visit visa to russia from india

Russian e-visa for Indian Citizens

Russia visa from india.

Indian citizens who wish to travel to the Russian Federation need a visa . The Russian e-visa, an electronic visa, is now available.

Getting the e-visa for Russia is quick and easy — the application is online . You can complete the Russian e-visa form in minutes and it takes around 4 days to process.

Russian e-visa Requirements for Indians

As a citizen of India, you can travel to Russia short term with an electronic visa .

Before you start filling out the online form, make sure you meet the Russian e-visa requirements :

• Indian passport valid for at least 6 months, with at least one blank page
• Valid debit or credit card
• Digital color photograph, passport-sized
• Current email address

The debit card is to pay the Russia e-visa fee. You must provide your email as this is where you will receive all notifications about the status of your visa.

How to apply for a Russia e-visa from India

Applying for a Russia e-visa from India is simple. All you need is a device with a connection to the Internet such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

The online application form is straightforward. It’s an intuitive form that prevents most users from making mistakes.

When Indian citizens apply for the Russian e-visa , they need to be sure to:

• Fill out each section with the correct information
• Upload copies of your travel document and your photo
• Pay the application fee with a credit or debit card

Most Indian applicants finish completing the e-visa form in a few minutes. You have the chance to revise your details before you submit your Russian electronic visa application .

How Long Does it Take to Get a Visa for Russia from India?

Once you have submitted your e-visa Russia application from India , expect a response in 4 to 7 days. Rarely, an application may take longer if the details of the applicant need more processing.

We recommend applying as soon as you know your travel plans . You need to include some information about your trip, including your accommodation details, on your application form.

You can check all communications about the status of the visa in your email.

Visiting Russia with an e-visa for Indians

At the Russian border, you must present your Indian passport and visa to immigration authorities . They will verify your documents and ensure you meet the entry conditions.

You can stay in Russia for up to 16 days with the e-visa . This includes the day you arrive and the day you leave. A new visa is required each time Indian passport holders travel to Russia .

The e-visa is valid for a range of travel purposes. You must be visiting for tourism, business, or humanitarian reasons such as taking part in scientific, cultural, socio-political, or sporting events .

Fly from India to Russia with an electronic visa

Indian passport holders with a Russian e-visa can fly into major international airports. The Russian e-visa is valid at:

• Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow (SVO)
• Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg (LED)
• Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow (VKO)

Indians can also use the approved Russian e-visa at several seaports and some land borders. Check the full list of approved entry ports when planning your journey.

Other Russian Visas for Indians

As explained above, the Russian e-visa is for short stays in Russia for specified travel purposes.

If you hold an Indian passport and wish to visit Russia for more than 16 days, or non tourism or business activities, you need a different visa type.

Other types of Russian visas for Indians include:

• Private visa — to stay with friends or family
• Work visa — to be employed in Russia
• Student visa — to attend an academic institution
• Business visa — for longer business trips

The application process for these visa types is more complex. You need to make the visa application in person and several supporting documents are required .

Russia Embassy and Consulate General in India

Indians applying for the Russian e-visa do not need to go to a Russian Embassy or Consulate. The process is online from start to finish.

If you need another visa type or consular assistance, you can contact one of the following Russian representations in India:

Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Delhi

• Address: Embassy of the Russian Federation, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri. New Delhi, 110021, India
• Phone: +(9111) 2611-0640, +(9111) 2611-0641, +(9111) 2611-0642
• Fax: +(9111) 2687-6823, +(9111) 2410-3961
• E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
• Consular department: [email protected]

Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Calcutta

• Address: Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Calcutta, 22A, Raja Santosh Road, Alipore, Calcutta, India 700027
• Phone: +(9133) 2-479-70-06, +(9133) 2-479-9973
• Fax: +(9133) 2-479-8889
• E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Madras

• Address: Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Chennai (Madras), 14, Santhome High Road, Chennai, 600004, India
• Phone: +(9144) 2-498-2320, +(9144) 2-498-2330
• Fax: +(9144) 2-498-2336
• E-mail: [email protected]

Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai

• Address: Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, 42, Jagmohandas Marg (Nepean Sea Road) Mumbai, 400006, India
• Phone: +(9122) 2-363-3627, +(9122) 2-363-3628
• Fax: +(9122) 2-363-0403
• E-mail: [email protected]

FAQs About the Russia e-visa for Indians

How can i get a russian tourist visa from india.

You can get an e-visa for Russia online from India. As an Indian citizen, you do not need to make any trips to the Russian Embassy. All you have to do is access the Russia e-visa application form and enter your details.

Make sure you have your passport information and a debit or credit card. Your e-visa will take about 4 days to process.

Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Russia?

No, Indians cannot get a visa on arrival in Russia . Russian visa applications must be made in advance and you must hold a valid visa to travel.

The quickest way to get a visa for Russia is online. The e-visa application can be made as little as a week before departure or as soon as you know your travel plans.

How can I find out the validity of my Russian visa?

You can find the visa validity period on your approved Russian e-visa. Check this information when you receive your visa by email.

Russian e-visas are valid for 60 days from the date of approval . You must use your visa to enter Russia before the expiry date.

Do I need a Private Visa or e-visa to visit friends in Russia?

Both the Russian Private Visa and the e-visa can be used to stay with family or friends in Russia.

For Indian passport holders, the e-visa is the better option for short trips thanks to the simple application and fast turnaround times . Indian citizens can visit family and friends in Russia for up to 16 days with an e-visa.

A Private Visa may be more suitable if you plan to visit family or friends in Russia for longer periods.

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Russia launches e-visa facility for Indians; here’s how to apply, and other key details

Russia e-visa: the e-visa is valid for 60 days from the date of issue, and allows tourists to stay on the territory of russia for 16 days..

Russia has launched an e-visa facility for Indians from August 1, allowing travellers to the country to surpass the hassles of obtaining a regular visa.

The e-visa facility, also available for travellers from 54 other countries, does not require a visit to consulates or embassies.

Here are some key points to note while applying for e-visa:

🔴 To get an e-visa it is necessary to fill in an application on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia not earlier than 40 days and later than four days before the planned trip.

🔴 The e-visa furnished is valid for 60 days from the date of issue and allows tourists to stay on the territory of Russia for 16 days.

🔴 A digital photo and a scan of the information page of the passport are needed to apply for an e-visa.

🔴 It will allow travel on a guest, business, or tourist visit as well as to participate in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, and sports events.

🔴 Extension of the e-visa will be carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation or its territorial bodies at the place of migration registration of a foreign citizen at the place of stay, and if there is no migration registration at the place of stay – at the place of actual stay by way of issuing an ordinary (not electronic) visa.

🔴 The status of your application may be as follows: “Draft” (means that the application has been partially completed or has not yet been sent for processing); “Awaiting payment” (means that the payment of the consular fee has not been made or has not yet gone through); “Accepted for processing” (means that the application is being processed); “Returned for editing” (means that incorrect information was found during the processing of the application. You need to make corrections and then resubmit the application for processing); “Processing completed” (decision on the application has been made).

To fill in an e–visa application form and check the e–visa status, applicants can visit this link .

“Launch of e-visa will increase tourist flow. To make the stay of guests from India as comfortable as possible, Moscow is actively working on the improvement of infrastructure for international travelers. We also have close cooperation with Indian companies in the field of tourism, which allows us to expand our tourist offer and tailor it to the needs of our guests,” said Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee.

Currently, more than 10 weekly flights connect India and Moscow.

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Everything you need to know if you’re planning a trip to Russia right now

By Arundhati Ail

If you’ve been scrambling to figure out how to get to Russia after seeing celebrities vacation in the picturesque St. Petersburg on Instagram, it might help to cover all your bases before booking your flights. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re planning on travelling to Russia right now:

What are the visa requirements for Indians in Russia?

Travel to Russia is open to Indian nationals with valid visas, including tourist visas, as well as non-Indian citizens with a residence permit or any other document that proves their right to permanently reside in India.

What are the entry requirements for Russia?

If you plan to fly into any airport in Russia, you will need a medical certificate with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, taken not more than three days before your arrival in the Russian Federation. The certificate should ideally be in English or Russian. If not, you can submit a certificate in Hindi, along with a Russian translation certified by a consular official of the Russian Federation.

You will also need to fill out a form provided by your flight attendants and undergo another COVID-19 test on arrival, after passing passport control. You don’t need to wait at the airport to get your results. Some regions may have self-isolation requirements for arriving passengers, so make sure to check with the regional office before your departure.

Which flights are flying to Russia from India right now?

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates and Etihad Airways are running flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

What is the COVID-19 situation like in Russia?

On 24 June, 20,182 new cases of coronavirus were detected in Russia, bringing the total tally since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,388,695 cases. Moscow and St. Petersburg currently have the highest number of positive cases in the country.

What can you do in Russia?

In Moscow, entertainment and sport venues cannot have more than 500 people at a time. Game rooms and food courts are closed until 29 June, while amusement parks, playgrounds, gazebos and dance floors are closed until further notice. Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cafes, discos and other entertainment establishments cannot serve visitors between 11pm and 6am. From 28 June, you can visit eateries only if you show a QR code that shows you have a negative PCR result. You can get the QR code with the help of the Immune Moscow service here . Summer cafes and verandahs will remain open to non-QR code holders until 11 July. Find more information about Moscow’s QR code system here .

St. Petersburg:

COVID-19 restrictions are being tightened in St. Petersburg, due to the current Euro 2020 matches that are being held there. Food courts and children’s play areas will remain closed and no food will be served at the Euro 2020 fan zones. Cinemas will operate at 50% capacity and restaurants will be closed for dine-in between 2am and 6am.

Krasnodar region:

In Russia’s beach holiday region on the coast of the Black sea, starting 1 July, hotels and resorts will only accept guests if they are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a negative PCR report. From August, only vaccinated guests will be allowed into resorts.

Can you travel to England after a layover in Russia?

Russia is on the UK’s amber list of countries. You can travel from Russia to England, as long as you meet all the testing and quarantine requirements. You will need to fill out a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) within 48 hours before your departure. Following this, you will receive a QR code on your email that you will need to present during check-in. You will need to present a negative RT-PCR, RT-LAMP or antigen result taken no more than three days before departure. You will need to quarantine on arrival in your home or at the place you are staying for 10 days and undergo a COVID-19 test on Day 2 and Day 8 after your arrival. Find more information here .

European Union adopts more favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians

Indian Nationals can now apply for a multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity

On 18 April 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date. This new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen (short-stay) visas in India will provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history, if the passport validity allows. 

According to the newly adopted visa “cascade” regime for India, Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals.

This decision comes in the context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India, with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU. 

Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

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The US Embassy in India is prioritising student visa applications and reduces wait times for other categories, reflecting a commitment to strengthening ties. Ambassador Garcetti, under President Biden's directive, aims to expedite processes, noting the record number of student visas issued. Efforts to accommodate the surge highlight the enduring importance of people-to-people connections.

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Russia approves new visa regime; indians can now get 6-month tourist visa based on hotel reservation.

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Blog Outline

Home > Blog > Travel > Visa > Tourist Visa to Russia from India: A Complete Guide

Tourist Visa to Russia from India: A Complete Guide

30sec Snapshot

Here are the documents you need to get a tourist visa to Russia from India :

• Valid Indian passport issued by the Indian Government, machine-readable, valid for at least 6 months from the date of e-visa application.
• Digital photo of passport data in JPEG format, meeting Russian authorities’ specifications for clarity.
• Digital photo of your face in JPEG format, meeting specific Russian authorities’ requirements with a clear, unobstructed view.
• Valid bank card with sufficient funds, ensuring card is active and has balance to cover visa fees.

Types Of Tourist Visas For Russia

Tourist visa to russia from india: eligibility criteria, a. demonstrating a clear purpose for your visit.

• If visiting acquaintances, an invitation letter from a resident in Russia is necessary.
• Visiting for tourism or visiting acquaintances without seeking employment.

B. Meeting health prerequisites

• Applicants must be healthy and provide documentary proof through a medical test.

