 15 days which cannot be extended.
Moslem Shojai, who heads the Iranian tourism ministry’s foreign tourism marketing and development office, said in December that there had been a “notable growth” in travellers from India in 2023.Till Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Iran was the most sanctioned country in the world. Iran’s foreign policy and nuclear programme have led to severe sanctions from several countries These sanctions also mean that Indian travel booking websites cannot list an Iranian airport online, lowever, the tickets are available online on google and other platforms.
The visa abolition specifically applies to Indian nationals who enter Iran by air. It also applies only to Indians going to Iran for tourism.
Indian nationals who wish to stay for a longer period, make multiple entries within six months or require other types of visas must obtain necessary visas from Iranian missions in India, the statement said.