An Indo Russian deal easing issuance of business and tourist visas to the nationals was approved by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. At a meeting, the Russian Cabinet chaired by Putin gave its nod to the agreement and forwarded the same to the Lower House of the Parliament the State Duma for ratification.
In New Delhi, on December 21st 2010, India and Russia signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement on simplification of requirements for mutual travels of certain categories of citizens.
Presenting the document at the Cabinet meeting, the First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov said, The Agreement aims to consolidate the legal basis for Russia-India relations in the area of requirements for mutual travels of citizens and promote creation of favorable conditions for facilitation of mutual travels of certain categories of citizens of the two countries, first of all representatives of business structures, scientists, cultural workers, students and tourists.
As per the Cabinet Press Service, citizens of the two countries holding valid passports can stay on the territory of the other country for upto 90 days within a period of 180 days.
Presently, inorder to travel to Russia or India, an invitation or a tourist voucher is required by the individual citizens and organizations. But they will be able to directly apply for the visas if the Parliament ratifies the deal and the law has been signed into by the President Dmitry Medvedev.
Since the Soviet collapse, for the first time the two sides are also considering the possibility of issuing multiple entry visas valid for upto five years to the citizens of both the countries under the condition that they follow certain requirements which are yet to be identified.
India took a lead in resolving the vexed visa issue by liberalizing its rules for those Russian citizens who are visiting India on business and tourism, earlier in the month of June.
By, SM
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