C. Fulfilling character criteria

• Demonstrating good character and genuine intentions for working in Russia.
• Providing documentary proof, such as a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), when requested.

D. Possessing sufficient financial resources

• Having access to adequate funds to cover stay and expenses in Russia. .
• Submitting a bank statement or equivalent document as proof.

Documents Required for Russian Tourist Visa

1. valid national passport:.

• Ensure you possess a valid Indian passport issued by the Indian Government.
• The passport must be machine-readable.
• It should be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of submitting your e-visa application.

2. Valid National Passport:

• Provide a digital photo of your passport data in JPEG format.
• The photo must adhere to the specifications outlined by Russian authorities.
• Ensure clarity and accuracy to facilitate smooth processing.

3. Valid National Passport:

• Include a digital photo of your face in JPEG format.
• The photo should meet the specific requirements set by Russian authorities.
• Maintain a clear, unobstructed view of your facial features.

4. Bank Card with Sufficient Funds:

• Possess a valid bank card with adequate funds to cover the visa fees.
• Ensure the card is active and has a balance sufficient for the transaction.
• For the e-Visa application, there is no requirement to submit an invitation letter, hotel booking, or any document specifying the purpose of your stay
• This streamlined process is designed to simplify your visa application, focusing primarily on the essential documentation mentioned above.

Note: We would like to emphasise the critical importance of submitting truthful and genuine documents when applying for a visa. False or fraudulent documentation can lead to severe consequences, including future permanent disqualification or bans from entering a particular country.

You can also read: What are the most important things you should do before travelling?

Russian Tourist Visa Application Process

Applying for russia evisa (online visa application process):, 1. gather documents:.

• Collect all necessary documents in the correct format and size.

2. Upload Digital Documents:

• Scan or capture your documents in JPEG format.
• Save these digital files to your computer or mobile device.

3. Create an Account:

• Visit the official government website portal.
• Create an account on the portal.

4. Fill Visa Application Form:

• Complete the Russia visa application form with accurate information.

5. Upload Digital Documents (Again):

• Upload the previously saved digital documents in JPEG format.

6. Pay Visa Fee:

• Process the payment for the Russia visa fee.

7. Wait for Processing:

• Allow the authorities to process your visa application.

8. Receive Visa in Email

• Once approved, your visa will be sent to your email.

Getting a Russian Visa at the Embassy (Sticker Visa):

1. download application form:.

• Download and complete the application form from the government website.

2. Gather Required Documents:

• Collect all necessary documents, including an invitation letter and proof of accommodation.

3. Make an Embassy Appointment:

• Schedule an appointment at the Russian Embassy

4. Submit Documents at the Embassy:

• Attend the appointment and submit all required documents.

5. Pay Visa Fee:

• Pay the applicable visa fee at the Embassy.

6. Wait for Processing:

• Allow time for the Embassy to process your visa application

Expert Tip:

Before submitting your passport to the Russian embassy, make photocopies of every page. Check for damages post-return; even minor issues such as tears/stains etc can cause trouble at Russian Immigration.

Russia Visa Application: Tricks and Tips for Success

• Begin Early : Start your Russian visa application process well in advance to give yourself plenty of time to gather and process your documentation.
• Thoroughly Check the Documents: Verify the accuracy and completeness of every paper. Any inconsistencies or omissions could cause delays or rejection.
• Follow the Rules and Guidelines:  To prevent additional hassles, follow the instructions and procedures from the Russian embassy or consulate
• Prevent Common Errors: Take care to fill out forms correctly, provide precise details, and sign documents as needed. Standard errors, such as misspellings or incomplete paperwork, may cause delays or rejections.
• Use a Forex Card: Forex cards offer currency conversion and security at favourable rates, making them a convenient and cost-effective way to manage international expenses. They also help in budgeting for travel by locking in exchange rates. The Niyo Global Card , for example, comes with the following benefits:
• It has zero forex markup 
• Free lounge access at select international airports in India
• You can load money in INR and spend it in 150+ countries and 130+ currencies
• Earn 1% cashback
• Get swift card delivery within 3-5 days
• Access 24×7 in-app chat support

Travel Smarter – Secure Your Forex Card for Stress-Free Spending!

The Last Step: Immigration Requirements for Russia

A.indian immigration (departure):.

• Indian immigration officers will typically ask about your travel plans and purpose of visit and may inquire about the duration of your stay in Russia.
• They will stamp your passport, indicating your departure from India.

B. Russian Immigration (Arrival):

• Upon arrival in Russia, you’ll face Russian immigration officers who will scrutinise your travel documents.
• You will need to present your Russian tourist visa, hotel bookings, proof of return flight, and evidence of sufficient funds in cash or bank statements.
• Officers will verify the validity of your visa and ensure you have the means to support yourself during your stay.
• Once everything is in order, they will grant you entry into Russia by stamping your passport with the relevant entry visa and date.
• Remember to provide clear and truthful information about your travel plans and accommodations.

Key Takeaways

• Single, double, and multi-entry Russian tourist visas
• Group tourist visas are an option for organised tours.
• Travel insurance, a valid passport, and proof of finances are required.
• Visit the Russian consulate or visa centre to submit your application.
• Apply for your tourist visa to Russia from India well in advance to allow for processing time.
• Familiarise yourself with Russian laws and customs before your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, a tourist visa is strictly for leisure and tourism purposes. Engaging in any form of business activity, including attending meetings or conferences, is not allowed on a tourist visa. For business-related visits, you should apply for a business visa.

While travel insurance is not always explicitly mandatory, having travel insurance is highly recommended. It provides essential coverage in case of unexpected events, such as medical emergencies or trip cancellations, adding an extra layer of security to your travels.

The Russian visa processing time can vary. If you apply for a Russia tourist visa online , like e-visas, can be issued within 4 days, whereas traditional stamp visas might take longer, like a week or more. It is advisable to apply well in advance of your planned travel dates to avoid any last-minute complications.

Generally, there are no specific age restrictions. Both adults and minors can apply for a Russia tourist visa . However, minors might need additional documentation, such as a consent letter from their parents or legal guardians. It is advisable to check with the embassy or consulate for precise requirements.

There isn’t a strict limit on how many times you can apply for a tourist visa in a year. However, Russian immigration authorities may scrutinise frequent applications, especially if they suspect misuse of the tourist visa category. It is essential to have a genuine purpose for each visit and adhere to the specified stay durations.

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Russia Tourist Visa

Russia is a country with a rich history, culture and world-famous architecture that makes it a dream destination for travelers. Apart from this, it has natural scenic sights like snow-covered mountains and natural geysers.

Why Visit Russia

Visiting Russia as a tourist is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The largest country in the world does seem to have it all to make Russia worth for visit overseas. Many amazing natural destinations on one hand and the presence of some of the majestic oldest cities in the world, Russia offers something for almost every kind of tourist.

Among the many reasons that make Russia worth visiting are –

• A rich tradition and history
• The Golden Ring of Russia
• Beautiful Russian architecture
• Immense diversity in the cities

To visit the country, one needs a tourist visa which is valid for 30 days. You can apply for either a single entry or double entry visa.

While the single entry visa allows you to travel only to Russia, the double-entry visa allows you to make trips from Russia to neighboring countries such as the CIS countries and Baltic states and back trips to countries such as China and Mongolia and the return trip is through Russia.

The tourist visa cannot be extended except for medical reasons.

Tourist Invitation:

To visit Russia as a tourist will require a tourist invitation. This is basically an agreement between a foreign citizen and a Russian travel company. The travel company should be included in the United register of tour operators. Getting a tourist voucher from a travel company is a quick and easy process. The tourist voucher should contain the following information:

• Name of the Russian tourist company and its reference number
• Full name of the applicant and their passport information
• Purpose of visit
• Terms of visit
• Number of entries (single or double)
• Dates of entry and exit
• Cities that the applicant plans to visit.

Documents Required

• A valid passport
• Two passport size photos
• A copy of your completed and signed visa application form
• Copy of tourist voucher
• Proof of funds
• Confirmed return ticket

Before you apply for a tourist visa, ensure that you meet the visa requirements, fill the application form, attach the required documents and pay the required fees.

Processing Time

The processing time for a tourist visa is usually 10 working days.

Evisa for Tourists

An eVisa can be applied for online and takes  4 days to process .  The visas issued by Russia allow international travelers to visit specific Russian regions for short stays. The eVisa is issued for the following regions:

• Far East, for which visitors will need to apply for a Russian eVisa for the Far East regions
• Kaliningrad, for which they have to apply for eVisa for Kaliningrad
• St Petersburg and Leningrad region, for which eVisa for St Petersburg and Leningrad region is required.

The eVisa is valid for 30 but allows a maximum of 8 days stay in the region.

How Can Y-Axis Help You?

Y-Axis team will help you:

• Advise you on the required documentation
• Advise you on the funds that need to be shown
• Fill out the application forms
• Review your documents for the visa application

Sign up for a free consultation

Frequently asked questions, what is the expected processing time for russia visit visa, can i request for a faster processing of russia visit visa, what is the longest processing time for russia visit visa.

Russia E-Visa for Indians: Fees, Requirements & How to Apply

Last Updated : 30 Apr 2024

Last Updated : 30 Apr 2024 at

30-Second Summary

Indian citizens travelling to Russia for tourism must have a valid visa to enter the country.

A Russia visa for Indians is an e-visa that allows you to apply entirely online.

You are not required to submit your passport in person.

Apply on Atlys and get a full refund if your visa is rejected.

Important Information

— Visa type

— Russia e-visa cost

— Russia e-visa processing time

— Russia e-visa validity

— Length of stay

Do Indians need a visa for Russia?

Yes. Indian passport holders must apply for a visa before entering Russia. The visa allows you to enter the country for tourism purposes only.

You can apply for the Russian e-visa through Atlys or the Unified E-Visa (UEV) program launched by the Russian government.

Can Indians get a Russia visa on arrival?

No. Indians are not eligible for a Russia visa upon arrival. Indian citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Russia. Applying for a Russia e-visa is a simple process that can be done online through Atlys or the official government website.

Russia e-visa requirements for Indians

To apply for the online tourist visa for Russia, you will need the following documents:

Valid passport: A scanned copy of the passport page displaying personal data and photograph. The file size should not exceed 70 KB, and the image format should be JPEG.

V isa photo: O ne standard-sized p hoto meeting dimensions of width (381-571) pixels and height (496-744) pixels. The file size should not exceed 200 KB, and the image format should be JPEG.

Apply with Atlys and easily upload your documents using your smartphone or laptop camera.

Russia e-visa fees for Indians

The single-entry Russia e-visa fee is generally ₹ 4,894*. Atlys does not charge a service fee unless your visa is processed on time.

Atlys provides a full refund on your government fees if your visa is not processed on time.

* The Russia visa cost for Indians will be charged as per the exchange rate on the day of the application.

Russia visa application process for Indians

Once you have gathered all the documents required for the visa application process, the next step is to fill out and submit the application. You can do so either by applying through Atlys or the official government website.

How to apply through Atlys

Atlys has streamlined the Russia visa application to make it as easy as possible for Indian nationals. You can easily get your Russia e-visa from India by following these steps:

Start your application: Start your Russia e-visa application by visiting Atlys .

Upload your documents: Upload a copy of your passport and photograph, or take a new one using your smartphone or laptop.

Provide details: Fill in the required personal and travel information accurately.

Pay your Russia visa fees: Review your application and pay the e-visa fee.

Receive your visa: Atlys will process your visa within 8 days of submitting your application.

Why choose Atlys

Russia visa approval times are uncertain and can take up to 12 working days. Atlys guarantees your visa in 8 working days.

Atlys has tie-ups and public relations officers at Russia Immigration to ensure that visas come on time.

Atlys allows you to apply for yourself and your family in one go.

How to apply through the government website

You can apply for the Russia e-visa by visiting the official government website. Once you are there, you need to follow the below-mentioned steps:

Register on the official website: To register as a new user on the official e-visa website, you must provide your email ID and password, enter the captcha code, and click "Next."

Confirm your email: Check your email inbox to confirm your email address. Once you confirm your email, log in to access your profile.

