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Modi announces free 30-day tourist visa for Russians

Putin also said that Modi had shared “a list of challenges that deserve the attention of both governments,” assuring that Moscow would act on them.

Written by: Divya A

2 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Dec 6, 2025 03:31 AM IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press statement after their meeting at the Hyderabad House, in New Delhi, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (PTI Photo/Salman Ali)

India on Friday announced a 30-day free tourist visa for Russian nationals.

Looking to increase the footfall of Russian tourists, which has dipped after the pandemic, India has also for the first time announced free 30-day group visas for Russian nationals.

PM Narendra Modi, during the joint address with Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced that India would soon start issuing free electronic visas for Russian tourists and groups.

Russia has been a key source market for India, with tourist arrivals from the country crossing 2.5 lakh in 2019. The post-pandemic year of 2022, when travel resumed, saw a significant drop, with arrivals not even crossing a lakh.

However, there has been a steady recovery — 1.64 lakh in 2023 and 1.6 lakh in 2024.

However, Indian tourism stakeholders feel there is much more potential to increase the number of visiting Russians. Traditionally, Russia has remained among the top 15 source markets for India.

“We have taken several important decisions on tourist visas for citizens of both our countries,” Modi said, adding: “This will boost tourism between the two countries, create new business opportunities for tour operators, and open up new employment opportunities.”

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The two sides welcomed simplification of visa formalities, and agreed to continue the work on further simplification of the visa regime.

Both agreed on increasing cultural interaction and people to people exchanges, as an important component of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

This includes participation in major international cultural forums, book fairs, festivals and art competitions, and holding of Cultural Exchange Festivals in their countries. Both sides, as per the joint statement, supported the idea of expanding cooperation in the film industry, including development of joint film production and mutual participation in international film festivals.

Divya A

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More

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