A latest data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the Rajya Sabha revealed that in 2025 it was not the US or the UK that deported thousands of Indians, as it was being believed. The highest number of deportations happened from Saudi Arabia, accounting for over 11,000 Indians returning to India from the Gulf nation.

Residency law violations, including problems with the Iqama, overstaying visas, and other permit-related issues are stated to be the reasons for the high number of Indians deported in one year.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh reported that a total of 7019 Indians were deported in 2025, while the Indian Consulate in Jeddah said that another 3,865 Indians were deported in the same period.

The MEA data showed that from 81 countries around the world, over 24,600 Indians were deported, of which it was about 3,800 Indians from the US.

That said, Indian students were deported in large numbers, with the UK recording the highest number of student deportations, with 170 Indian students sent back to India in 2025. Australia ranked second with 114 cases, and Russia with 82 deportations. The US reported 45 student deportations.

The other countries with large deportation numbers were Myanmar with 1,591 Indians, Malaysia with 1,485, and the UAE recording 1,469 deportations. Bahrain reported 764 cases, while Thailand and Cambodia registered deportation of 481 and 305 Indians, respectively.

The Indian government has said that Indians overseas can reach out for help by contacting Indian missions through walk-in interviews, emails, 24×7 multilingual emergency numbers, grievance portals like MADAD, CPGRAMS and eMigrate, and through social media. – editor@nrifocus.com