Note down the application ID: After logging in, visit your profile and click on the “Apply for a new e-visa” tab from the options listed. You must either print or note down the application ID. This application ID can be used to complete the incomplete application and track your visa application.

Start filling out the application: Next, you can start filling out the Russia e-visa application. Ensure you have sufficient time, as you will be required to provide a great deal of information regarding your personal, visit, and family details, along with uploading a copy of your passport and photograph.

Review your application: The last stage of the application form will be to review the application. Ensure that you have correctly filled in all the information and that it matches all the documents. You will have the option to edit the information before finally submitting the form.

Pay the visa fee: As the last step, you must pay the visa cost for Russia from India. After that, the processing time will start. A 5% surcharge will apply for most international cards for RUB transactions. You can avoid this by using Atlys .

Tips to Apply

When you upload your passport, some information (like your name and passport number) will be auto-filled. You must recheck the auto-filled information, as there have been cases when the name was incorrectly spelt.

Although not mandatory, submitting health insurance can strengthen your visa application.

Apply for your Russia visa for Indians at least 12 days before travelling to allow sufficient processing time.

Receive your approved Russia visa for Indians

The processing of the Russia visa for Indians starts after you successfully submit and pay the application fee. Once the processing time is over, you will receive the e-visa.

Through Atlys:

Once your visa is approved, you'll receive a notification from Atlys indicating that it is approved. You can download the e-visa and print it to carry with you.

Through the government website:

Fortunately, the official Russia e-visa website also keeps you updated regarding the status of your application (whether it is about processing or approval). Once your online application for the Russia visa for Indians is approved, you will be notified via mail. You can download the PDF by visiting the “Your Applications” tab on the homepage.

How the Russia e-visa looks like:

Russia visa information for Indians

How to check your russia visa status online.

Check your visa status on Atlys:

Apply with Atlys and easily track the status through the Atlys app.

Download the Atlys app .

Select “Profile” and then “My Documents”.

Inside "My Documents," find your Russia visa.

Click on your visa to access its current status.

Check your visa status through the government website:

You can check your Russia visa status by logging into your account on Russia's government e-visa website. Here are the steps to check the status of your application:

Log in to the official e-visa website.

Click on the "Your Applications" tab in your profile.

Enter the Application ID and click on the 'status check' to continue.

Russia e-visa processing time

The Russia e-visa processing through the government website can take up to 12 business days. However, by using Atlys, you can receive your approved e-visa within 8 working days.

Russia e-visa validity & length of stay

Indian citizens are eligible for a single-entry tourist visa, which is valid for 60 days and allows you to stay for a maximum of 16 days. As per Russia's visa policy, the day of arrival and departure are counted as two days (irrespective of when you enter or exit the country).

You must not overstay your Russian e-visa as it may lead to possible fines, deportation and, in some cases, being barred from entering the country.

Our Commitment to Visa Accuracy

We're dedicated to providing accurate visa information. At Atlys, we verify details using official Russian government sources. For this blog, our sources were:

Website of the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of India

Remember that government processes and fees can change, so always verify the latest info on the official website before applying.

We’re here to answer all your questions

At Atlys , you will receive a 100% refund of your visa fees , excluding the service fees.

If your visa gets rejected, you will be notified of the reason for rejection. By fixing these rejection reasons, you can reapply for your visa. You will lose the funds when applying through the government or visa portals.

For e-visa holders travelling to the Russian Federation, there are around 100 entry and exit points. Click here for a detailed list.

Although not mandatory, it is highly recommended that you keep the printout of your Russia e-visa for Indians. This will help in case of unforeseen circumstances at the point of entry (like your phone stops working).

No. Note that you do not require any supporting documents (except a passport) when applying for the e-visa. You only need an invitation letter when applying directly to the embassy or consulate.

No. Not all Indian citizens must apply for a Russian visa to enter the country. Indian citizens who hold diplomatic and official passports (can stay for up to 90 days) and are members of aircraft crews enjoy visa-free entry to Russia.

No. Russia is not visa-free for Indians; you must apply for a visa before travelling to Russia.

Yes. Indian citizens can get the Russian e-visa for tourism, business visits, and participation in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, and sporting events. However, you can only stay in the Russian Federation for up to 16 days.

During the application process, you must ensure that your photograph meets the requirements indicated by the government website. These include:

The photograph must be a full-face view in which the visa applicant is facing the camera directly, with eyes open

The photograph must have been taken within the last six months

35 mm X 45 mm (1 3/8" X 1 3/4") with the head centered in the frame.

The applicant should not look down or to either side; the face should cover about 50% of the photo area.

Side or angled views are NOT accepted.

The photos must be clear, well defined and taken against a plain white or light-coloured background

Sunglasses or other wear that detracts from the face are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons (an eye patch, for example).

Your face must be square to the camera with a neutral expression, neither frowning nor smiling and with your mouth closed

Photocopied photographs are NOT accepted.

Indian citizens are eligible to apply for various types of visas. Some of the most common types of visas available are student, transit, humanitarian and business visas.

Extension of a Russia e-visa is only permitted under exceptional circumstances, such as emergency medical treatment or unforeseen situations like natural disasters. The Ministry of Internal Affairs handles extensions.

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First Published: Apr 30 2024 | 8:29 AM IST

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• Nationality
• Document Required
• Technical Info for e-Visa
• Payment Related
• Authorized Immigration checkposts through which eVisa holders can travel.

Payment Helpdesk

SBI ePay: +91-22-2753-5773 (24 x 7)                Axis Bank : +91 1800-419-0073 (24 x 7)

Toll free Numbers from:

• USA : 1855 205 5577
• Uk : 0808 178 5040
• Singapore : 800 1206 355
• Australia : 1800 153 861
• UAE : 8000 3570 3218
• Saudi Arabia : 800 850 0000
• Qatar : 00 800 100 348
• Bahrain : 800 11 300

Select option no. 6 on IVR to connect to agents.

From rest of the countries none toll free number to India + 91-40-6717-4100 (Paid Number).

• eVisa Helpdesk (Due to maintenance activity IVRS services are unavailable.)
• eVisa Helpdesk

E-VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

Apply online

Upload Photo and Passport Page

Pay eVisa fee online

Using Credit / Debit card / Payment Wallet

Receive ETA Online

Electronic Travel Authorization/ETA Will be sent to your e-mail

Fly To India

Print ETA and present at Immigration Check Post where eVisa will be stamped on passport.

Government of India makes no provision of charging of any emergency fees or additional fees for grant of any emergency / express e-visa. Those travelling to India are also advised to go through instructions available on the website of Bureau of Immigration at https://boi.gov.in .

eVisa is admissable only under the following categories:

E-tourist visa, e-business visa, e-conference visa, e-medical visa, e-medical attendent visa, e-ayush visa, e-ayush attendent visa.

• e-Emergency X-Misc Visa

1. One Month e-Tourist Visa

One Month (30 Days).

Double Entry, non-extendable and non-convertible

2. One year e-Tourist Visa

One year (365 Days) from the date of grant of ETA.

3. Five years e-Tourist Visa

Five years from the date of grant of ETA.

Maximum stay in India during one Calender Year should not exceed 180 days for 1 year and 5 year Tourist Visa.

One year (365 days) from the date of grant of ETA.

Continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days. If the intension is to stay for more then 180 days, shall get registered with FRRO/FRO concerned within two weeks after the expiry of 180 days.

Thirty days (30 days) from the date of arrival into India.

Organizers to upload all details & documentation on the MHA website (conference.mha.gov.in)

Sixty days (60 days) from the date of arrival into India.

If the applicant is unable to complete his e-visa application form, he may save the application and may return to complete the application form by clicking the tab at the bottom of page: After your eVisa applications is submitted, the same shall be scrutinized and if any Document/Image is not appropriate, you may be advised on your given e-mail to re-upload the same. To re-upload use the tab at the bottom of the page. Applicant should normally receive this mail within 24 hours.

• Useful Web Links
• Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. Of India.
• Ministry of External Affairs, Govt Of India
• Ministry of Tourism, Govt Of India
• Bureau of Immigration, Govt Of India
• Incredible India, Govt Of India

Eligibility

• International travellers whose sole objective for visiting India is recreation, sight seeing,casual visit to meet friends and relatives, attending a short term yoga programme,Short term courses on local languages, music, dance, arts & crafts, cooking, medicine etc. which should not be a formal or structured course/programme (courses not exceeding 6 months duration and not issued with a qualifying certificate/ diploma etc),Voluntary work of short duration (for a maximum period of one month, which do not involve any monetary payment or consideration of any kind in return), medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine, business purpose, as attendant to e-Medical visa holder, attending a conference/ seminar/ workshop organized by a Ministry or Department of the Government of India, State Governments or UT Administrations etc. & their subordinate/ attached organizations & PSUs and private conferences organized by private persons/companies/organizations.
• Applicant's passport should have at least six months validity at the time of making application for grant of e-Visa.
• International Travellers should have return ticket or onward journey ticket,with sufficient money to spend during his/her stay in India.
• International Travellers having Pakistani Passport or Pakistani origin may please apply for regular Visa at Indian Mission.
• Not available to Diplomatic/Official Passport Holders or Laissez-passer travel document holders.
• Not available to individuals endorsed on Parent's/Spouse's Passport i.e. each individual should have a separate passport.
• Not available to International Travel Document Holders other than Passport.

If you are a national of any following countries, you are eligible for eVisa.

• Afghanistan
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Cameroon Union Republic
• Cayman Island
• Cook Islands
• Cote d'lvoire
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Isle of Man
• Liechtenstein
• Marshall Islands
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Niger Republic
• Niue Island
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Republic of Korea
• Saint Christopher and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turks & Caicos Island
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City-Holy See
• Zambia and Zimbabwe

Documents Requirement & Visa Categories

• General Instructions
• Advisory for Canadian Nationals
• e-Visa has 5 sub-categories viz. e-Tourist Visa(for 30 days/01 year/ 05 years) ,e-Business Visa, e-Medical Visa, e-Medical Attendant Visa and e-Conference Visa. A foreigner (other than those applying for e-Conference Visa) will be allowed to club activities permitted under these categories. Foreigners applying for e-Conference visa will be permitted to club the activities permitted under e-Tourist visa only (validity co-terminus with e-Conference Visa only i.e. 30 days). Only two e-Medical Attendant Visas will be granted against one e- Medical Visa.
• For e-Tourist and e-Business visa, Applicants of the eligible countries/territories may apply online minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival.
• For e-Medical, e-Medical Attendant and e-Conference visa, Applicants of the eligible countries/territories may apply online minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival with a window of 120 days. Example: If you are applying on 1st Sept then applicant can select arrival date from 5th Sept to 2nd Jan
• Sample eVisa application form is available on the tab near the bottom of eVisa main page.
• Recent front facing photograph with white background and photo page of Passport containing personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc are to be uploaded mandatorily by the applicant. Additionally one more document depending upon the e-Visa type would also be required to be uploaded. The application is liable to be rejected if the uploaded documents and photograph are not clear / as per specification.
• e-Visa fee is country/Territory specific. Bank transaction charges of 2.5% will be charged additionally on applicable e-Visa fees. The fee must be paid at least 4 days before the expected date of travel otherwise application will not be processed. To know the fee applicable on your Country/Territory please Click here (for e-Tourist Visa) and for other e-Visa Click here .
• e-Visa fee once submitted is non-refundable as the fee is for processing of the application and is not dependent on either Grant or Rejection of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
• Applicant should carry a copy of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) along with him/her at the time of travel. Please confirm that your ETA status is shown as 'GRANTED' on this website prior to commencement of your journey. Applicants can track the status of their application online by clicking VisaStatus
• Biometric details of the applicant will be mandatorily captured at Immigration on arrival in India.
• e-Visa is non-extendable, non-convertible & not valid for visiting Protected/Restricted and Cantonment Areas. If you intend to visit Protected/Restricted/Cantonment areas, you would require prior permission from the Civil Authority please visit here.
• The e-Visa fee payment status updation may take up to 2 hours due to technical reasons/network delays. Before re-applying, the applicants are requested to wait for 2 hours for payment status updating, after final submission of the application form and payment of the fee. In cases, where e-Visa fee has been deducted but status is not updated, the applicants are advised to verify their payment status by clicking on 'Verify Payment/Pay Visa Fee' tab or by clicking on the link Verify Payment.
• Nationals of Yellow Fever affected countries or travellers arriving from these countries must carry YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CARD at the time of arrival in India, otherwise they may be quarantined for 6 days upon arrival in India. Please visit our Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare latest guidelines regarding yellow fever countries here.
• You must travel on the Passport which you have applied for eVisa. Entry will be allowed into India on the new passport even if ETA has been issued on the old passport, however in such cases a traveler must carry the old passport on which ETA was issued

The documents required for completing the eVisa application is indicated against each type of eVisa. Please keep all these documents ready at hand before beginning to fill your eVisa application. All documents including Business cards, Invitation letters etc. must be in English language, failing which the application would be liable for rejection. The entire process may take 10 to 15 minutes to complete the application and make the payment.

