Indian travellers may soon be able to visit Russia without a visa, with a new system expected to be introduced in the spring of 2025. Reports from June suggested that Russia and India have been discussing a bilateral agreement to ease visa restrictions between the two countries, potentially paving the way for visa-free group tourist exchanges.
Since August 2023, Indian citizens have been eligible for e-visas to travel to Russia, with processing taking about four days. Last year, India ranked among the top five countries in terms of the number of e-visas issued, with around 9,500 Indian travellers receiving e-visas.
An e-visa (electronic visa) is an official authorization for travel to a country, issued electronically without the need for a physical visa stamp or sticker. It allows travellers to apply for a visa online, usually through the country's official visa portal, by submitting personal information, travel details, and supporting documents. Once approved, the e-visa is sent electronically, and travellers can present it upon arrival at the destination.
Currently, Indian nationals are required to obtain a visa from the Russian Embassy or Consulates in India to enter, stay, and exit Russia. The visa application process can be quite lengthy. Most Indian visitors travel to Russia for business or official purposes. In 2023, over 60,000 Indians visited Moscow, marking a 26% increase compared to 2022.
India was also ranked third among non-CIS countries for business tourism in early 2024, with approximately 1,700 e-visas issued in the first quarter alone. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional intergovernmental organization of former Soviet republics, established after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It includes countries like Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Armenia, among others. The CIS facilitates cooperation in areas such as trade, security, and cultural exchange among its member states. India, being outside the CIS, is considered a non-CIS country.
Notably, Russia has already implemented a visa-free travel arrangement for citizens of China and Iran under its visa-free tourist exchange programme, which has seen positive results. Moscow is reportedly hoping to extend a similar arrangement to India.
Currently, Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 62 countries. According to the Henley Passport Index 2024, India ranks 82nd, with Indian nationals able to travel without a visa to destinations such as Indonesia, the Maldives, and Thailand.
The Henley Passport Index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and assesses the ease of travel for passport holders. It considers adult citizens travelling alone for tourism or business purposes, excluding special scenarios such as diplomatic travel or temporary passports.