Russia, India to continue steps to ease visa regime - diplomat

EW DELHI, December 15. /TASS/. Russia and India are going to ease the mutual visa issuing procedure in the future, including for businessmen and tourists, head of the consular department of the Russian embassy to India Mikhail Vorobyov told TASS on Tuesday. "As for businessmen, they will soon be required to present only the invitation from the receiving party - a legal entity - to get a visa both to Russia and to India. This practice is currently used between Russia and the European Union," he said. "It’s an important step we have been requested to take by both countries’ businessmen over the past few years." At present, it is possible to apply for a business visa only if the applicant has the invitation from the authorized organizations in Russia and in India, and there are four of such organizations on each side, which, according to the parties, sometimes considerably slows down the process. In addition, Vorobyov said, India may become the first country with which Russia will conclude an agreement on mutual issuing of six-month tourist visas. At present, the maximum term of a Russian tourist visa is only 30 days. "Russia previously introduced amendments to its legislation that allow us to issue visas to citizens of foreign states on the condition of the existence of mutual agreement with these countries. We are going to sign this agreement," the diplomat said. "India has already started issuing such visas." He added that both documents should be signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first state visit to Russia that is scheduled for December 24 - 25. Last year, India introduced electronic visas for tourists from Russia and a number of other countries. Now they are required to fill in the questionnaire on a special website (indianvisaonline.gov.in), upload a personal photo and a copy of the first page of the passport and pay the visa fee - $60 using a credit card (also through the website). This should be done at least four days before the trip. The electronic visa, which will be checked upon the tourists’ arrival in the country, will be issued within 72 hours after completion of the procedure. The electronic visa applies to tourist and business trips for up to 30 days, and is also issued to the people arriving in the country to visit their relatives and friends and undergo medical treatment. Read more