Applicants must be fill eVisa application himself/herself and give correct information in each column and take responsibility for the correctness of information provided.

Documents Required: All documents uploaded by the applicant including business cards, invitation letters etc. must be in English language, failing which e-Visa application would be liable for rejection.

The documents required for e-visa are :.

• Scanned Bio Page of the passport showing the Photograph and Details *
• For short term courses, copy of letter from the institute/organization/hospital etc. concerned on its letter-head *
• For voluntary work of short duration, copy of letter from the organization concerned on its letter-head *
• Copy of Letter from the Hospital concerned in India on its letterhead which including the date / tentative date which admission have been suggested .
• Copy of Business Card
• Any letter of invitation if applicable from indian parties which wish you conduct the business (optional).
• Copy of Passport page containing personal particulars *
• Approval of the Government of India in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Department of Sports)
• Invitation Letter to foreign sports teams and sports persons to visit India by the concerned Sports Federation/Association in India.
• If the applicant had participated in any commercial sports event during his/her previous visit to India, then documents regarding Tax compliance for the said visit are to be furnished
• If the sports event entails visit to Restricted or Protected Areas in India, below mentioned additional documents are also to be submitted (a) Clearance for holding the event from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. (b) Political Clearance for holding the event from the Ministry of external Affairs, Government of India. (c) Requisite clearance from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
• Invitation of the host institute to the foreign faculty
• Copy of the sanction order under GIAN issued by the National Coordinating Institute viz. IIT Kharagpur
• Copy of the synopsis of the courses to be taken up by the faculty
• Invitation from organizer, which applicant may seek from this organiser.
• Political clearance from Ministry of External Affairs
• Event clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs

The digital photograph to be uploaded along with the Visa application should meet the following requirements:

• Format - JPEG
• Minimum 10 KB
• Maximum 1 MB
• The height and width of the Photo must be equal.
• Photo should present full face, front view, eyes open and without spectacles
• Center head within frame and present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin
• Background should be plain light colored or white background.
• No shadows on the face or on the background.
• Without borders.
• Format -PDF
• Size : Minimum 10 KB ,Maximum 300 KB

The applicant has choice of using two option for payment.

• SBI-FAQS-Payment Related
• AXIS-FAQS-Payment Related

SBIePay is the Payment Aggregator service of State Bank of India – India’s Largest Bank and amongst top 50 Banks in the world, which provides bouquet of multiple payment options on a single page for the convenience of the customers.

SBIePay has facilitated the following channels on e-Visa platform:

• Payment Gateway: It seamlessly processes Credit card and Debit Card transactions for all the cards issued internationally by Visa & MasterCard. SBIePay Payment gateway is enabled with BIN identifier which recognises the BIN online when a customer enters the no., which drastically improves the success percentage and reduces customer friction.
• Paypal: SBIePay also facilitates e-Visa customers to make payment through widely popular and accepted Paypal channel.

SBIePay is certified with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) ver 3.2, which is the latest version, and which further reinforces our promise of security and safety. The payment system fully supports 3DSecure - Verified by Visa and MasterCard Secure Code, wherever it is applicable. Further, SBIePay is secured using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption which ensures that payment information that travels over the Internet is always encrypted and cannot be viewed by unauthorised individuals.

Yes, SBIePay has enabled international card issued by MasterCard and VISA both with and without 3D Secure authentication.

The applicant enters necessary details on https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ , and clicks on 'Pay Now'. The applicant is redirected to SBIePay payment page and is presented with payment options of either entering Card details (Payment Gateway) or Paypal .Applicant enters his card details and clicks ‘Proceed’. Now, either of the below mentioned 2 scenarios will occur:

• 3 D Secure page of the Card Issuerwill be displayed, where applicant must enter 3D Secure Password/OTP.
• Transaction is processed without 3D Secure page. After successful completion of transaction, the applicant is redirected on to the https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ with a successful receipt of payment.

If an applicant is presented with a 3D Secure page prompting to enter a password/OTP, this means the Card issuing Bank participates in 3D Secure transaction. If the applicant’s transaction is processed without directing to 3D secure page, he/she should contact the card issuing Bank for support.

In an ideal scenario, once the transaction is processed, the applicant shall be presented with a payment successful page along with a reference number.

In some rare scenarios it may happen where the application is not shown Payment successful page post completion of transaction, which may be due to a drop in connectivity leading to non-receipt of success response. If the applicant does not receive any success message even after card account has been charged, a refund shall be initiated after due reconciliation process to the applicants’ card account.

In rare case of transaction status unknown to the applicant, which is when the applicant has not received success response due to time out or connectivity issue and the account has been debited, we advise the customer not to attempt another transaction immediately and rather provide their Order no. on the e-Visa site after 30 minutes to check the status of the transaction. If the transaction status is showing ‘failed’, then customer may attempt another transaction. Also, the debited amount shall be refunded to the applicants’ card account after reconciliation process within seven (7) days of transaction.

The banking charges for:

• Payment Gateway Card transactions (both Debit or Credit Card): 2.5%* of the applicable e-Visa fee.
• Paypal: 3.5%* of the applicable e-Visa fee.

*The charges are inclusive of any applicable taxes.

The breakup of transaction charges will be displayed on the Payment page for applicants’ knowledge and to maintain transparency.

At State Bank of India, we are committed to provide best customer services to our customers. Customers can email us at sbiepay[at]sbi[dot]co[dot]in for any queries related to their transaction. Alternatively, SBIePay provides 24*7*365 customer support to all the e-Visa applicants. Applicants can also call us on the below mentioned number(s):

Contact No: +91-22-2753-5773

An applicant can perform multiple times transactions for a single application ID, with a gap of minimum 25 minutes between each transaction. It is advisable that applicant may check the status of the transaction at e-Visa portal before attempting another transaction.

An applicant shall be charged for only once for any successful transaction against an application ID. Any further debits shall be refunded back to the customer after due reconciliation, within seven (7) days of transactions.

Axis Bank is an Internet Payment Gateway Solution allows you to make payments on a 24 X 7 basis from around the world. It accepts all Visa, MasterCard and Maestro cards.

Axis Bank Payment Gateway services facilitates online payments w.r.t. all Credit and Debit Cards issued by MasterCard and VISA.

Axis Bank Payment gateway services is compliant with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) standards. All transactions initiated at Axis Bank Payment Gateway services come with 128 bit security and two factor authentication via MasterCard Secure Code and Verified-by-Visa authentication is enabled.

Axis Bank Payment gateway accepts all international card issued by MasterCard and VISA both with and without 3D secure authentication.

The applicant after filling details on https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ clicks 'Pay Now'. The applicant is redirected to Axis Bank payment gateway page and is presented with payment options like MasterCard and VISA. Cardholder enters his card number, expiry date, Name and CVV value and clicks 'Pay Now'. Incase cardholder Bank is enabled for 3D secure, then a page will appear for the cardholder to entire either his/her OTP/3D secure password. Else transaction would be processed. After successful completion of transaction, the applicant is redirected on to the https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ with a successful receipt of payment.

Incase Bank is participating for 3D Secure transaction during transaction a 3D secure page would appear and cardholders have to enter his/her password /OTP.

The applicant shall be presented with a payment successful page along with reference number. If the applicant does not receive any success message even after card account has been charged, a refund will have to be initiated after due reconciliation to the applicant's card account.

If a transaction has failed but the applicants card account is debited more than once, the amount will have to be refunded to the applicant's card account after reconciliation process within seven (7) days of transaction. In some cases, If the fund still lies with the card issuing Bank, kindly get in touch with your Bank for such case.

The banking charges are subject to maximum of 2.5% plus applicable taxes on the applicable e-Visa fees. These charges are charged to the applicant at the time of making online e visa fee payment.

Axis Bank provides technical support for all payment related transactions at ecom[at]axisbank[dot]com

Our endeavour is to provide you with a seamless experience on our platform. Please ensure following, before initiating the card payment.

• Using a non-expired card
• Have sufficient balance in your account
• Have sufficient credit card limit on the card being used
• Card is not reported as “lost or stolen”
• Entering the correct OTP. Have access to device for accessing OTP or Static password
• Card supports transactions in INR and USD
• Amount has not exceeded the daily maximum allowed amount by your issuer
• Number of transactions have not exceeded the daily maximum allowed count by your issuer
• Issuer and card not enrolled for 3DS
• Timeout occurred while receiving the OTP from issuer or while entering OTP on the payment page

SBI e-Pay Payment Gateway :-

• SBIePay is the Payment Aggregator service of State Bank of India which provides multiple payment options on a single payment page for the convenience of applicants. SBIePay has enabled Debit and Credit issued by MasterCard and VISA.
• SBIePay facilitates online payments all Credit and Debit Cards issued by MasterCard and VISA.
• SBIePay is certified with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) ver 2.0 certified, which reinforces our promise of security. The payment system fully supports 3DSecure - Verified by Visa and MasterCard Secure Code, wherever it is applicable. Further SBIePay is secured using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption which ensures that payment information never sent over the Internet unencrypted and cannot be viewed by unauthorised individuals.
• SBIePay has enabled international card issued by MasterCard and VISA both with and without 3D Secure authentication.
• The applicant after filling details on https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ and clicks 'Pay Now'. The applicant is redirected to SBIePay payment page and is presented with payment options like MasterCard and VISA. Applicant enters his card details and clicks “Proceed”. Then the applicant may see one of the two options: i. 3 D Secure page of the Card issuing page for inputing 3D Secure password/OTP ii. Transaction is processed without 3D Secure page. After successful completion of transaction, the applicant is redirected on to the https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ with a successful receipt of payment.
• The applicant shall be presented with a payment successful page along with reference number. If the applicant does not receive any success message even after card account has been charged, a refund shall be initiated after due reconciliation to the applicants card account.
• If a transaction has failed but the applicants card account is debited more than once, the amount shall be refunded to the applicants card account after reconciliation process within seven (7) days of transaction.
• The banking charges are 2.5% on the applicable e-Visa fees. These charges are charged to the applicant at the time of making online e-visa fee payment.
• SBIePay provides technical support for all payment related transactions at +91-22-2753-5773 is (24 x 7).
• An applicant can perform maximum of three transactions for a single application ID.
• If the applicant cannot succeed in three attempts, a new application is required to be filled and transaction has to be carried out with new application ID.
• An applicant shall be charged for only once against an application ID. Any double/triple debit shall be refunded after due reconciliation within seven (7) days of transactions.

