We have some good news for all you travel lovers! Indians can enjoy visa-free travel to Russia by 2025! The two countries plan to ease travel norms and boost tourism ties with this move. As per reports, Moscow is likely to welcome the first group of visa-free tourists from India by Spring 2025. Read on to know more about this.
Indians Likely To Travel Visa-Free To Russia By 2025
In a bid to boost tourism ties with India, Russia is likely to allow visa-free travel for Indians by Spring 2025. According to The Economic Times, India ranked among the top countries for visitors to Moscow and Russia aims to increase the number of tourists from the country even more in 2025.
While talking to the Economic Times, Evgeny Kozlov, chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, said with the introduction of visa-free travel for Indians, which is now under development, the “number of travellers from India coming to the Russian capital will significantly increase.”
As per reports, in the first six months of 2024, 28,500 Indian travellers visited Moscow, which is 1.5 times more than in the same period in 2023. Last year, more than 60,000 travellers from India visited the Russian capital, which was 26% more than the number observed in 2022.
Earlier in June, Nikita Kondratyev, Director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry’s Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects, said that Russia and India are gearing up for visa-free group tourist exchanges soon.
For Now, Indian Tourists Rely On e-Visas
As per reports, business and work-related travel are the main purposes of Indian citizens visiting Russia. Currently, as per CNBC TV18, they can apply for e-visas and it is issued within four days. In 2023, India entered the top five countries in terms of the volume of e-visas issued by Russia. About 9,500 electronic visas, which is 6% of the total number of e-visas received by foreigners to visit Russia, were issued for Indian travellers.
Also Read: Sri Lanka Announces Visa-Free Access To 35 Countries Including India From October 31
So, if you have been eyeing Russia for your next vacation, just wait a little longer and you might be able to enjoy visa-free entry in the country!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)
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