Indian tourists may soon enjoy visa-free travel to Russia, with the new arrangement expected by spring 2025. Since August 2023, Indian travelers have already been eligible for e-visas, which are processed within four days. The upcoming visa-free travel agreement will further strengthen tourism ties between India and Russia. In 2023, Russia granted 9,500 e-visas to Indian visitors, placing India among the top five countries for easy travel access to Russia.

Consultations between Moscow and New Delhi on this visa relaxation started in June 2023, focusing on launching visa-free group tourist exchanges. In the first half of 2024, the number of Indian visitors to Moscow increased significantly, with 28,500 travelers, a 1.5-fold rise compared to 2023. Most Indian visitors go to Russia for business or work, with India ranking third among non-CIS countries for business tourists. Russia views India as a priority market due to the strong ties between the two nations.