Ans- The following are the eligibility conditions for availing e-Visa services-   i. Nationals of countries listed on the e-Visa website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ are eligible to apply for e-Visa Services.   ii. Foreigners whose sole objective for visiting India is     (a) Recreation and sightseeing     (b) Casual visit to meet friends and relatives     (c) Attending short term yoga programme or short term courses on local languages, music, dance, arts & crafts, cooking, medicine etc. which should not be a formal or structured course/programme      (courses not exceeding 6 months duration and not issuing a qualifying certificate/diploma etc. to the participants)     (d) Voluntary work of short duration (for a maximum period of one month, which do not involve any monetary payment or consideration of any kind in return)     (e) Medical treatment, including treatment under Indian systems of medicine     (f) As attendant to e-Medical visa holder     (g) Business purpose     (h) Attending a conference/ seminar/ workshop.   iii. Passport should have at least six months validity at the time of making application for grant of e-Visa and a re-entry permit, if that is required under the law of the country of nationality of the applicant.    The passport should have at least two blank pages for stamping by the Immigration Officer.   iv. The foreigner should have return ticket or onward journey ticket, with sufficient money to spend during his/her stay in India.   v. Foreigners of Pakistani origin or having Pakistani Passport are not eligible for e-Visa. Foreigners who are not Pakistani nationals, but whose parents or grandparents (either paternal or maternal) was born    in, or was permanently resident in Pakistan, are also not eligible for e-Visa. They may apply for regular Visa at Indian Mission.   vi. Not available to Diplomatic/Official Passport Holders or Laissez-passer/ international travel document holders.   vii. Not available to individuals endorsed on Parent's/Spouse's Passport i.e. each individual should have a separate passport.

Ans- For details regarding procedure for applying, please visit our website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/

Ans- No, https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ is only the official website to apply for the e-Visa Services.    Note - Services of e-Visa are completely online and no facilitation is required by any intermediary / travel agents etc. It is advised not to believe or fall in trap of any such unscrupulous elements who claim    speedy/express grant of e-Visa and charge money for it.    Do not share your personal information with any unauthorized website as it may lead to leakage of your personal data. Only visit the official website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ for e-Visa    service.    For any clarification, you may write us on our email id ' indian-evisa[at]gov[dot]in ' or contact us on +91 11 24300666 .

Ans- No, there is no fee other than the processing fee for e-Visa application and it is non-refundable. Please visit our website to know the fee applicable for your country as it is country-specific.

Ans- (i) For e-Tourist Visa (01 year / 05 years), e-Business Visa, e-Medical, e-Medical Attendant and e-Conference visa, applicants of the eligible countries/territories may apply online minimum 4 days in advance    of the date of arrival. Such application can be made 120 days in advance from proposed date of travel.    (ii) For e-Tourist Visa (30 days) , applicants of the eligible countries/territories may apply online minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival. Such application can be made 30 days in advance from    proposed date of travel.

Ans- Yes. Immediately after you submit your e-Visa application and make the payment, you will receive a confirmation of submission of your application on the email id provided by you while filling up your    application form.

Ans- Your e-Visa application may take 72 hours or more for processing. You will be intimated about your Visa status (Granted or Rejected) on your email id provided by you in the e-Visa application.

Ans- Yes, you may check the status of your e-Visa application by visiting our website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ and clicking on 'Check your Visa Status' Tab provided on the website.

Ans- The validity of e-Visa would be according to the e-Visa service you have requested in the application form as -    For e-Tourist Visa (01 year / 05 years) , the validity would be 365 days / 05 years from the date of grant of ETA with Multiple entries and Maximum stay in India during one Calender Year should not exceed 180 days.    For e-Tourist Visa (30 days) , the validity would be 30 days from the date of your first arrival in India. Double entries will be granted within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport. Your first    arrival must be between the date of issue and expiry of ETA.    For e-Business Visa , the validity would be 365 days from the date of grant of ETA with Multiple entries and continuous stay during each visit which shall not exceed 180 days and no registration would be    required if stay is for a period of less than 180 days. However, if the intention is to stay for more than 180 days, then the foreigner shall get himself/herself registered with the FRRO/FRO concerned     (https://indianfrro.gov.in) within two weeks after the expiry of 180 days of his/her arrival in India.    For e-Conference Visa , the validity would be 30 days from the date of arrival in India with Single entry.    For e-Medical Visa , the validity would be 60 days from the date of first arrival in India and triple entry will be allowed within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport.    For e-Medical Attendant Visa , the validity would be 60 days from the date of first arrival in India and triple entry will be allowed within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport.

Ans- No, e-Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible.

Ans- You may arrive at 31 designated Airports i.e. Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chennai, Chandigarh, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa(Dabolim), Goa(Mopa), Guwahati, Hyderabad,Indore    Jaipur,Kannur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Port Blair, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum, Varanasi & Visakhapatnam, and 5 designated seaports (i.e. Cochin, Goa, Mangalore,    Chennai and Mumbai seaports). You may depart from any of the Indian Immigration Check Posts (ICPs).

Ans- Your e-Visa application may take upto 72 hours for processing. For more enquiries on your e-Visa application, you can contact us at +91 11 24300666 or e-mail at indian-evisa[at]gov[dot]in    The applicants are advised to beware of unscrupulous elements/ travel agents/ intermediaries in this regard. In cases where applicants have been asked for correct details or additional information    where application is incomplete, the same must be sent immediately. If such information is not provided within 72 hours, the application is liable to be rejected.

Ans- Yes, ensure that your child’s passport is valid at-least for next 06 (six) months from the date of arrival in India.

Ans- e-Visa processing fee once submitted is non-refundable as the fee is for processing of the application and is not dependent on either Grant or Rejection of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

Ans- No. You have already paid the required processing fee online. The applicants are advised to beware of unscrupulous elements/ travel agents/ intermediaries demanding extra payment.

Ans- This pertains to customs department.

Ans- Make sure you delete the browser history and cookies before trying to make payment. Also try to change the browser if the problem persists.    In case you have already tried more than thrice, then you may have to re-submit the entire application form once again.    Payment Support helpline :-     Axis Bank Technical support. Email address: ecom[at]axisbank[dot]com    Contact No Toll free Numbers from:    USA : 18552055577 UK : 0808178 5040 Singapore : 8001206355 Australia : 1800153861 UAE : 8000 3570 3218 Saudi Arabia : 8008500000 Qatar : 00800 100348 Bahrain : 80011300    For rest of the countries: + 91-40-6717-4100     SBI ePay payment support provides technical support for all payment related transactions at +91-22-2753-5773 (24 x 7).

Ans- Please visit our website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ and click on 'Verify Payment/ Pay e-Visa fee'.

Ans - You have to upload the business card along with the details of Indian Firm/Company (which you intend to associate yourself with) for business activities. For Sports Related Activity under e-Business Visa, please refer Instructions for applicant page for the list of documents required.

Ans- Business card means 'a card provided to you by the company you are working for' OR you can also upload 'an invitation letter from the company in India including company's information, address and    phone number in India'.

Ans - A Copy of Letter from the Hospital concerned in India on its letterhead which includes the tentative date of admission/treatment in the hospital mentioning the name, nationality and Passport number of    the patient/ e-Medical Visa applicant.

Ans- For e-Conference Visa, following are the required documents:    (i) Invitation from organizer (mandatory)    (ii) Political clearance from Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India (mandatory)    (iii) Event clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India (optional)

Ans- You may be allowed entry into India on the new passport even if ETA has been issued on the old passport with the condition that you must carry the new Passport and old passport on which ETA was    issued.

Ans- No, You can only enter through the designated airports/seaports which are listed on the e-Visa website.

Ans- You have to put the Previous visa details in the application form as it is mandatory. You can write NA or Not Available or Not Applicable or any other suitable phrase according to you in the application    form if you do not remember your earlier Visa number/details.

Ans- The Visa on Arrival facility is only for the nationals of Japan, South Korea and UAE (only for such UAE nationals who had earlier obtained e-Visa or regular/paper visa for India). For the nationals of all other    countries eligible for e-Visa, the e-visa application have to be filled online and the applicant must wait till the confirmation/Grant of ETA for travelling to India.

Ans- e-Visa processing fee once submitted is non-refundable as the fee is for processing of the application and is not dependent on either grant or Rejection of the Application.

Ans- Entry by cruise ship is allowed with the ETA through 5 designated seaports namely Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Goa and Mangalore seaports.

Ans- 'Visible identification mark' generally means moles, birthmarks, permanent scars etc. which are visible and can be shown if askd for by the Indian Immigration Authority.

Ans- All the foreigners arriving in India within 6 days of departure from any yellow fever endemic country are required to possess (in original) a valid yellow fever certificate of vaccination.    List of Yellow fever vaccination countries-     https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Updated%20List%20of%20Yellow%20Fever%20Endemic%20Countries%20by%20WHO_0.pdf

Ans- The applicant must check all the details including Name, Nationality, Passport Number and Date of Birth, photograph/self image etc before final submission of e-Visa application. The applicant would be    responsible for any discrepancy irrespective of grant/rejection of e-Visa application. However, if any discrepancy found on ETA, e-Visa Support Centre may be contacted at indian-evisa[at]gov[dot]in or     +91 11 24300666 for assistance at least 24 hours before the journey date.

Ans- e-Visa is not allowed for employment. You may apply for a Regular Visa.

Ans- e-Visa is not allowed for NGO activities and journalism purposes. However, Voluntary work of short duration (for a maximum period of one month, which do not involve any monetary payment or    consideration of any kind in return) are allowed.

Ans- Only two e-Medical Attendant Visas will be granted against one e-Medical Visa (patient).

Authorized Immigration Checkposts

Entry points.

Persons holding eVisa will be allowed to enter into India only through the designated international airports (31) namely :

• Thiruvananthapuram
• Goa(Dabolim)
• Visakhapatnam
• Bhubaneswar

eVisa facility is also been provided for entry at 5 major Indian seaport for cruise tourists:

• New Mangalore

Exit Points

• Bhubaneshwar
• Tiruchirapalli
• Vishakhapatnam
• Attari Road
• Changrabandha
• Gauriphanta
• Kailashahar
• Lalgolaghat
• Srimantapur
• Kawarpuchia
• Bedi Bunder
• Mormagoa Harbour
• Mumbai Seaport
• Nagapattinum
• Nhava Sheva
• Vishakapatnam
• Agati and Minicoy Island Lakshdwip UT
• Vallarpadam
• Krishnapatnam
• Munabao Rail Check Post
• Attari Rail Check Post
• Gede Rail and Road Check Post
• Haridaspur Rail Check Post
• Chitpur Rail Checkpost

Technical information for e-visa: This site is best viewed in Mozilla Firefox,Google Chrome,Internet Explorer (Windows) version 9.0 and above.The applicant must also have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 7.0 or higher installed on your PC in order to download and print the completed application form. This website is compatible with Android and IOS devices.

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• The Complete Guide To Applying For A Russia Visa For Indians In 2024

15 Nov 2021

It hardly comes as a surprise to us that Russia is high up on every traveler’s bucket list. Its rich history, vibrant culture and famous art and architecture is undoubtedly delightful and engaging in equal measure. The breathtaking scenes of the snow-covered peaks of Mountain Elbrus and the mesmerizing natural valley of geysers in Kamchatka leave a vivid impression on your mind. If you’re planning to visit the country and are confused about how to get a Russia visa for Indians, allow us to take you through the quick and easy process.

Russia Visa For Indians

A Russia visa for Indians should be applied for by the citizens of India who are planning to visit the country for holidays or sightseeing. The longest period of stay on a tourist visa is 30 days. It is not possible to extend a tourist visa. Also, a Russian visa on arrival for Indian passport holders is not available. Please note that the visa is issued based on a supporting invitation letter issued by a tourist company. The R ussia visa fees in Indian rupees is mentioned below:

R ussia visa fees for Indian passport holders (single entry) : INR 1300/- R ussia visa fees for Indian passport holders (d ouble entry): INR 2080/-

Must Read: 11 Romantic Places In Russia

Where To Get It

You can obtain a Russia visa for Indians in any of the Consulates of the Russian Federation located in India. The embassies close their office for national holidays in Russia as well as holidays in India. During that time, you won’t be able to get your passport back. The processing times, procedures, and Russian tourist visa fees for Indian vary from place to place, depending upon which embassy handles your application.

Here’s a complete list of Russian Consulates in India, along with their phone numbers and location:

• Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of India, Embassy Consular Section Address: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 Phone: (8-10-91-11) 2611-05-60, 2467-85-64
• Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai Address: 42, Jagmohandas Marg (Nepean Sea Rd), Mumbai 400036 Phone: (8-10-91-22) 2363-36-27, (8-10-91-22) 2363-36-28
• Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Kolkata Address: 22A, Raja Santosh Road, Alipore, Calcutta 700027 Phone: (8-10-91-33) 2479-70-06
• Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Chennai Address: No 33 (old 14), Santhome High Road, Chennai 600004 Phone: (8-10-91-44) 2498-23-20, 2498-23-30

Suggested Read: Summer In Russia: For Soaking In The Country’s Most Splendid Vibes On Your Next Trip!

