Indians will soon be able to travel to Russia without a visa, with plans set to take effect by spring 2025. This decision comes as India and Russia aim to ease travel regulations between the two nations, a move expected to boost tourism from India to Russia.

Evgeny Kozlov, chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, mentioned that the upcoming agreement is projected to significantly increase the number of Indian travelers visiting Moscow. Consultations on this bilateral agreement regarding visa restrictions took place in June, with an emphasis on introducing visa-free group tourist exchanges.

As a temporary measure, starting from August 1, 2023, Indians traveling to Russia can apply for an e-visa, which typically takes about four days to process. In the past year, over 60,000 Indian travelers visited Moscow, marking a 26% increase compared to 2022.

In the first quarter of 2024, India ranked third among non-CIS countries for business tourists, with nearly 1,700 e-visas issued to Indian travelers in January alone. Currently, travelers from China and Iran can enter Russia without a visa through a similar tourist exchange program, which Russia hopes to replicate successfully with India.

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