Job scams: Visa-free entry doesn’t mean work permit, warns MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a serious advisory on September 26, warning Indian citizens against travelling for employment purposes to Iran, following a spike in scams where job seekers have fallen victim to criminal gangs.

Despite a visa-free regime between the two countries, the ministry stressed that Indian nationals have been lured into Iran with false promises of jobs or onward travel to third countries, only to be kidnapped upon arrival and held for ransom.

"There have been a number of recent cases involving Indian citizens who have been lured to travel to Iran on false promises of employment, or with assurances that they would be sent further to third countries for employment. Upon reaching Iran, these Indian nationals have been kidnapped by criminal gangs and ransoms have been demanded from their families for securing their release,” said Randhir Jaiswal, MEA spokesperson, during the ministry’s weekly briefing.

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The ministry pointed out that while Iran offers visa-free entry to Indian nationals, this is strictly for to tourism purposes. According to the MEA, the visa-free facility allows a stay of up to 15 days once every six months and does not permit employment under any circumstances.

“It may be noted that the Government of Iran allows visa-free entry to Indians only for tourism purposes,” the MEA stated, urging Indian citizens not to trust agents or intermediaries who misuse this arrangement to offer fraudulent job opportunities.

Officials believe several of these cases are part of a broader pattern involving organised criminal networks, who often work with unauthorised travel agents in India to traffic individuals under the pretext of overseas employment.

The advisory noted that families of kidnapped individuals have been subjected to distressing ransom demands, and in some cases, victims are held in undisclosed locations, making rescue operations more difficult.

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The MEA reiterated that Indian citizens intending to work in Iran must obtain proper emigration clearance. As of August 2025, emigration clearance is mandatory for Indians seeking employment in Iran, a move intended to protect vulnerable workers from falling prey to human trafficking, with false job promises.

The ministry has urged the public to remain alert and report any suspicious job offers or unauthorised agents to the appropriate authorities. The advisory comes at a time of growing concern over international job fraud, particularly in the Middle East and neighbouring regions, where unskilled and semi-skilled workers are often targeted.