Visa-Free Travel Between Indian And Russia; Agreement To Finalise Soon: Report

India and Russia are in the final stages of a bilateral agreement to make travel between the two nations easier, according to a report by Russian media house RT. Indians will be able to travel to Russia without a visa soon, as per the report. 

The plan to ease travel was made in 2022 by Russian President Vladimir Putin and India”s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan.

Talks between Russia and India are underway, and both countries are set to collectively launch visa-free group tourist exchanges, said Nikita Kondratyev, Minister and the director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry’s Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects.

The consultations to conclude the final criteria under the agreement will start in June, and after the finalisation, the visa-free group tourism exchanges will be launched. 

Nikita Kondratyev told that the agreement”s finalisation and the visa-free travel”s commencement are expected by the end of the year. The Russian Minister emphasised both country”s commitment to enhancing tourism ties. Russia”s similar initiative with China and Iran had rolled out on August 2023, marking the country”s one of the significant measures to bolster tourism cooperation with the rest of the countries.

The Minister said that Russia and India are set to strengthen their tourism ties as they gear up for the launch of visa-free group tourist exchanges, adding that the first round of consultations between the two nations is scheduled for June and it would finalise a bilateral agreement by the end of the year.

During an exhibition “Tourism Moscow made a mark at the South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE 2024)” held in Greater Noida in February this year, Russia projected its tourism potential for Indian travellers, The exhibition showcased the vibrant tourism offerings of Moscow for Indians.