(NEW DELHI, INDIA) India will offer Russian citizens a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a free 30-day group tourist visa, dropping the usual visa fee in a move announced during a December 5, 2025 summit in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The government says the new policy will keep processing within 30 days, and is aimed at making short trips for leisure, culture, and pilgrimage more affordable as many countries rework tourism rules.
The gesture is one of the most generous visa concessions India has made toward a single country in recent years.
What the waiver covers
- Who: Russian nationals (eligible applicants).
- What: Free 30-day e-tourist visa and free 30-day group tourist visa — the usual processing charge is set to zero.
- Processing time: Government says processing will remain within 30 days.
- Purpose: Short-term tourism — not for work, study, long-term residence, or business beyond tourist activities.
How applications will be handled
Officials indicated the existing digital portal for India’s e-visas will handle these applications, but with the fee set to zero for eligible Russian applicants.
- Applicants will still need to:
- Fill in personal details.
- Upload a passport copy and a recent photograph.
- Wait for electronic approval before boarding.
- Security screening remains unchanged.
- Travelers may be refused entry if they fall under existing exclusion rules.
For current information and updates, applicants are advised to follow notices on the ministry’s site and the Government of India e-Visa page, which hosts the online application system used by most foreign tourists.
Practical limits and rules
- The visa covers stays of up to 30 days and is aimed squarely at tourists.
- The offer does not alter rules for:
- Employment
- Study
- Business beyond short-term tourism
- Family reunification
- Anyone needing to work, study or stay longer must apply via standard consular channels.
Overstays can lead to fines, future visa refusals or, in serious cases, deportation. Travelers who think they might need more than a month, or who plan to attend a course, take up a job, or join family for an extended period, should seek the correct long-term visa before travel.
Industry reaction and likely impacts
Tour operators and tourism businesses reacted positively, noting potential boosts for package tours and seasonal travel.
- Regions expected to benefit:
- Goa — beach tourism
- Kerala — resorts and wellness retreats
- Himalayan states — winter tourism and mountain circuits
- Popular draws likely to see renewed interest:
- Beach holidays and yoga retreats
- Spiritual circuits (e.g., Golden Triangle, Buddhist heritage sites)
- Package tours, especially if charter operators secure predictable winter-season slots
VisaVerge.com analysis suggests the waiver will appeal to price-sensitive travelers at a time when airfares and hotel costs have risen for many Russian households.
Diplomatic and strategic context
The visa waiver was announced during a bilateral summit focused on trade, energy cooperation, and defence, but it quickly drew attention from tourism stakeholders.
- Significance:
- Symbolic outreach to strengthen people-to-people ties between India and Russia.
- Practical benefit for ordinary Russian travelers rather than solely state-level cooperation.
- Potential to pave the way for broader mobility negotiations (e.g., student exchanges, temporary work schemes) if the policy proves successful.
Analysts note that such symbolic steps can, over time, feed into discussions on student exchanges and skilled professional mobility — but the current measure is explicitly limited to short-term tourism.
Wider regional and global context
- Several Asian countries offer visa-waiver or low-fee schemes to attract tourists and foreign currency.
- India has historically moved more cautiously, citing security and administrative capacity.
- This targeted fee waiver signals that cost is now being treated as a removable barrier for selected markets.
Industry bodies warn that travelers deterred by high entry charges might choose alternate destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam, or the United Arab Emirates.
Warnings for travelers
- The waiver is not a back door to labour migration.
- Entry remains tied to tourism activities; work or study on a tourist visa is prohibited.
- Standard airline and border rules still apply: travelers may need to show return tickets or proof of onward travel.
- Visitors must adhere to India’s immigration and registration rules while in the country.
Potential follow-on effects
- If Russian arrival numbers rise sharply, some in the tourism industry think India may use that data to justify selective concessions for other markets.
- For Indians abroad, the move is watched as a possible early step toward reciprocal arrangements — but no changes have been announced for Russian work, study, or business visas, nor for Indians applying to Russia.
Key takeaway
A once-standard visa fee for short tourist stays has been removed for Russian nationals, creating a rare, practical benefit from New Delhi’s immigration system aimed at boosting short-term tourism between the two countries.
For official guidance and to monitor the start date and any fine print, see the Government of India e-Visa page.
India will waive processing fees for eligible Russian nationals applying for 30-day e-tourist and 30-day group tourist visas, announced at a New Delhi summit. Applications will use the existing e-visa portal and are expected to be processed within 30 days. The waiver is strictly for short-term tourism and excludes work, study, long-term residence, and broader business visas. Authorities stressed standard security checks and penalties for overstays remain in force.
