As of August 2023, Indian citizens can apply for e-visas to visit Russia, with a processing time of approximately four days.

Starting in the spring of 2025, Indians could potentially enjoy visa-free travel to Russia under a new system. Discussions about a bilateral agreement to relax visa restrictions between the two countries emerged in June, aiming to introduce visa-free group tourism exchanges.

As of August 2023, Indian citizens have been able to apply for e-visas to visit Russia, with processing taking approximately four days. According to The Indian Express, India ranked among the top five nations for e-visa issuance last year, with 9,500 e-visas granted to Indian travelers.

Currently, Indian citizens need to obtain a visa from the Russian Embassy or Consulates in India to enter, stay, or leave the Russian Federation. The process of securing this document has been lengthy and time-consuming.

The majority of Indian travelers visit Russia for business or official reasons. In 2023, Moscow witnessed over 60,000 Indian visitors, marking a 26% rise compared to 2022.

India secured the third position among non-CIS countries in business tourism earlier this year, with approximately 1,700 e-visas issued in the first quarter of 2024, according to the report.

Russia already permits visa-free entry for visitors from China and Iran under its tourist exchange program. This initiative has been successful for Moscow, and the country aims to extend a similar arrangement to India.

Currently, Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 62 countries. Ranked 82nd on the Henley Passport Index 2024, Indian citizens have visa-free access to popular tourist spots such as Indonesia, the Maldives, and Thailand.

The Henley Passport Index is compiled using data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). It operates under the assumption that passport holders are adult individuals traveling solo, meeting all standard entry requirements, and seeking short-term entry for tourism or business. Complex situations such as diplomatic travel, temporary or emergency passports, and transit visits are not considered in the index.

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