Iran grants visa-free travel to Indians. But conditions apply

To boost tourism in the country, the Iranian government has announced a visa-free policy for Indian tourists, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi announced a 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. The visa-free entry has been rolled out for Indian citizens from 4 February subject to four conditions. Let’s take a look. The four conditions for visa-free entry The free-visa policy announced by the Iranian government is subject to four conditions, as mentioned below: The Iranian readout said the visa abolition only applies to individuals entering the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran for tourism purposes. Those entering Iran without a visa can stay for a maximum period of 15 days. “Individuals holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter the country without a visa once every six months, with a maximum stay of 15 days. It is important to note that the 15-day period cannot be extended,” the embassy said in a statement. [caption id=“attachment_13697542” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Only those coming to the Islamic Republic of Iran for tourism are eligible for the visa exemption Image Courtesy Agencies[/caption] “If Indian nationals wish to stay for a longer period or make multiple entries within a six-month period or require other types of visas, they must obtain the necessary visas through the respective representations of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India,” an official release said. The visa abolition outlined in this approval is specifically applicable to Indian nationals entering the country just through the air border, it added. Boosting tourism Iran announced in December 2023 that India and 32 other countries would no longer require visas. The initiative aimed to boost tourism and draw more tourists from around the globe, the Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Ezzatollah Zarghami, had stated at that time. Zarghami said, “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 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 earlier waived the need for visas for citizens of China, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Oman, Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria. Tourism in Iran Iran used to be one of the least friendly travel destinations in the world, particularly for visitors from the West. But things have started to change in the last several years. [caption id=“attachment_13699002” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A tourist visits the the Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat near Susa, in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. Reuters[/caption] The World Tourism Organisation reported that Iran saw a 315 per cent rise in foreign tourist visits in 2022 compared to the previous year. According to data, Iran welcomed 4.1 million tourists in 2022, up from 990,000 in 2021. The Iranian government provided data that indicated there had been a considerable increase in the number of tourists from India to Iran in the first half of 2023 — 31,000 more than in the same time the previous year. This growth was 25 per cent higher. Iran’s tourism industry grew by 48 per cent overall 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, said 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 practiced 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), the website says. Is Iran safe to visit Because of its conservative views, tourists may question if it is safe to visit Iran. Direct experiences revealed by travellers suggests “Iran is one of the safest countries.” However, it’s always recommended to exercise caution and stay updated on the latest travel advisories before your trip. According to World Nomads, “Iranians have been accustomed to hosting visitors since the days of the Silk Road (which dates from the 2nd century BC). Its hospitality remains ingrained in local culture.” A full-time traveller and The Shooting Star author Shivya Nath writes in her blog, “I’ve repeatedly been asked: Is Iran safe to travel? The country’s political regime is oppressive, and its relations with the US have been deteriorating, yet life in Iran isn’t what it’s often depicted to be in Western media. I actually felt safer there than many popular tourist destinations. As with anywhere else, stay aware of the on-going political situation and speak to a local tour operator in Iran to gauge how things really are.” However, there are some things to keep in mind if you are visiting Iran. The thumbs-up hand gesture, which is the Iranian equivalent of the middle finger or “up yours,” should be avoided when expressing “good” or “okay” 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 likewise harshly punished. In Iran, women are expected to abide by specific rules. Legally, all women must cover their heads when they are in public (any coloured or plain scarf will do). It doesn’t have to fit perfectly, and it doesn’t matter if some of your hair shows through. Loose-fitting clothes are good for women. Women 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. Though most Iranian men wear collared shirts, t-shirts are still acceptable. Countries with visa-free entries for Indians Other recent visa exemptions for Indian nationals include Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Thailand, a neighbouring country whose economy also mostly depends on tourism, said in December 2023 that Indian citizens would not need a visa starting on 10 November and continuing until 10 May 2024. Under a pilot project, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry waived the need for a visa for citizens of seven nations, including China, Russia, and India, in October 2023. This exemption will last until 31 March 2024. The government of Sri Lanka said in a statement that the move had been taken as part of the nation’s attempts to increase tourism and reach 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. With inputs from PTI