Iran's Visa-Free Travel: Here Are The 4 Conditions For Indian Tourists

A visa-free policy for Indian tourists has been announced by the Iranian government to boost tourism in the country, as per an official statement issued on Tuesday.

As part of Iran's visa-waiver programme for several countries, including India, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, and Mexico, visa-free entry has been rolled out for Indian citizens from 4 February subject to four conditions. Let's understand these conditions imposed by Iran.

What are Iran's 4 conditions?

The free-visa policy announced by the Iranian government is subject to four conditions, as detailed below:

Indians holding ordinary passports

• The visa abolition announced by Iran applies exclusively to individuals entering the Islamic Republic of Iran for tourism purposes.
• Individuals entering Iran without a visa are permitted to stay for a maximum period of 15 days.
• According to a statement from the embassy, individuals holding ordinary passports can enter the country without a visa once every six months, with a maximum stay of 15 days. The 15 days cannot be extended, reported by Firstpost
• If Indian nationals wish to stay for a longer period, make multiple entries within six months, or require other types of visas, they must obtain the necessary visas through the respective representations of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India.
• The visa abolition applies specifically to Indian nationals entering the country through the air border.

Boosting tourism

• In December 2023, Iran announced that visas would no longer be required for India and 32 other countries.
• The initiative, aimed at boosting tourism and attracting more tourists globally, was stated by the Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Ezzatollah Zarghami, at that time.
• Zarghami stated, "Iran aims to counter negative perceptions and rumours with this move while combating the phenomenon of 'Iranophobia perpetuated by the global arrogance system'."
• The decision was made to demonstrate Iran's commitment to global contact.
• The 32 other countries, along with India, included Russia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Seychelles, Indonesia, Darussalam, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and Belarus.
• Iran had previously waived the need for visas for citizens of China, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Oman, Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria.

Tourism in Iran

• Iran used to be considered one of the least friendly travel destinations in the world, particularly for visitors from the West.
• However, changes have started to be observed in the last several years.
• A 315 per cent rise in foreign tourist visits in 2022 compared to the previous year was reported by the World Tourism Organisation.
• Iran welcomed 4.1 million tourists in 2022, up from 990,000 in 2021, according to data.
• The Iranian government provided data indicating a significant increase in the number of tourists from India to Iran in the first half of 2023 - 31,000 more than in the same period the previous year, marking a growth of 25 per cent.
• Iran's tourism industry experienced a 48 per cent overall growth in the first eight months of 2023.
• According to News18, Moslem Shojai, who heads the Iranian tourism ministry's foreign tourism marketing and development office, stated in December that there had been a "notable growth" in travellers from India in 2023.
• Most foreign travellers visit Iran for tourism, trade, medical treatment, and pilgrimage.

Places to visit in Iran

• Iran is renowned for its ancient sites, captivating mosques, ancient houses and bazaars, and natural beauties.
• It is home to 21 cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage sites.
• Additionally, it is the birthplace of Zoroastrianism, the religion practised by Parsis in India.
• Every year, thousands of Indian pilgrims travel to the Shia holy sites in Iraq (Kabala and Najaf) and Iran (Qom, Mashhad, Hamedan).
• Over 1100 Indian pilgrims travelled to Iran in 2020, with over 900 coming from Ladakh and over 100 from Jammu and Kashmir.
• According to Iran-startup Techrasa, the most prominent sites in the country are the ruins of Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) and Pasargadae located about an hour from Shiraz, the capitals of the world's first and largest ancient empire, the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC), Throne of Solomon in West Azarbaijan, Chogha Zanbil and Shushtar Hydraulic System in Khuzestan, Bisotun Inscription in Kermanshah, Shahr-e Sūkhté (meaning the Burnt City) in Sistan and Baluchestan, and Abyaneh Village in Isfahan.
• The best seasons to travel to the Islamic country are spring, early March to mid-June (except Nowruz, the two-week Iranian New Year festival in late March), as reported by Firstpost.

Safety concerns in Iran

• Due to its conservative views, tourists may question if Iran is safe to visit.
• Direct experiences revealed by travellers suggest that Iran is considered one of the safest countries.
• It is always recommended to exercise caution and stay updated on the latest travel advisories before the trip.
• According to Firstpost, citing World Nomads, Iranians have been accustomed to hosting visitors since the days of the Silk Road, and hospitality remains ingrained in local culture.

However, there are some things to keep in mind while visiting Iran:

• The thumbs-up hand gesture, which is the Iranian equivalent of the middle finger or "up yours," should be avoided in social situations.
• Public displays of affection should be avoided, particularly by LGBTQ+ travellers, as punishments can be severe.
• Taking pictures of government structures is harshly punished.
• Women are expected to abide by specific rules, including covering their heads with any coloured or plain scarf when in public.
• Loose-fitting clothes are recommended for women, and they are usually compelled to wear chadors (cloaks) when visiting mosques.
• Men are subject to fewer prohibitions, such as refraining from wearing flip-flops, sleeveless vests, and shorts, although most Iranian men wear collared shirts, and t-shirts are still acceptable.

Countries with visa-free entries for Indians

• Other recent visa exemptions for Indian nationals have been implemented by Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
• In December 2023, Thailand announced that Indian citizens would not require a visa starting from 10 November and continuing until 10 May 2024.
• Under a pilot project initiated by Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry in October 2023, the need for a visa for citizens of seven nations, including China, Russia, and India, was waived. This exemption will remain in effect until 31 March 2024.
• The government of Sri Lanka stated in a statement that this move was taken as part of the nation's efforts to boost tourism and achieve a goal of 5,000,000 visitors by 2026.
• According to the Henley Passport Index, as of 2023, Indian passport holders had visa-free access to 62 destinations globally, including Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, Dominica, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Samoa, Togo, Trinidad, Tobago, Zimbabwe, among others.

The data provided by the Ministry of Tourism suggests the top five destinations for Indian citizens are the UAE, the US, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Thailand; a large number comprising diaspora tourists.