Indians May Get Visa-Free Travel to Russia by Spring 2025

India and Russia are actively working towards a visa-free travel agreement to facilitate tourism between the two countries. Discussions are set to begin in June 2024, aiming for a significant breakthrough by the end of the year. The agreement would enable group tourists from India to visit Russia without the need for a visa, making travel more accessible and likely boosting the number of Indian visitors. The move is inspired by Russia's existing visa-free programs with China and Iran, which began in August 2023 and have been quite successful in increasing tourism.

The visa-free proposal is part of a broader effort to enhance tourism and economic ties between India and Russia. Currently, Indians need a visa to visit Russia, and they have various visa options available for different travel purposes, such as tourism, business, study, and work. Implementing a visa-free regime could significantly ease travel, saving time and costs associated with visa processing. The Russian Economic Development Ministry is leading these efforts, focusing on establishing mutually beneficial terms.

Both countries aim to finalize the agreement criteria through several rounds of consultations. If successful, Indian travelers could enjoy visa-free access to Russia by spring 2025. This would align with Russia's broader strategy of opening up to more international tourists and enhancing its appeal as a global travel destination.

Currently, the visa-free travel initiative is part of Russia’s broader efforts to replicate the success of its arrangements with China and Iran, which have contributed positively to tourism. With Indian passport holders already having visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 62 countries, the addition of Russia would expand their travel options significantly.