Moscow City and India in talks for group visa-free travel: Check other countries offering visa-free entry

Moscow City, India, in talks for group visa-free travel: Moscow City is currently engaged in discussions with the Indian government to establish a group visa-free travel regime, allowing Indian tourists to visit Russia without the need for individual visas. This initiative is led by Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee. He planned to facilitate travel for groups of a specified size, similar to existing arrangements with China, where groups of 10 to 20 can enter without a visa.

India is recognised as a major market for Russian tourism, ranking second after China, with Indian travellers reportedly spending around $2,000 per trip. In 2024 alone, Moscow welcomed approximately 61,000 Indian visitors out of a total of 19.7 million tourists. Currently, Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 62 countries.

???? Indians are expected to be able to travel to Russia visa-free starting in spring 2025. pic.twitter.com/xuYrF5jACS

¡ª BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) December 13, 2024

Details of the Visa-Free Travel Talks

The Moscow City Tourism Committee is leading these discussions, with Chairman Evgeny Kozlov highlighting the importance of India as a key market for Russian tourism. He noted that India ranks second in terms of tourist sources from far-abroad countries, following China. The proposed arrangement would allow groups of tourists from India to enter Russia without a visa, provided a specific number of travelers. For instance, similar arrangements for Chinese tourists require groups of 10-20 people.

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Kozlov highlighted that Indian tourists are significant spenders, averaging around $2,000 per trip, and that Moscow received approximately 61,000 Indian visitors in 2024 alone. By 2030, Moscow expects to welcome around 6 million foreign tourists, with a focus on travelers from India and other regions.

Indians will be able to travel to Russia without a visa from Spring 2025. pic.twitter.com/L761euXegJ

¡ª Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) December 14, 2024

List of Countries with Visa-Free Travel Access for Indian Tourists

Indian passport holders can enjoy visa-free travel to a variety of countries. As of 2025, here is a comprehensive list of 60+ countries where Indian tourists can travel without a visa:

1. Angola
2. Barbados
3. Bhutan
4. Bolivia
5. British Virgin Islands
6. Burundi
7. Cambodia
8. Cape Verde Islands
9. Comoro Islands
10. Cook Islands
11. Djibouti
12. Dominica
13. El Salvador
14. Ethiopia
15. Fiji
16. Gabon
17. Grenada
18. Guinea-Bissau
19. Haiti
20. Indonesia
21. Iran
22. Jamaica
23. Jordan
24. Kazakhstan
25. Kenya
26. Kiribati
27. Laos
28. Macao (SAR China)
29. Madagascar
30. Malaysia
31. Maldives
32. Marshall Islands
33. Mauritania
34. Mauritius
35. Micronesia
36. Montserrat
37. Mozambique
38. Myanmar
39. Nepal
40. Niue
41. Oman
42. Palau Islands
43. Qatar
44. Rwanda
45. Samoa
46. Senegal
47. Seychelles
48. Sierra Leone
49. Somalia
50. Sri Lanka
51. Saint Kitts and Nevis
52. St Lucia
53. St Vincent and the Grenadines
54. Tanzania
55. Thailand (Visa-free for 60 days)
56. Timor-Leste (Visa on arrival)
57. Togo (Visa on arrival)
58. Trinidad and Tobago
59. Tunisia (Visa on arrival)
60. Tuvalu (Visa on arrival)
61. Vanuatu
62. Zimbabwe

Moscow seeks stronger tourism ties with India?@DiscoverMoscow

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¡ª Hotelier India (@Hotelier_India) January 27, 2025

New countries to become visa-free for Indians

Recently, several countries have introduced visa-free travel for Indian passport holders. Here are the newest countries that have become visa-free for Indians:

• Iran: Starting February 4, 2024, Indian citizens can enter Iran without a visa for a stay of up to 15 days.
• Kenya: As of January 1, 2024, Kenya has eliminated visa requirements for Indian travelers, allowing them to visit for up to 90 days without a visa.
• Malaysia: From December 1, 2023, Indian passport holders can enjoy visa-free entry into Malaysia for stays of up to 30 days. This arrangement is valid until December 2026 and is subject to security screenings.
• Thailand: Indian travelers can visit Thailand without a visa from November 10, 2023, for stays of up to 60 days.

Currently, Indian passport holders can visit 62 countries without a visa, and Russia's inclusion would further expand travel opportunities for them. The ongoing discussions reflect a broader trend of increasing tourism between India and Russia, with over 60,000 Indian tourists visiting Moscow in 2023 alone.