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Types Of Russia Visa

Russia visa for Indian nationals can be classified into four categories, tourist visa or visitor visa, business visa, work visa and transit visa.

1. Tourist Visa: A tourist visa is granted to a traveler who wants to visit the country for tourist purposes. If you opt for the single entry visa, it will be valid only for 30 days from the day of issue for the sole purpose of tourism. 2. Business Visa: Business visa is suitable for those people looking to travel temporarily for business purpose in Russia. 3. Work Visa: A Russian work visa for Indian is only allotted if the traveler wishes to travel to the country for the work purpose temporarily. 4. Transit Visa: Russia transit visa is provided to the people who are traveling to a third country but will spend a short stay in Russia before travelling.

Suggested Read:   19 Cool And Unusual Things To Do In Russia That You’ve Never Heard Before!

What Is Tourist Invitation

To apply for a Russia visa for Indians, you require a tourist invitation. Getting a Russia visa for Indian passport involves a tourist service agreement between a foreign citizen and a Russian travel company. This invitation is issued by a travel company which is included in the United Register of Tour Operators. Arranging a tourist voucher at the office of a travel company usually takes less than 10 minutes. There is also a faster way of obtaining it by filling out an online form and making a payment.

A tourist invitation consists of a tourist voucher and a confirmation of your arrival from the receiving company. It is drawn on the letterhead of a travel company. Therefore, its outward appearance can differ greatly. The invitation should be certified with a signature of the senior manager and an appropriate stamp. It also must have the following information for you to get a Russian private visa for Indian:

• Name of the inviting travel company and its reference number
• Full name of Indian citizen and their passport information
• Purpose of visit
• Terms of visit
• Number of entries (single or double)
• Dates of entry and exit
• Cities which you plan to visit

Suggested Read: Russia In March: An All Inclusive Guide When The Snow-Clogged Wheels Turn Again!

Documents Required

Please go through the R ussian tourist visa requirements carefully. The following documents should be submitted to the Russian Embassy or Consulate to obtain a Russia visa for Indians :

• Original passport with at least 6 months validity and 2 blank pages.
• Two copies of Russian visa application form, completed and signed.
• Two passport-size photos signed on the back.
• Original tourist invitation along with a copy.
• Proof of funds amounting to living expenses in Russia.
• Confirmed return ticket.

Further Read: 8 Compelling Reasons To Go Witness Snowfall In Russia In Winter

Russia, the world’s largest country, is a conglomeration of idyllic villages and cities throbbing with history and culture. It is an year-round destination. The snow-dusted cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow in the winter season will offer you several avenues for adventure and photography. In summer, you can go sightseeing in St. Petersburg and admire the baroque architecture of palaces. Apply for a Russia visa for Indians at the earliest and once you get it, book your vacation in Russia with TravelTriangle.

Disclaimer : Some images are for representation purposes only. TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.

Please Note:  Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Russia Visa For Indians

Is biometric data mandatory for the travelers visiting Russia?

Applicants applying for a Schengen visa have to appear in person in order to provide biometric data which includes fingerprints and photograph. This biometric data will be valid for 5 years. Children under the age of 12 do not have to go through this process for procuring a Russian tourist visa for Indians.

Do students have a different visa requirement for Russia Visa application?

Students travelling to Russia for education will have the Russian visa for Indian citizens valid till the duration of the education. In case, the student is travelling to Russia for exams or study are required to show related documents along with details of the place they’ll be studying or giving their exams.

Do I need to carry forex in Russia?

It is advisable to convert Indian currency to Russian ruble. You can also buy Forex online with Thomas Cook and get it delivered at your home.

Can a third party collect my visa from Russia Consulate?

No, a third party is not allowed to collect visa. However, there are certain exemptions like an immediate family member like parents or children can visit the office and get the visa done on behalf of the concerned person.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for Russia?

Visa to Russia for Indian citizens can be acquired from the consulate or an embassy of Russia. Indian nationals can either get a private, tourist, or business visa depending on their purpose of visit. The invitation to Russia for the citizens of India must be issued by the country.

How do Indians get a Russian visa?

To have a valid passport, set the itinerary, get a letter of invitation or visa support, fill out the visa application form, print the form, sign it, attach a photo, and take all of the documents to the Russian Visa Center, collect your passport and have travel insurance.

Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Russia?

All foreign nationals must register by providing their passport and the migration card to the hosting organization within 7 days of arriving in Russia. Indians need to pay INR 2, 480 for a single entry common tourist visa to Russia.

Is Moscow safe for Indian tourists?

Yes, Moscow is a safe place for people and tourists. They don’t bother anyone and they mind their work. you need to be clear of the dodgy areas, however. The places like Moscow and St. Petersburg are pretty safe and they are major tourist attractions too.

How much does the Russian visa cost?

The total cost of a tourist visa at the Russian Embassy or Consulate is $198. There are $160 for consular taxes, $38 for administrative fees, $18 for the letter of invitation. The total is $216 per visa per single entry visa for a person.

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The dos and don'ts of visiting Russia for the first time

Sep 24, 2021 • 6 min read

These top tips can help you make the most of your visit to Russia © MarinaDa / Shutterstock

The world’s largest country beguiles and fascinates with its world-class art, epic landscapes and multifaceted society. You may also find that perseverance  and a sense of humour will go a long way in enriching your first-time Russian travel experience. From the things you absolutely must do before you travel to the things we recommend that you steer clear of once you're there, here are some top tips for avoiding common pitfalls when visiting  Russia .

DO apply for a visa early and register on arrival

Visas must be applied for in advance by all visitors. How you do that varies depending on your nationality and where in Russia you are traveling to. Travelers from many countries, including the UK and US, need to apply in-person at an embassy or consulate and provide biometric data. An e-visa may be an option for passport-holders from 52 countries, which include many EU travelers, as well as those from China, India, Japan, Singapore, and some Middle Eastern countries. However these are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.  Check with your local Russian embassy or consulate for confirmation, or get up-to-date information here . 

You can apply at the last moment, but it may cost you a fortune. Start the application process at least a month before your trip and consider using a specialist travel agency to arrange visas and make key transport bookings. Every visitor to Russia should have their visa registered within seven days of arrival, excluding weekends and public holidays. The obligation to register is with your hotel or hostel, or landlord, friend or family if you’re staying in a private residence. Also keep in mind that your visa entry and exit dates will be written according to European calendar convention (day/month/year) as opposed to the American style, so don't get mixed up or over-stay your visa. 

DO check the events calendar

During major holidays – the first week in January (between New Year’s Day and Orthodox Christmas) and the first week or two of May (around Labour Day, or May Day, and Victory Day) – Moscow and St Petersburg empty out. Despite this, both cities are festive during these times, with parades, concerts and other events, but museums and other institutions may have shortened hours or be shut altogether. May to September is the best time to visit St Petersburg but mid-June is when the city is irresistible, with the White Nights revelry at its peak.

DO dress up for a night out

We can’t guarantee you’ll make it past Moscow’s "face control" (the term comes from clubs trying to "save face" by only letting in patrons who meet their image standards) but you can better your chances of getting in to the top clubs by making a sartorial effort – high heels and skirts for women, all black for men. Russians also make an effort when they go to the theater or a posh restaurant – you should do likewise to fit in.

DO learn the Cyrillic alphabet

Making an effort to familiarize yourself with the Cyrillic alphabet repays tenfold. It will help you decode street and metro signs, maps, timetables and menus, even if you don't know many Russian phrases. While digital tools like the Russian Metro app  and Google Translate make it easier than ever to visit countries where you don't speak or read the language, brushing up beforehand can reduce frustration and endear you to the locals.

Rideshare options such as Taxovichkoff and Yandex Taxi upended the taxi industry in Russia as much as anywhere else. That means less pressure to know the Russian phrases you'd need to hails cabs in the streets, but it still is wise to learn key phrases in case there's a navigation mixup, like the address of your hotel or intersection of your short-term apartment rental. 

DO expect to spend your money

Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world and St Petersburg is not a cheap destination either; wallet-thinning shock is common at many restaurants and hotels. As a foreigner you’ll also find yourself paying more than a Russian for some museums – often as much as 10 times the price Russians pay. If you’re a student, flashing your ID can save you money at museums and other institutions.

You can save on dining out a few different ways. Many restaurants offer "business lunches" that are great value and very filling. Several years ago the trend for " anti-cafes " cropped up in larger Russian cities, and there are still a few where you pay by the minute for coffee, biscuits, and a little wi-fi time. 

Food markets  that blend farmers markets and food halls are popular, and are often found in architecturally significant vintage buildings. You can shop for ingredients to cook yourself or sample cuisines from around the world from dozens of  vendor stalls. Many food markets are less expensive than sit-down restaurants and let you try a wider variety of local and international dishes. 

DON’T ask for a mixer with your vodka

Few traditions in Russia are as sacrosanct as the drinking of vodka , and any foreign notions of drinking it with orange juice or tonic are anathema to your average Russian. If you need something to wash it down, you can chase it with a lemon, a pickle or, perhaps, a separate glass of water. Vodka is drunk in swift shots, not sipped. It’s traditional (and good sense) to eat a little something after each shot, so order some vodka snacks too.

DON’T be disrespectful in a church

Working churches are open to everyone, but as a visitor you should take care not to disturb any devotions or offend sensibilities. There's no face control, but women should cover their heads and bare shoulders when entering a church. In some monasteries and churches it’s also required for a woman to wear a skirt – wraps are usually available at the door. Men should remove their hats in church and not wear shorts.

DON’T take photos of government buildings

Be very careful about photographing stations, official-looking buildings and any type of military-security structure – if in doubt, don’t snap! Travelers have been arrested and fined for such innocent behaviour.

DON’T be surprised if you’re stopped by the police

Although new laws were passed in 2011 that ostensibly reconfigured Russia's police and their interactions with the public, it's still wise to carry a photocopy of your passport, visa and registration – not to mention travel documents that indicate how and when you'll return home – and present them when an officer demands to see your documents. You may also see special tourist police near major attractions like the Red Square , who have special training and language skills to assist travelers.

If you're issued a fine, Russian authorities might expect an "unofficial payment" to expedite their service on the spot, as opposed to handling the matter later at the station. Either way, always ask for an official receipt, and consider carrying the phone number for your country's embassy in case matters get more complicated. 

You might also like: How to spend a perfect weekend in Moscow    How to plan and pack for the Trans-Siberian Railway    Beyond the Trans-Siberian: travelling Russia's unexplored northwest by train   

This article was originally published in August 2009.

This article was first published Oct 30, 2019 and updated Sep 24, 2021.

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• Russia Visa
• Russia Tourist Visa

What is Russia Tourist Visa?

How to get tourist visa for russia from india, eligibility, russia tourist visa requirements, photo specifications, russia tourist visa processing time, russia tourist visa fees, after submission, how to check status, when you have this visa, russian tourist visa for indian - definitive guide.

Russia is a huge country. Your Russia tourist visa will do you no good if you do not take enough time to explore and experience the diversity in the culture and the variety in its nature. Alike India, Russia sure does have such multiparity to attract visitors from across the world.

When a foreign visitor is planning to travel to Russia for tourism and other kinds of leisure activities, a tourist visa for Russia is issued. There are several benefits to this permit. It can even be issued online as well as offline. The holder is allowed to tour the country and be a part of concerts, exhibitions and other activities. On this permit, the holder can even visit their friends and family members living in Russia.

There are two ways to get a tourist visa for Russia from India . It can be obtained online in the form of an e-visa, or it can be obtained offline as a stamp visa. The e-visa is granted only to visit Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region. The validity of this permit is 30 days and the duration of stay is 8 days. For a stamp visa, the validity and the duration of the stay will differ as per the case. As per the Russia tourist e-visa news , the online permit has been made available to Indian passport holders from October 1st, 2019.

