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India and Russia are nearing the rollout of a new travel arrangement that would let holidaymakers visit each other’s countries in officially arranged groups without needing individual visas. After months of quiet negotiations, officials in both capitals say the plan has reached the stage where only administrative fine-tuning is left before leaders meet in New Delhi next week for the annual summit.
According to reports, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told the press in Moscow that negotiators are now focused on practical questions — such as defining the permissible size of tour groups, determining how tour operators will be vetted, and specifying the traveller details that must be shared with border authorities ahead of entry.
In Delhi, officials say the Ministry of External Affairs is preparing to circulate a draft proposal to other government departments for their comments, a customary step before a measure is cleared. Should the plan go through, it would considerably simplify cross-border travel for organised tourist groups.
The proposal is loosely modelled on Russia’s visa-waiver arrangement with China and aims to eliminate one of the main obstacles faced by Indian travellers: the INR 4,500 single-entry visa fee. Under the emerging framework, Indian tourists who sign up with authorised group operators would be able to enter Russia without applying for individual visas — a change Moscow believes could trigger a significant surge in demand.
Russian officials note that India is already their second-largest long-haul market after China, and they argue that removing visa formalities could see arrivals double within two years. Between January and September 2024, around 61,000 Indians visited Moscow, and tourism agencies now forecast that annual numbers could exceed 150,000 if the waiver is approved.
Nikita Kondratiev, a senior official at Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development, told Izvestia that Moscow is waiting for India’s formal sign-off and hopes it will come “in the very near future”, after which both sides could start working through the structure of the agreement. He said this would include defining how groups are assembled and how many travellers qualify per group, as well as settling the procedures for border checks and coordination between tour operators.
Russia began granting visa-free entry to select Indian tour groups last year. In February 2025, Evgeny Kozlov, chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, explained that only groups with a specified number of travellers listed in official documents qualify for the exemption. Using China as an example, he noted that eligible groups generally consist of 10 to 20 people, and added that consultations with India’s Ministry of External Affairs are ongoing to determine the appropriate group size for Indian visitors.
Senior officials in Moscow have indicated that the remaining procedural issues are being resolved swiftly, with the goal of launching the programme as early as spring 2025. The scheme, however, will not cover individual travellers; it is limited to organised tour groups, following the successful model Russia has already implemented with China and Iran.
What is the India-Russia visa-free scheme for tourists?
The scheme allows Indian tourists travelling in officially organised groups to enter Russia without applying for individual visas, following a model already used with China and Iran.
Who is eligible for the visa-free travel arrangement?
Only travellers joining authorised tour groups are eligible. Independent or individual tourists are not covered under the current plan.
How many people can be in a group under the new arrangement?
The exact number of travellers per group is still under discussion between Russian officials and India’s Ministry of External Affairs, with a framework similar to China’s 10–20 person groups.
When is the visa-free programme expected to begin?
Officials in Moscow indicate that the remaining technical details are being finalised, with the aim of rolling out the scheme as early as spring 2025.
What are the benefits of this arrangement for Indian tourists?
The programme eliminates the INR 4,500 single-entry visa fee, simplifies travel procedures, and could make it easier for Indian tourists to visit Russia in organised groups.
