India to soon introduce 30-day free e-visa for Russian tourists, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Modi announced that India will soon offer a 30-day free e-visa to Russian tourists.

Updated on: Dec 5, 2025, 15:51:47 IST

By Shivya Kanojia

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday that India will soon offer a 30-day free e-visa to Russian tourists. He made the announcement during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi, following their bilateral talks.

PM Modi and Russian President Putin addressed a joint press meet on Friday. (AFP)

"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.

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PM Modi further said the government aims to strengthen people-to-people ties and boost tourism between India and Russia. He added that India will soon launch both e-tourist visas and group tourist visas for Russian citizens without any processing fees.

Highlighting recent cultural connections, PM Modi said that in October this year, millions of devotees received blessings from Lord Buddha’s sacred relics at the International Buddhist Forum in Kalmykia.

Also read| India to introduce 30-day free e-visa for Russian tourists, says PM Modi

While addressing the press briefing, PM Modi said that initiatives will be taken to increase exchanges of students, scholars, and athletes between India and Russia, fostering stronger educational and sports ties.

“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.

PM Modi and Putin delivered a joint press meet after their talks at the Hyderabad House in Delhi. This is Putin’s first visit to India in four years and also the first since the start of the war in Ukraine.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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