There are multiple methods to get Russia tourist visa from India . However, before the application, it is important that you check if you are eligible for the application of the same. A tourist visa for Russia can be obtained online as well as offline. The application can be made to the Embassy directly or through a visa application centre (VAC). The respective processes are as follows:

• Applying Online
• You can start by filling out the Russia visa application form .
• Confirm your email address.
• Submit the form and attach all the required documents.
• Attach recent photograph.
• Pay the required visa fees.
• Get the permit verified.
• You will then receive your e-visa.
• Applying through VAC
• Fill out the Russia visa application form online.
• Submit the application form and the required documents to the Visa Application Centre (VAC) personally.

At the time of filling out these applications, there are a few things that need to be taken care of. The internet browser that is being used to fill out the application form, must have the Javascript enabled - Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc. You also need to have a PDF file reader in the computer, preferably Adobe Acrobat Reader. It is also essential that you print or note the statement number on the top right corner of the page.

If the application does not get accepted within 4 days or if there is no response from the portal, you can then carry on to the offline application process. This application can be made directly to the Embassy of Russian Federation. The process for getting a Russia visa from India offline is as follows:

• Fill out the online Russia visa application form .
• Print the application form/fill out in block letters once printed.
• Attach a recent photograph.
• Attach all the required supporting documents.
• Submit the application form to the Embassy of Russian Federation.
• Pay the required visa fee.
• You will receive the permit after processing.

The process of filling out the application form is quite sensitive. The details must be filled out with care and the information should match with the details in the travel documents. If there are any kind of issues found in the application form, it may become inadmissible and even get rejected. There may be other reasons for visa rejection as well. In order to minimise the chances of such a rejection, it can be helpful to hire a professional visa agency.

There are certain parameters and criteria that must be met before carrying on with the application process. The parameters will help you understand the requirements of the visa and the process involved. Some of the pointers are given as follows:

• You must possess proof of purpose of visit
• If you are visiting your acquaintances, you must have an invitation letter from the resident in Russia.
• You must visit for tourism only, or visiting acquaintances and not searching for or taking up any kind of employment.
• You must be healthy enough to travel to Russia.
• You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide a relevant documentary proof.
• You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind working in Russia.
• You need to provide a relevant documentary proof for the same as well (if asked) in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Russia.
• Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

The documents requirements to get a tourist visa for Russia from India will differ as per the process that is being followed. The differentiated Russia tourist visa requirements are listed below:

• E Visa Requirements
• Passport valid for at least 6 months ahead of travel.
• Photo as per the photo specifications.
• Confirmed flight tickets.
• Proof of purpose of visit - exhibition pass, invitation letter, etc.
• Completely filled and duly signed application form.
• Covering Letter.
• Travel Insurance.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement for the last three months, etc.

Note: Scanned copies of the documents must be submitted for e visa. Also, you may be asked to submit some of the documents in Russian language.

• One copy must be provided
• Photo size: 35 mm x 45 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• It must be a JPEG image for E visa.
• Should not be older than 6 months.
• The face must cover about 70-80% of the frame.
• Head should well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white.
• Neutral expressions.
• Hair should not hide eyes.
• Both the ears must be visible.
• Teeth should not be visible.
• Glasses are not permitted, except for prescription glasses.
• Eyes must be clearly visible through glasses.
• Must be taken in clear light.
• There should be no red eyes or flashes messing the image.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The processing time required to get Russia tourist visa from India will depend on the application process that is being followed. The e-visa can be issued within 4 days, on the other hand, if applied offline, the processing may take longer, about a week to even more at times. There are certain factors that can affect the processing time. These include the day the application was made, lagging of the server, or even the workload and staff availability in the case of an offline permit.

The fees for the application of a tourist visa for Russia is paid online for an e-visa. It can be done by using any kind of standard electronic payment option. Also, for an offline permit, the fee can be paid using cash or DD as well. If you are applying through a VAC, the fee can be paid to the VAC. The Russia tourist visa fees can differ as per the duration of the stay and validity of the permit. There may be other factors as well, for instance, extra fee is to be paid if you need the visa issued within 24 hours.

When the documents and the application has been submitted, there are a few things that must be noted. Some of the pointers are given as follows:

• You can check the status of your permit online and the respective PDF file can be downloaded.
• There are detailed instructions in the file that provides guidelines for when you have the visa and what is the further procedure.
• After the submission of the documents and the application form, if you are not reverted back, you can then make an offline application for Russia visa to the Embassy of Russian Federation following the standard procedure.
• The documents provided must be in good condition.
• If there are any known issues with the application, the Embassy must be known accordingly.
• If there are any updates to be made in the application, the Embassy must be informed in time.
• If there is a change of plans, the application can be withdrawn within the processing time.
• The visa fee is generally not refundable.

The status of your permit can be checked online by visiting the Russia e visa portal. To check the status, you just need to enter your reference number and you can know the processing status of your online tourist visa for Russia . To check the status offline, you can contact the VAC if you have applied through one, or you can contact the Consulate for the same.

You will receive your visa after the processing of the application. The e-visa will emailed to you on the registered email ID. The stamp visa can be collected directly from the Embassy. When you have your tourist visa for Russia , there are a few things that you need to note when you travel to Russia. Some of the pointers are given as follows:

• Before you travel
• Print your e-visa for Russia.
• Note what port you are supposed to enter the country through.
• Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
• You should travel to Russia within the validity of your visa.
• Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
• Issue health insurance and travel Insurance from a certified company.
• At the Border
• Enter the respective port as per the specification on your permit.
• Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
• Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
• Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
• Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• Ensure not to get involved in any kind of employment. You can, however, do volunteer work.
• The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
• Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i extend my russia tourist visa.

To get the visa extension, you must first have a legitimate reason to do so. You can apply for an extension at a local office of FMS, at the migration registration. You will have to provide copies of your passport and the printed visa or visa stamp page to the FMS local office and you will then be provided with an extension after the payment of the fee. There are certain other details to take care of as well. The criteria for the extension shall differ as per the type of the permit.

After expiring my Russia Tourist Visa how long can I stay?

When your tourist visa for Russia has expired, you are not allowed to stay in the country anymore unless you already have an extension. If you have humanitarian reasons to stay back, you will automatically will be granted an extension. If you are caught with an expired permit, there are chances that you will be highly fined and even jailed or deported. In more serious cases, you can be banned from re-entering the country even.

What is the medical test for Russia Tourist Visa?

A medical test is carried out in order to make sure that the candidate is fit to be in Russia and does not have any contagious diseases. However, this medical test is not necessarily carried out for the tourist visa as it is a short-stay visa and the process is mainly mandated for long-term visas like a resident permit or work visa. There is no specialised medical test for the tourist type.

Can I convert my Russia Tourist Visa into Work Visa?

No, you are not allowed to convert a tourist visa into a work permit. If you require a work visa, you need to apply for the same differently. However, when you get a work visa within the validity of your existing tourist visa, the existing visa will get cancelled once you get the work visa.

How much bank balance required to get Russia Tourist Visa for Indian?

The amount that is required in your savings bank account is not specified clearly by the Embassy of Russian Federation. There may be requirements as per the type of your visa and whether the permit is applied online or offline and the validity and the duration of the stay of the same. It needs to be enough to support your stay in the country and other leisure activities. If there is no travel insurance, it must be enough to cover your medical emergencies as well.

How long before the trip should I apply for a Russia Tourist Visa?

As per the guidelines provided by the Embassy of Russian Federation, the application is to be made at least 20 days prior to the intended date of entry for an online permit. For an offline permit, you can apply at least 3 to 4 weeks prior to the intended date of travel. This shall give enough time to the officials to verify the application, conduct an interview if required and process the permit. At times, the processing may even take longer.

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Politics latest: Potential contender confirms she's considering standing to replace Humza Yousaf

Kate Forbes tells Sky News she is considering running to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader, as John Swinney - another potential candidate - says the SNP must "come together".

Tuesday 30 April 2024 21:35, UK

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• Kate Forbes confirms she is considering standing to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader
• John Swinney - another potential candidate - issues call of unity in Sky News interview
• What you need to know about Forbes and Swinney
• The contest explained  | Why Yousaf resigned
• Number 10 responds after Irish PM says UK must respect arrangement to take back asylum seekers
• Local elections: Everything you need to know about this week's votes
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler and (earlier)  Samuel Osborne

The UK has sent the first failed asylum seeker to Rwanda - under a voluntary scheme.

The scheme is for those who have gone through the asylum process and had permission rejected, rather than for migrants who have illegally entered Britain by crossing the Channel on small boats.

The migrant was sent on a commercial flight and handed a fee from the British taxpayer to help relocate under the terms of a deal with Rwanda.

According to The Sun, the man of African origin claimed asylum in the UK but was rejected at the end of last year. He then accepted the offer to go to Rwanda.

He left the UK on Monday.

You can read more from Sky News here: 

By Sam Coates , deputy political editor

More than 2,600 seats are up for election in 107 English councils on Thursday.

Now, YouGov has made its final calls for some key contests using the MRP polling method after interviewing almost 9,000 people over two weeks.

Here, exclusively on Sky News, are the headlines...

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf resigned yesterday in the face of two confidence votes after he dramatically brought the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens to an end last week.

How did we get here?

The Bute House Agreement - signed back in 2021 and named after the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh - brought the Green Party into government for the first time in the UK.

It gave the SNP a majority at Holyrood when the votes of its MSPs were combined with those of the seven Green members, and also made Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater junior ministers.

Without it, the SNP would need to have operated as a minority administration at Holyrood.

What caused the relationship to sour?

There had been mounting tensions between the largest party at Holyrood and their junior partners in government.

The Greens were angered at the SNP-led administration's recent decision to ditch a key climate change target.

That, combined with the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers to under-18s at Scotland's only gender clinic, resulted in the Greens announcing they would have a vote on the future of the power-sharing deal. 

What brought things to a head?

Mr Yousaf decided to pull the plug on the agreement last Thursday - arguing it had "served its purpose" - prompting a major fallout with his former allies, who vowed to back a no-confidence motion in his leadership proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.

Scottish Labour also submitted a motion of no confidence in the Scottish government as a whole.

In the face of the two votes, Mr Yousaf announced he would stand down yesterday, but said he would stay on to allow a successor to be chosen.

Scotland's health secretary has been told the NHS is "not coping, GPs are struggling, and primary care is on its knees".

Neil Gray came under questioning at the Scottish parliament on Tuesday amid reports that the number of private GP clinics in Scotland has more than tripled since the COVID pandemic as patients have struggled to get appointments on the NHS.

Scottish Labour MSP Carol Mochan asked: "Does the cabinet secretary accept that by not adequately funding GP services, this government have overseen the development of a two-tier health system where the worst off go without and even those on lower incomes are forced to pay for them or their loved ones just to see a GP?"

In response, Mr Gray said  COVID  was the "biggest shock in the history of the NHS and its effects are still felt".

You can read more from Sky News below:

Nominations have now opened in the SNP leadership contest to find a replacement for First Minister Humza Yousaf after he announced he was stepping down yesterday.

Senior figures have backed former deputy first minister John Swinney for the top job, while a smaller number of the party's parliamentarians have backed former finance secretary Kate Forbes.

Mr Yousaf has said he will stay on to allow a successor to be chosen.

How does the contest work?

The SNP's national secretary announced nominations had opened yesterday at 11.59pm.

They will close next Monday.

Prospective candidates will need to gain the support of 100 members from 20 different SNP branches in order to qualify for the contest.

What happens next?

Whoever wins the contest will then need to be able to win enough votes in Holyrood to be elected first minister.

The SNP needs just two votes to secure an overall majority.

The most likely backers for the SNP would be the Greens, given both parties are pro-independence.

However, the Greens announced last week they would not support the first minister in a confidence vote after Mr Yousaf scrapped the powersharing agreement between the party and the SNP, which eventually led to his political downfall.

By Daniel Dunford , senior data journalist

There might not be a general election just yet, but there are important votes that will define how the areas around us are run for the next four years. 

