India to Introduce Free 30-Day E-Visa for Russian Tourists, Announces PM Modi During Putin’s Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that India will soon introduce a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a 30-day group tourist visa for Russian citizens, aimed at boosting tourism and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two nations.

The announcement was made during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi following their bilateral talks at Hyderabad House.

“I am pleased to announce that we will soon be starting a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a 30-day group tourist visa. Manpower mobility will create new opportunities for the people of both countries. We will be working together on vocational education, skilling, and training,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the initiative is part of India’s broader effort to enhance tourism, cultural exchange, and workforce collaboration between India and Russia. He confirmed that no processing fee will be charged for these new visa categories.

Highlighting the growing cultural ties, PM Modi mentioned that millions of devotees received blessings from Lord Buddha’s sacred relics during the International Buddhist Forum held in Kalmykia in October this year.

He further stated that both nations will take steps to increase the exchange of students, scholars, and athletes, strengthening cooperation in the fields of education and sports.

“We will also increase the number of students, scholars, and players from both countries. Friends, today we discussed regional and global issues. India has always been on the side of peace in relation to Ukraine,” PM Modi said.

President Putin’s visit marks his first trip to India in four years and the first since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, making the meeting diplomatically significant.