More than 24,600 Indians were deported from 81 countries in 2025, according to the latest data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the Rajya Sabha. While 2025 was all about the US tightening its immigration rules, cracking down on visa violations, and mass deportations, it surprisingly wasn’t the biggest contributor. That title goes to a Gulf nation. Saudi Arabia topped the list. The country deported over 11,000 Indians in just one year.
Saudi Arabia deported the largest number of Indians
Saudi Arabia accounted for the highest number of Indian deportations in 2025. In fact, its figure was far higher than any other country. MEA, in its press release, said most deportations from the country were due to residency law violations, including problems with the Iqama, overstaying visas, and other permit-related issues.
Figures from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh show that a total of 7019 Indians were deported in 2025, with numbers recorded across multiple reporting periods. Meanwhile, data from the Indian Consulate in Jeddah shows that another 3,865 Indians were deported during the same period.
Gulf countries host a large number of Indian migrant workers, many of whom are employed in construction, caregiving, or domestic work. Over the years, several cases have surfaced where people end up in trouble because of visa violations, work-related issues, or a lack of understanding of local laws.
US deportations highest in five years
Around 3,800 Indians were deported from the United States in 2025. While this number is much lower than Saudi Arabia’s, it is still the highest recorded from the US in the last five years. This comes as Trump began his 2.0 term by taking an aggressive stance against migrants, launching ICE raids across regions and cracking down on major work visas, including the H-1B.
Most deportations from the US happened in Washington, DC, where 3,414 cases were recorded. Houston followed with 234 deportations.
Indian students deported from the UK
The data also showed that Indian students were deported in large numbers in 2025. The United Kingdom recorded the highest number of student deportations, with 170 Indian students sent back. Australia ranks second with 114 cases, Russia with 82, and the United States with 45.
Other countries with large deportation numbers
Myanmar deported 1,591 Indians, while Malaysia deported 1,485. The United Arab Emirates recorded 1,469 deportations, followed by Bahrain with 764 cases. Thailand deported 481 Indians, and Cambodia reported 305 deportations.
Help channels available for Indians abroad
The Indian government said it gives the highest priority to the safety and well-being of Indian nationals overseas. It regularly raises these issues with host governments at political levels. Indian missions and embassies work with local authorities to rescue and repatriate Indians when needed.
The government has set up multiple ways for Indians abroad to seek help. People can contact Indian missions through walk-in interviews, emails, 24×7 multilingual emergency numbers, grievance portals like MADAD, CPGRAMS and eMigrate, and even through social media.
To tackle cybercrime, the Ministry of Home Affairs has also established the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, known as I4C. Additionally, the MEA has issued advisories warning people about fake job rackets.