Here are the 10 Key Points about Russia Set to Launch Visa-Free Travel for Indians Starting in 2025:
- Visa-Free Travel Initiative: Russia plans to implement visa-free travel for Indian citizens starting in spring 2025.
- Current E-Visa System: Since August 2023, Indians have been eligible for e-visas to Russia, processed within approximately four days.
- Bilateral Agreement: India and Russia discussed a bilateral agreement in June 2023 to ease visa restrictions and introduce visa-free group tourist exchanges.
- E-Visa Statistics: In 2023, India ranked among the top five countries for e-visas issued, with 9,500 Indian travelers receiving them.
- Rise in Indian Visitors: Over 60,000 Indians traveled to Moscow in 2023, a 26% increase compared to 2022.
- Business Tourism Growth: India ranked third among non-CIS countries for business tourism in early 2024, with 1,700 e-visas issued in the first quarter.
- Existing Visa Requirements: Currently, Indian nationals need a visa issued by Russian authorities to enter, stay, and exit the country, which involves a lengthy process.
- Success with Other Countries: Russia already offers visa-free travel to citizens of China and Iran, a program it aims to replicate with India.
- India’s Travel Freedom: Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to 62 countries, including Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand, ranking 82nd on the Henley Passport Index 2024.
- Henley Passport Index: The index, based on IATA data, evaluates travel freedom for short-term tourism or business visits, excluding complex scenarios like diplomatic travel.
Indians May Soon Enjoy Visa-Free Travel to Russia Starting Spring 2025
Indians might soon be able to travel to Russia without a visa, with a new system expected to launch in the spring of 2025. This development follows discussions between India and Russia in June about a bilateral agreement to simplify visa requirements and implement visa-free group tourist exchanges.
Also Read: India Gets Easy Electronic Visa Access for Russia, Boosting Tourism Opportunities
Since August 2023, Indian citizens have been eligible to apply for e-visas to visit Russia, which are processed within approximately four days. In 2023, India ranked among the top five countries for the number of e-visas issued, with 9,500 Indian travelers receiving the document, according to The Indian Express.
Currently, Indian nationals need a visa issued by the Russian Embassy or Consulates to enter, stay, and exit Russia. The process, until now, has been extensive, particularly for individual travelers. Most Indian visitors to Russia travel for business or official purposes, with more than 60,000 Indians visiting Moscow in 2023—a 26% increase compared to 2022. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, 1,700 e-visas were granted to Indian travelers, placing India third among non-CIS countries for business tourism.
Russia already offers visa-free travel to citizens of China and Iran through its tourist exchange program, which has been highly successful. Moscow hopes to achieve similar success by extending the initiative to India.
As of now, Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 62 countries, including popular tourist destinations like Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand. India ranks 82nd on the Henley Passport Index 2024, which evaluates the travel freedom of different nationalities. The index is based on data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and considers short-term tourism or business travel.
With the introduction of visa-free travel to Russia, Indian travelers could enjoy more seamless access to another prominent international destination.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Googled Travel Destinations in India for 2024
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