Sentinel Digital Desk
Indians may soon be able to travel to Russia without a visa. A new system for visa-free group tourist exchanges is expected to begin in the spring of 2025.
Earlier in June, it was reported that Russia and India discussed a bilateral agreement to ease visa restrictions for each other in order to implement visa-free group tourist exchanges.
Since August 2023, Indians have been eligible for e-visas to Russia, which are processed in about four days. Last year, India ranked among the top five countries for e-visas issued, with 9,500 granted to Indian travellers.
Currently, Indian nationals need a visa from the Russian Embassy or Consulates to enter, stay, and exit Russia. The process is lengthy, primarily catering to business or official visitors.
In 2023, more than 60,000 Indians visited Moscow—a 26% increase from 2022—reflecting the growing interest of Indian travelers in Russia.
Russia already allows visa-free entry for Chinese and Iranian tourists through similar programs, which have proven successful. Moscow aims to replicate this success with India.