India, Russia sign 7 key agreements, free 30-day e-tourist visa announced for Russian travellers

A key highlight of the talks was India’s decision to offer free 30-day e-tourist visas to Russian nationals, aimed at boosting tourism and facilitating people-to-people exchanges.

Seven agreements finalised

The agreements signed between the two nations include:

Cooperation and Migration Agreement

Agreement on Temporary Labour Mobility

MoU on Healthcare and Medical Education

Food Safety and Standards Cooperation

Polar Ship Collaboration

Maritime Cooperation Agreement

Fertiliser Production Agreement

The fertiliser agreement is seen as particularly significant for India. Under this pact, India and Russia will begin joint production of urea, reducing India’s heavy dependence on imported fertilisers. India currently imports a large share of its urea requirement from Russia.

Relief for Indian workers, opportunity for Russians

The new mobility agreement will allow Indian workers to travel to Russia through structured channels and access better-paying job opportunities. With stricter migration rules introduced in several European countries, this pact is expected to benefit thousands of skilled workers.

Prime Minister Modi also announced that Russian citizens will receive free 30-day e-tourist visas, providing a major boost to bilateral travel at a time when Western countries such as the UK and Canada have tightened immigration norms.