TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Russia is discussing the ideas of implementing visa-free travel for Indonesia and several other countries, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.
In an interview with RIA Novosti at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPEF), Chernyshenko named the other countries as Malaysia, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
"We are discussing with our partners the possibility of completely waiving visas for Malaysia, Indonesia, Bahrain, and Kuwait," Chernyshenko said.
Similar measures are also being explored for organized tour groups from India and Vietnam, he said, with the mechanism being considered similar to the intergovernmental agreements with China and Iran.
Previously, Indonesia's Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said President Prabowo Subianto and Russia's Vladimir Putin had discussed a bilateral visa-free travel scheme during a meeting in Moscow on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, as quoted from Antara.
“President Putin also raised humanitarian and tourism cooperation, supported by direct flights and a possible visa-free policy,” Teddy said in Jakarta.
The two leaders spoke for three hours inside the Kremlin. Prabowo visited Moscow after completing an official visit to Islamabad, Pakistan.
Meanwhile, earlier in May, Russia also waived the visit visa requirements for Saudi Arabian travelers, in a bid to bolster tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries, according to Arab News.
The waiver covers all passport types, from diplomatic, special, to ordinary passports. Under the waiver, citizens of both countries may enter without a visa for visit purposes, including tourism, business, or visiting relatives and friends. However, visa is still required for travelers entering for work, study, residence, or Hajj.
Read: South Korea Grants Temporary Visa-Free Entry for Indonesian Tourists
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