In a move aimed at boosting tourism, Iran has unveiled a visa waiver program for Indian citizens entering the country by air.
The initiative, effective from February 4, allows Indian passport holders visa-free entry for a maximum stay of 15 days, according to a statement from the Iranian embassy. However, this exemption is subject to four specified conditions.
Individuals with ordinary passports can avail themselves of this privilege once every six months, with the 15-day stay period being non-extendable, the statement clarified.
The visa waiver is exclusively for tourism purposes and is not applicable for individuals seeking a longer stay, multiple entries within six months, or other types of visas. Those requiring extended stays or different visa types are advised to obtain the necessary visas from Iranian missions in India.
The visa-free entry, introduced as part of a broader program, applies solely to Indian nationals entering Iran via air borders. The Iranian embassy emphasized that this development does not extend to individuals entering through other means.
Last December, Iran approved a similar visa-waiver program for India and 32 other countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia.
The announcement follows recent diplomatic engagements, including a visit by India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, to Iran last month. During the visit, extensive discussions took place between Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, covering a spectrum of bilateral and regional issues. The visa waiver initiative is expected to foster increased cultural and economic ties between the two nations.