The Russian government is moving to endorse a simpler visa regime with India in an effort to facilitate trade and business contacts between the two countries.
At its meeting on Tuesday chaired by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the Russian government will discuss a ratification bill for the Inter-Governmental Agreement between India and Russia on Simplification of Requirements for Mutual Travels of Certain Categories of Citizens, the government news agency Itar-Tass reported on Monday. The government is expected to send the pact to Parliament for ratification.
The agreement, signed in December 2010, will simplify the procedure for issuing six-month visas for 90-day visits by citizens of Russia and India who have valid passports, Itar-Tass said. It will also provide for issuing in some cases of five-year multiple visas.
“This will benefit travel between our two countries by businessmen and tourists,” Indian Ambassador to Russia, Ajai Malhotra said.
The Indian embassy last month cut from 14 to three working days the time visas are issued to Russians. The validity of visas has been increased from the earlier one-to-three months to six months, with triple or multiple entries being allowed, compared to a single or double entry earlier. Additionally, the embassy is now granting a one year multiple entry business visa instead of three or six months visa with a single/double entry.
“These changes will enhance tourist and business flows from Russia to India,” Ambassador Malhotra said. “We issued about 110,000 visas to Russian citizens in 2010, the overwhelming majority to tourists. I hope to see this number expanding by at least 25% in 2011.”
