Flight training: Russia may become the first visa-free country for India

Russia and India are in dialogue about the introduction of group visa-free travel. Upon completion of the negotiations, the parties will determine further steps, the republic's Ambassador to the Russian Federation Vinay Kumar told Izvestia. And Russia may become the first country with which India establishes visa-free travel. Moreover, the mutual tourist flow has already grown by 8% in the first six months. However, the decision has not been made yet. This is also influenced by the fact that India does not yet have a group visa-free regime with any country.

How are the negotiations with India on visa-free travel progressing?

The decision of Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi to introduce a visa-free regime for groups caused a great resonance, given the tourism potential of these two huge countries. The leaders agreed to start working on this after the Russian president's state visit to New Delhi in December 2025. In March, the Ministry of Energy proposed a mechanism for mutual visa-free entry for organized groups of 3 to 50 people for up to 21 days.

India has not yet made a decision on the introduction of a group visa-free regime with Russia; this step is still being discussed by both sides, the country's ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar told Izvestia.

"We are in contact with Russia on this issue, but there are no exact dates yet, since India does not have a visa-free regime with any country. Russia may become the first country with which such a regime will be introduced after the completion of negotiations and the fulfillment of the necessary technical requirements. Currently, only government employees and diplomats are allowed visa—free entry to India," he said.

However, this does not indicate any difficulties in Russian-Indian cooperation. At least recently, speaking at the BRICS Forum in Moscow during the India Day 2026 festival, the ambassador stressed to reporters that his country was satisfied with the level of cooperation. Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly noted that Russia and India are superpowers that cooperate, are friends and communicate, but the interests of the countries do not contradict each other, but, on the contrary, complement their common course of rapprochement.

In general, the process of simplifying visa requirements is moving forward. Since January 1 of this year, India has abolished the fee for issuing electronic 30-day individual and group tourist visas. And on August 25, Nikita Kondratiev, Director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects at the Ministry of Economy, announced that Russia and India were discussing the possibility of canceling all visa fees for tourists. Currently, for Russians, they range from 3,000 to 12,000 rubles, depending on the number of entries and the specific consulate. Thus, the issue has moved from the political sphere to a purely technical one. The parties will need to agree on entry rules, procedures for tour operators, and mechanisms for monitoring tour groups.

A breakthrough in the direction of visa-free travel is likely to occur in the very near future. Sometimes high-level contacts are crucial. Vladimir Putin is likely to meet with Narendra Modi at least twice over the next month. The Russian leader hinted at this during a meeting in the Kremlin with Indian Foreign Minister Subramaniam Jaishankar on August 24.

This will undoubtedly help to further strengthen ties between the two countries, at least by stimulating tourism and, at most, the economy through the development of business contacts. Despite external pressure from the West, both sides manage to expand cooperation. The trade turnover is growing: it has increased by 8% in the last six months. In addition, the Russian leader promised to increase the supply of fertilizers. And according to analytical companies, India's purchases of oil from Russia have reached a historic high.

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What message did the Indian Foreign Minister convey from the Prime Minister of the Republic and what did the Russian President promise?

Why both sides will benefit from visa cancellation

The tourist flow between Russia and India increased by 8% in the first half of the year. This was stated by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov during a recent meeting of the intergovernmental commission on cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi. About 50 thousand Russian citizens visited India and more than 25 thousand Indian citizens visited our country. And this is despite attempts by the West to portray Russia in a negative light.

According to Artur Muradian, Vice President of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia for International Tourism, Russia is not very popular among Indian tourists right now because some local media outlets are influenced by the information field of Great Britain. On July 3, an explanatory note with arguments against a trip to the Russian Federation was published on the website of the Government of the United Kingdom.

Although Russian travel companies communicate a lot with Indian partners, they are afraid to arrange group tours to our country. But from the point of view of tourism, it is much safer to come to Russia than to London, the expert added. But visa cancellation alone is not enough for a qualitative increase in tourist flows. The expansion of air traffic will also play an important role.

So far, according to Muradian, the abolition of visas is more beneficial for Indian travelers. From the point of view of the free entry of Russians into the republic, a significant increase in tourist flow due to the abolition of document requirements should not be expected, since a free electronic visa is already in effect. And Russian citizens perceive India as a destination that does not require any extra effort.

Dmitry Gorin, Vice President of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, is confident that the introduction of visa-free group trips will contribute to the expansion of tourist contacts between Russia and India. He said that Russian companies had repeatedly approached our regulators with a proposal to introduce visa—free group trips in stages, and then, under a parity agreement between the parties, to cancel the visa regime altogether, as was the case with China. This solution will have great potential to simplify inbound tourism to our country. After all, Russia is still far from the main destination for Indians. So far, the countries of the Middle East and Southeast Asia remain among their favorites.

Nevertheless, tourism is traditionally considered the most important tool of "soft power" and a sign of close interstate relations. But Indian diplomacy has traditionally been extremely cautious. It is possible that the launch of group visa-free travel is delayed not only due to technical and other interdepartmental agreements, but also in order not to force unnecessary geopolitical irritants.