Visa requirements for 28 countries including Saudi Arabia are over: Iran

From Monday, Iran lifted the visa ban for citizens of 28 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar.

The 28 countries also include citizens of Japan, Brazil, India, Mexico, Peru, Indonesia, Singapore, Cuba, Tunisia and Tanzania.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that under the policy of “friendly relations with neighboring countries” of the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, citizens of some Central Asian countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, will not need a visa to enter Iran. .

Diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia were restored last year.

Earlier this week, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs, Ali Reza Begdali, confirmed that citizens of 28 countries will be allowed to enter Iran without a visa.

He announced that the visa exemption will apply to tourists who will travel to Iran by air instead of land border crossings.

In a statement reported by Iran’s official news agency IRNA, he said that his ministry has informed all relevant institutions about the cabinet’s decree regarding this unilateral decision.

He added that Indian citizens can travel to Iran without obtaining a visa, but the condition will be that they come by air. They will need a visa if traveling by land.

Last month, Iran’s Tourism Minister Ezzatullah Zarghami said that the decision to lift the visa ban was aimed at revitalizing the country’s tourism sector.

Iran has already granted visa-free entry to citizens of Turkey, Oman, Azerbaijan, Armenia, China, Lebanon and Syria.

According to official data, there are signs of a recovery in the tourism industry from mid-2023. Iranian authorities are also considering other incentives, including visa waivers, to attract foreign tourists.

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