India and Russia Introduce Free E-Visa for Russian Visitors Within 30 Days as Vision 2030 Takes Shape

India will soon offer Russian travellers a free E-visa facility, with applications cleared within 30 days, as part of new steps to deepen India-Russia ties announced after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At a joint press briefing following their bilateral meeting, PM Modi outlined the decision to extend both individual and group electronic visas to visitors from Russia, confirming that applicants would not be charged any fee for these services once they begin.

"I am happy that we will soon launch E-tourist visa and group tourist visa services for Russian citizens. This will be processed within 30 days and will be free of cost," PM Modi stated during the press conference.

Alongside the E-visa decision, PM Modi announced that India and Russia had finalised a Vision 2030 document, which is designed to strengthen economic engagement, widen trade, and guide long-term cooperation between the two countries across several sectors.

"To further economic cooperation, we have signed a Vision 2030 document. Today, both of us will take part in the India-Russia Business Forum. I am confident this platform will strengthen our business relations and open new avenues for co-production and co-innovation. Both countries are also taking new steps to realise an FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union," he said.

Security issues also featured in the talks, with PM Modi stressing that India and Russia share a long record of coordination against terrorism, and pointing to recent attacks in both countries as evidence that such violence is driven by similar extremist sources.

"India and Russia have long cooperated shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight against terrorism. Whether it is the terror attack in Pahalgam or the cowardly attack on Crocus City Hall, all such acts have the same roots. India believes that terrorism is a direct assault on the values of humanity, and global unity against it is our greatest strength," he said.

India-Russia E-visa talks and Putin's response

President Vladimir Putin responded by expressing thanks for the reception in India, acknowledging President Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi, and the Indian public, and underlining the importance of his latest discussions with PM Modi for the wider India-Russia relationship.

"I thank President Droupadi Murmu, my dear friend PM Modi, and the people of India for the warm and hospitable welcome to the Russian delegation. My talks with PM Modi over dinner were very helpful for our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. PM Modi and I have established a close working dialogue. We met during the SCO Summit, and we are personally overseeing the Russia-India dialogue," Putin said.

The announcements on the free E-visa for Russian tourists, the Vision 2030 framework, cooperation on a possible FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union, and the shared stand against terrorism collectively highlight the current priorities in India-Russia ties as presented by both leaders during their joint appearance.