TBM Staff - Mumbai Moscow is set to welcome its first visa-free tourist groups from India by spring 2025, according to a report from the Economic Times. This initiative aims to enhance tourism ties between Russia and India.
Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, announced that the forthcoming agreement is expected to significantly boost the number of Indian travelers visiting the Russian capital.
This development follows remarks from Nikita Kondratyev, director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry’s Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation, who noted that both countries are preparing for visa-free group tourist exchanges.
Visa-free travel allows individuals to enter a country without applying for a visa in advance, facilitating a quicker and cost-effective travel experience. Currently, Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 62 countries.
Moscow has seen a steady increase in Indian visitors, with 28,500 arrivals reported in the first half of 2024—an increase of 50% compared to the same period last year. In 2023, India ranked highly among non-CIS countries, contributing over 60,000 visitors. Kozlov emphasized that most Indian travellers come for business-related purposes, placing India among the top markets for Moscow’s tourism.
Additionally, since August 2023, Indian travelers have been able to apply for an e-visa, with around 9,500 electronic visas issued last year, accounting for 6% of the total e-visas granted to foreigners visiting Russia. In January 2024 alone, 1,700 e-visas were issued to Indian tourists.
Russia already has a successful visa-free entry programme for citizens of China and Iran, and officials hope to replicate this success with India.
