India-Russia tourism ties: Russia to offer visa-free entry to Indian passport holders from 2025

Exciting news for Indian passport holders! By spring 2025, the first visa-free tourist groups from India are expected to arrive in Moscow, marking a significant boost in tourism ties between Russia and India. This development is under an agreement currently being worked out, which is predicted to increase the number of travelers from India visiting the Russian capital.

Understanding visa-free travel
Simply put, it allows entry into a country without the need to apply for a visa in advance. Travellers just present their passport upon arrival, making the process quicker and eliminating visa costs. Indian passport holders already enjoy visa-free access to 62 countries.

Moscow has been attracting more Indian visitors over the years. In the first half of 2024, 28,500 Indian travelers visited the Russian capital, a 1.5-fold increase from the previous year. India ranked high among non-CIS countries, with over 60,000 visitors in 2023, a 26% rise from 2022. The main reasons for Indian citizens visiting Moscow are business and work-related trips ¹.
Current visa options

While waiting for the visa-free program to kick in, Indian citizens can still explore Russia with various visa options:

- Tourist Visa: for leisure travel and sightseeing
- Business Visa: for attending business meetings or professional events
- Private Visa: for visiting family or friends in Russia
- Work Visa: for employment opportunities
- Student Visa: for those enrolling in Russian educational institutions
- E-Visa: for short-term visits to specific regions of Russia

Russian Visa Fees

Here are the current visa fees for Indian citizens:

- Normal Visa (Single Entry): Rs 6,480 (Processing Time: 4-20 Working Days)
- Normal Visa (Double Entry): Rs 10,368 (Processing Time: 4-20 Working Days)
- Normal Visa (Multiple Entry): Rs 19,440 (Processing Time: 4-20 Working Days)
- Urgent Visa (Single Entry): Rs 12,960 (Processing Time: 1-3 Working Days)
- Urgent Visa (Double Entry): Rs 20,736 (Processing Time: 1-3 Working Days)

Russia is a beautiful country that already offers visa-free entry to citizens from China and Iran under its tourist exchange program, which has seen considerable success. The goal is to replicate this program with India, making travel between the two countries even smoother.