Immigration News & Updates

Indians Can Now Travel to Russia Visa-Free Starting 2025: How to Apply and Key Details

Moscow Calling: Indians Can Now Travel to Russia Visa-Free Starting 2025 – Here’s How to Apply

Indian tourists could soon have the exciting opportunity to travel to Russia without a visa starting in 2025. This significant move follows the success of a similar visa-free exchange program that Russia initiated with China and Iran in 2023. As India continues to strengthen its relationship with Russia, the two countries have been working towards a bilateral agreement to allow visa-free travel for Indian tourists, particularly for group tourism.

The initiative, expected to kick off in spring 2025, aims to simplify travel between the two nations and promote tourism. It’s part of Russia’s broader strategy to enhance international tourism and increase its appeal to foreign visitors.

What Is Russia’s Visa-Free Travel Agreement with India?

Russia currently permits citizens from China and Iran to enter the country without a visa through a tourist exchange program, launched in August 2023. This initiative has proven successful, and Russia now seeks to extend this opportunity to India. The move will make it significantly easier for Indian citizens to visit Russia, with a focus on group tourist exchanges initially.

This step is particularly exciting, as Indian passport holders already have access to visa-free travel to 62 countries. If this agreement comes into fruition, it will further open doors for tourism and business between the two countries.

Unified E-Visa System for Indians Traveling to Russia

Since August 2023, Indian travelers have also benefited from Russia’s Unified E-Visa (UEV) system. This allows applicants to obtain a single-entry permit for travel to Russia for tourism, business, scientific events, or cultural purposes. The UEV has streamlined the visa process, with a processing time of about four days.

The UEV allows travelers to visit the entire Russian Federation, and it is available to citizens from 55 countries, including India. With this system, travelers can bypass the traditional visa application process, making travel to Russia more accessible.

How to Apply for a Unified E-Visa (UEV) for Russia

To apply for a Unified E-Visa, Indian citizens can follow these steps:

1. Online Application: Visit the official Russian government portal for e-visa applications.
2. Provide Documentation: Prepare necessary documents such as a valid passport and additional information depending on your travel purpose (tourism, business, cultural events, etc.).
3. Submit Application: Fill in your personal details and submit the application online. Make sure all the details match your official documents.
4. Approval and Issuance: After submission, the processing time typically takes about four days. Once approved, the e-visa will be sent to the applicant via email.

It’s important to note that the consular institutions will only accept documents that match the personal data entered in the registration system. If there’s any discrepancy, the documents won’t be considered.

Russia’s Growing Popularity Among Indian Travelers

According to Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, the number of Indian visitors to Moscow has significantly increased. In the first half of 2024, over 28,500 Indian travelers visited Moscow—a 1.5-fold rise compared to the previous year. The majority of these visitors were in Russia for business or work purposes, reflecting the growing ties between the two countries.

The Future of Russia-India Travel

The prospect of visa-free travel between India and Russia starting in 2025 is a significant development. It will make visiting Russia easier for Indian tourists and strengthen the cultural and business relations between the two nations. While the e-visa system is already a convenient option for many, the introduction of visa-free travel will further simplify the process and encourage more Indian travelers to explore Russia.

Stay tuned for more updates on how to apply for the visa-free travel program once it officially launches. For now, Indian travelers can still take advantage of the Unified E-Visa system for their trips to Russia.