Introduction
Are you an Indian and have this dream to plan a trip to Russia? Well, good news for you. Russia is about to announce visa-free entry for Indian tourists, potentially starting in 2025. Yes, you heard it right. Soon Indian citizens would be able to visit Russia without facing the hassle of applying for a visa. But for now, every Indian citizen must go through the complete visa process that is required to enter Russia. 

In order to ease visa restrictions consultations on a bilateral agreement were conducted by Russia and India in June. And the possibility is that visa-free entry in Russia for Indian tourists is about to be announced soon in 2025.

Indian Tourists Are Eligible for E-Visas
Till visa-free entry for Indian passport holders gets officially declared, Indian travelers are eligible for e-visas to Russia as of August 1, 2023. Usually processed in four days, the universal e-visa (UEV) is a single-entry permit for a number of uses, such as business, tourism, personal travel, and participation at scientific or cultural events. 

Indian Tourist Numbers Are Increasing in Russia
Evgeny Kozlov, the chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, reported that during the first half of 2024, 28,500 Indian tourists visited Moscow with a 1.5-fold increase in comparison to the same period of last year. Mostly Indian tourists were traveling for the business or work-related purposes.

Chinese and Iranians Already Have the Benefits
Russia already has provided similar arrangements to the Chinese and Iranians on August 1, 2023. Now the same benefits will be provided to Indian passport holders as well. As of now, Indians can take entry to 62 different countries without a visa.

The Bottom Line
So, are you ready to explore Russia? This visa-free entry in Russia can be the opportunity to plan your next trip. So, for Indian travelers, whether you want to go to Moscow, or St. Petersburg or planning to enjoy the scenic views of the Altai Mountains, your time is about to come as visa-free entry in Russia for Indian tourists is about to be announced in the coming year 2025.