See what's happening where you are here:

Our deputy political editor Sam Coates is now joining Sophy with some new polling ahead of the local elections, which will take place on Thursday.

YouGov have tonight made some final calls for some of the key contests, after interviewing almost 9,000 people over a two-week period.

As Sam explains: "Let me start with two key battlegrounds - and it's Milton Keynes and Hyndburn. Now, we're about to see Labour HQ will be very pleased with Sky and YouGov saying they're both going red.

"Now, Hyndburn is a red wall council that has proved sticky recently, that's why they'll be pleased."

However, Sam does point to a few councils which YouGov says are too close to call.

These include Norwich and Tamworth. Labour could be building momentum here,  but the pollster was unwilling to make a call.

With Humza Yousaf stepping down as Scotland's first minister and SNP leader, Scotland reporter Jenness Mitchell takes a look at some of the potential candidates that could throw their hat into the ring to take the top job.

Sophy is now speaking to Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson, who has been the driving force behind an amendment hoping to get compensation into the hands of victims of the Infected Blood Scandal.

She says: "I understand that the government have accepted the amendment that the Labour frontbench put forward, which was for the compensation body to be set up within three months of Royal Assent.

"That mirrors what the House of Commons voted for last December.

"I'm pleased that the government have recognised how important it is to get a timeframe for this."

She points out that roughly two people die every week connected with the scandal.

"What we need now is quickness, we need this compensation body set up and we need this compensation to be paid as quickly as possible to the infected and the affected."

How is the government going to find this money?

"Well, the government accepted some time ago the moral case for compensation to be paid," Dame Diana says. "What they have failed to do so far is to actually say how much is going to be paid.

"They've not talked about the quantum." 

The MP says this may be a pay-out of around £5bn.

Tonight, we're expecting movement on a campaign for compensation to victims of the Infected Blood Scandal.

In the Lords, peers will be voting on an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill - which would go some way to achieving that.

New data released today shows 710 people have died since 2017 after being infected with HIV and Hepatitis C from infected blood imported from the US.

In the last few minutes, a concession has been made by the government in accepting a Labour-led demand that the infected blood compensation scheme be set up within three months of legislation coming into force.

Deputy Lords leader Earl Howe said: "Victims of this scandal have waited far too long to see justice and the government shares the determination of the House to ensure compensation reaches victims quickly."

He added: "We recognise that Parliament and the infected blood community need clarity on when these measures will be in place.

"I can say now that the government supports the opposition's amendment to deliver the regulations establishing an infected blood compensation scheme within three months of royal assent and we are committed to doing so."

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The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

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• Trivia Marisa Abela had done most of the singing in this film herself. She trained extensively to mimic Amy Winehouse 's vocals.

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Indians immigrate to canada in record numbers.

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People wait to clear the Customs and Immigration plaza before or after crossing the Peace Bridge in ... [+] Buffalo, New York on the border with Canada. The number of Indians immigrating to Canada has more than quadrupled since 2013 due to policies aimed at attracting and retaining talent. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)

The number of Indians immigrating to Canada has more than quadrupled since 2013. A new report finds many Indian students have decided to attend Canadian universities rather than U.S. universities because Canada’s immigration policies are better at attracting and retaining talent. The data show Canada’s policies have translated into more Indians immigrating to Canada.

Diplomatic issues between India and Canada that have affected visa processing and a two-year Canadian cap on international student permits will reduce the number of Indians obtaining student visas to attend Canadian universities in the short term. Absent changes in U.S. immigration policies, those developments may not affect the choices of Indians in the long term.

Canada’s Winning Policies

“Highly skilled foreign nationals, including international students, have been choosing Canada over America because it is difficult to gain H-1B status or permanent residence in the United States, and easy to work in temporary status and acquire permanent residence in Canada,” according to a National Foundation for American Policy analysis . “More favorable immigration policies are a significant factor in Canada attracting international students, particularly students from India.”

The NFAP analysis notes that Canada has no annual limit on high-skilled temporary visas. Most Canadian visas for high-skilled foreign nationals are processed within two weeks. In the United States, gaining H-1B temporary status after graduating from a university has grown more difficult , with the H-1B annual limit reached for more than 20 consecutive fiscal years .

Problems for high-skilled foreign nationals continue after gaining H-1B status. A professional from India could wait decades for permanent residence due to the per-country limit and low annual limit on employment-based green cards. Over 1.2 million Indians , including dependents, are waiting in the first, second and third employment-based green card categories, according to an NFAP analysis.

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The story is much different in Canada. Some provinces have programs with numerical limits that allow individuals with a master’s or Ph.D. from Canadian universities to gain permanent residence even without work experience, according to Peter Rekai, an attorney with Rekai LLP in Toronto. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) blocked including an exemption from green card limits for many international graduate students in science and technology fields during negotiations over the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act .

“In Canada we have a program for graduating international students similar to but more generous than the U.S. Optional Practical Training category,” said Rekai. He notes that while working on a three-year post-graduation work permit, a student who works for one year or more in a high-skilled position will likely gain the necessary points under Canada’s Express Entry system to receive permanent residence.

In July 2023, Canada’s program to entice H-1B visa holders to the country attracted so many applications that it reached the 10,000 limit in less than 48 hours.

Indian Immigration To Canada

“Between 2013 and 2023, Indians immigrating to Canada rose from 32,828 to 139,715, an increase of 326%,” according to the NFAP analysis.

Indian enrollment at Canadian universities rose more than 5,800% in the last two decades, from 2,181 in 2000 to 128,928 in 2021, an increase of 126,747 students.

Between 2016 and 2019, Indian international students enrolled in U.S. universities dropped by 13% but increased by 182% at Canadian universities. Diplomatic issues between India and Canada have reduced Indian student visa approvals in the short term.

Canada Attracting International Students

International student enrollment at Canadian universities rose from 62,223 in 2000 to 400,521 in 2021, increasing by 544%, according to the NFAP analysis. International student enrollment in America increased by 45% between 2000 and 2021.

The Trump administration made it more challenging to obtain H-1B status and signaled it might restrict or eliminate Optional Practical Training for students. Analysts say those policies likely scared off many international students.

Between 2016 and 2019, international student enrollment fell by almost 6% at U.S. universities but rose nearly 52% at Canadian universities.

Although Canada recently placed a two-year limit on new international student permits, the government exempted students in master’s degree and Ph.D. programs. The Canadian government will lengthen the validity of many post-graduation work permits for graduate school programs.

International student enrollment at U.S. schools, including among Indians, regained lost ground in the 2022-23 academic year. Some of the gains could be due to the end of the Covid-19 pandemic (i.e., students who did not enroll in 2020 or 2021). The enrollment of Indian students in 2021-22 was similar to 2016-17 but soared in 2022-2023 at U.S. universities. The end of the Trump administration’s policies may also have contributed to the increased international student enrollment. However, additional years of data may be needed to provide a complete picture.

U.S. educators and employers should note that Chinese students are not coming to the United States as in the past. The NFAP analysis found, “The level of Chinese international students in U.S. graduate-level engineering programs was flat between fall 2016 and fall 2019 and, unlike Indians, declined in 2022.” Chinese graduate students in computer science fell between 2019 and 2022.

“U.S. immigration law remains less attractive than Canada’s for international students who wish to work after graduation,” concluded the NFAP analysis. “That has affected the choices of international students. The gap between the United States and other countries in attracting international students could grow larger if U.S. immigration policy becomes more restrictive.”

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Critics of Narendra Modi barred from entering India after speaking out against government

British academic Nitasha Kaul has long researched the changing social and political landscape in India.

It's led her to a dire conclusion about the world's most populous democracy.

"What we're witnessing post-2014 is a democratic erosion in India — that is undeniable," Professor Kaul told the ABC.

More than 950 million Indians are eligible to vote in this year's general election which began last week , and is held in seven phases until June 1.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to easily win a third term in office after first coming to power in 2014.

But ahead of the critical poll, Professor Kaul was shocked when she was barred from entering the country.

In February, she was detained and then deported after being invited to speak at a conference on the country's constitution, despite holding a valid lifelong visa.

She said no reason had ever been given for the decision.

"If you are critical of a political project, or a political party or their policies, it should be very straightforward that you're not against the country," she said.

"What … these kinds of actions do is label people as anti-national for being critical of a party or of its policies or a leader."

Professor Kaul held an Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card.

Indian citizens can only hold one passport, but the OCI card acts as a lifelong visa, allowing foreign nationals of Indian origin to reside and work in India.

Professor Kaul's experience isn't an isolated one.

Research by the pro-democracy group Article 14 found at least 102 people have had their OCI cards revoked since 2014 under a clause of the country's citizenship laws.

The clause allows the government to cancel an OCI for several reasons, including if they have "shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India".

A Human Rights Watch report found several high-profile academics — who had published research critical of Indian government policy, Mr Modi or had commented on big issues affecting the country — were among those barred from entering India.

The report noted that in addition to cancelling OCI cards, the Indian government downgraded the privileges of 4.5 million OCI cardholders in 2021.

That move meant they needed to seek special permission to carry out tasks like research and journalism or visit areas in India listed as "protected".

Reducing public debate in India

Professor Kaul is the chair of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster and has written extensively on how India's political landscape has changed since Mr Modi came to power.

She has also written about rising authoritarianism in the country.

After going public about her experience, she said other academics expressed concern their work would be a barrier to them getting home to see family.

She said the government's aim was to ultimately reduce the size of the public sphere in which to debate policy and publish academic work.

"This is a classic kind of authoritarian thing to be doing," she said.

Professor Kaul also received "violent, vicious, extremist, misogynistic, graphic sexual trolling" and death threats online.

"The idea for people who do that to people who are in the public domain is to try and intimidate and silence them," she said.

At the time Professor Kaul was denied entry, India's Ministry of External Affairs said "entry of foreign nationals into our country is a sovereign decision".

'Grossly unfair' 

London-based writer and activist Amrit Wilson's OCI card was cancelled two years ago.

She was born in India but moved to the United Kingdom when she was in her 20s, keeping close ties to her home nation.

Ms Wilson said the government attributed the cancellation to an article she wrote about protesting Indian farmers  and a social media post about the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.

She's challenging the cancellation.

"It seemed grossly unfair," Ms Wilson told the ABC.

"The government can't handle dissent of any type. It locks dissenters up and if they're abroad it tries to target them in other ways."

The Indian government was contacted for comment on why it was cancelling OCIs. 

Opposition MPs have been arrested , protesters have been detained and internet shutdowns have targeted anti-government commentary in the lead-up to the national election. 

Reporters Without Borders ranked India 161st of 180 countries and territories in its latest World Press Freedom Index.

Human Rights Watch's Asia director Elaine Pearson said other countries should hold India to account.

"These governments should press the Modi administration to interact with its critics to bring about reform, instead of intimidating them into silence," Ms Pearson said.

Rising Hindu nationalism

Mr Modi's grip on political power is intricately connected with religion and a rising anti-Muslim sentiment in India.

India is still officially a secular nation, and while Hinduism is the biggest religion, the country is home to 200 million Muslims.

Despite that, Mr Modi hasn't hidden his Hindu nationalist ideals.

In January, he inaugurated a Hindu temple built on the site of a demolished mosque, delivering on one of his earlier poll promises.

His government has also moved to enact a law that fast-tracks naturalisation for people who have fled from religious persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan but excludes Muslims from those countries.

In 2019, he stripped the Muslim-majority region Kashmir of its special status, bringing it under Delhi's control.

Ms Wilson said there was a concerted attack on Muslims, aiding the government and Mr Modi's political agenda.

"Modi plays to the Hindu majority by creating a fear of Muslims," she said.

"He concocts all kinds of lies about the Muslim population, and people do fall for it."

Last week, India's main opposition party accused Mr Modi of using hate speech after he called Muslims "infiltrators" at an election rally .

Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party denies accusations of fostering religious intolerance and says its policies benefit all Indians.

India Hate Lab, a website tracking hate speech in India, found a steep rise in hate speech targeting Muslims in the second half of 2023. 

It documented 413 incidents, a 62 per cent rise compared to the first six months of the year.

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