Russia's visa-free travel boom draws millions of new tourists
Russia is expanding its visa-free travel policies to boost tourism and foreign visits. Recent agreements with several countries have already increased arrivals, with numbers rising sharply over the past two years. Now, new deals with China, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan are set to further ease travel restrictions.
In January, foreign arrivals to Russia jumped by 37%. Over the last two years, visitor numbers have grown by 1.5 times, reaching 5.6 million. The government aims to push this figure to 10 million annual tourists in the near future.
New visa-free agreements have already taken effect. On December 1, Russia and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual waiver, allowing easier travel between the two nations. Just days later, on December 13, a similar deal with Jordan came into force. China also introduced a one-year visa-free regime for Russian citizens starting September 15, 2025. Meanwhile, Moscow and Beijing are in talks to extend this policy further. Russia has previously secured visa-free access with Oman and Saudi Arabia, and discussions are ongoing for group waivers with India and Vietnam. Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov recently announced plans for visa-free travel with Malaysia, Bahrain, and Kuwait. However, no specific timelines or details have been released yet.
The expansion of visa-free agreements is already showing results, with foreign tourism climbing steadily. As more countries join the list, Russia expects visitor numbers to keep rising. The next target is 10 million annual tourists, supported by ongoing negotiations and new travel policies.
