By March 2025, Russia is poised to grant visa-free entry to Indian citizens. According to an agreement being worked upon between Russia and India, the first Indian visa-free group might arrive in Moscow by spring 2025, without having to apply and wait for visa approval. The move aims to increase the inflow of Indian tourists in Russia.
Under the proposed agreement, Indian travellers will no longer need to grapple with the visa application process; a simple passport presentation upon arrival in Russia will suffice. This streamlined approach will save time and effort while also eliminating associated visa fees.
Visa-free travel between India and Russia: Key details
About 28,500 Indian travellers visited Russia in the first half of 2024, a 1.5-fold increase from 2023. While many of these visitors come to Moscow for work or business-related trips, the new visa-free policy is expected to boost the number of people visiting the country for tourism purposes.
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The current visa options for those looking to visit Russia include:
- Tourist visa for sightseeing and leisure travel
- Private visa for visiting family or friends in Russia
- E-visa for short-term visits to specific parts of Russia (one of the most popular visas for entering Russia, the e-visa takes only four days to be processed)
- Business visa for professional events or business meetings
- Work visa for exploring employment opportunities in the country
- Student visa for enrolling in educational institutions
While India already enjoys visa-free access to 62 countries, Russia extended visa-free entry to citizens of China and Iran in 2023 under its tourist exchange programme.
Russia has been a popular tourist destination for people from across the globe, boasting plenty of historic and natural wonders. Some of the best places to visit in Russia include the Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow, the architecturally stunning palaces and museums of St Petersburg, the beaches of Sochi, Lake Baikal (the world’s deepest lake), Kizhi Island, Altay, and The Russian Tundra, among others.
Hero and Featured Images: Courtesy Jack Versloot/Flickr
This story first appeared here.
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Esha is a traveller at heart, with a penchant for exploring the unchartered. She has previously worked with TravelTriangle and Internet Moguls. When not in work mode, she can be found downing endless cups of coffee while reading Enid Blyton/Sidney Sheldon.
