Visa policy of Belarus explained

Visitors to Belarus must obtain a visa from one of the Belarusian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.

Visa exemption

Ordinary passports

Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories may enter Belarus without a visa for the following period:[1]

Freedom of movement
  • IP

Indefinite period

90 days

90 days within any 180 days

30 days

IP - Internal passport accepted if arriving directly from Russia or Kazakhstan.
1 - No more than 90 days within any 1 calendar year.
2 - For holders of MSAR passports or MSAR Travel Permits.
3 - Currently visa exempt through other waivers until the end of 2024. Must present a tourist voucher or an invitation letter in order to enter Belarus without a visa.

Temporary visa-free access

Citizens of the following countries are already exempt for entries through the Minsk Airport and for the period from 19 July 2024 to 31 December 2024 they may enter Belarus without a visa through land border crossings, with a maximum stay of 30 days within any 1 calendar year (90 days for citizens of Latvia including non-citizens, Lithuania and Poland):[25] [26]

1 - Including non-citizen residents of Estonia and Latvia.

Non-ordinary passports

Holders of diplomatic or official/service passports of the following countries and territories may enter Belarus without a visa for the following period:

Freedom of movement

180 days

90 days

90 days within any 180 days

30 days

D - Diplomatic passports only.
1 - No more than 90 days within any 1 calendar year.

Additional requirements

All visitors are required to have an adequate health insurance.

Regional visa-free regime

Visa-free access through Minsk National Airport

Foreign visitors who are citizens of designated countries are allowed to enter Belarus without a visa through the Minsk National Airport, except for flights departing to and from Russian airports.
The allowed length of stay is up to 30 days, with mandatory registration for stays exceeding 5 days in length.
Visitors must also depart from Minsk National Airport, departure by other methods (for example by train) is not permitted.
The number of visa-free entries is unlimited.[27]

The decree "On establishing a visa-free order of entrance and departure of foreign citizens" was signed by the President of Belarus on 9 January 2017 and it entered into force on 12 February 2017.[28] [29] [30] [31]
It was amended by another presidential decree on 24 July 2018, which entered into force on 27 July 2018.[32] [33]

Conditional2

1 - Including non-citizen residents of Estonia and Latvia.
2 - Only if they have a multiple entry visa (i.e., a 'C' or 'D' type visa) from a European Union or Schengen area member country, an entry stamp from one of these countries and a valid air ticket with departure from the airports located in Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno and Mogilev. The EU residence cards are not accepted for this purpose.[34]

In September 2017 it was announced that Belarus is planning to extend the visa-free access to 10 days and to other checkpoints.[35]
In November 2017 statistics were published showing that 54,000 foreigners visited Belarus through the visa-free program, mostly citizens of Germany, Poland, Italy, United States and the United Kingdom.[36]
Effective since 17 October 2021, visa is required for US citizens to travel to Belarus.[37]

Brest-Grodno

The single visa-free territory "Brest – Grodno" was established by a presidential decree signed in August 2019 and has been in effect since November 10, 2019.[38] [39]

Visitors are allowed to stay without a visa for 15 days. Entry is possible through the following checkpoints with Poland and Lithuania - Brest (Terespol), Bruzgi (Kuźnica), Damačava (Sławatycze), Bieniakoni (Šalčininkai), Bierastavica (Bobrowniki), Piasčatka (Połowce), Pryvalka (Raigardas), Piareraŭ (Białowieża), Liasnaja (Rudawka), Pryvalka (Švendubrė), Brest-Uschodni Railway Station, Grodno Railway Station, Brest Airport and Grodno Airport. Prior to travel, visitors must obtain an appropriate document[40] issued by a local travel agency registered in Belarus.

The list of eligible citizens is the same as that for the visa-free program through the Minsk National Airport, only without restrictions for certain citizens.

The visa-free zone consists of the following territories:

The legislation superseded the previous decrees that established two separate visa-free zones: Brest area including Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park (since June 2015)[41] and Augustów Canal area including Grodno (since October 2016).[42]

Future plans

Reciprocity

See main article: Visa requirements for Belarusian citizens. Belarusian citizens may enter without a visa to all countries whose citizens are allowed visa-free entry. Among the countries that have been granted visa-free access under the pilot program, Belarusian citizens are granted visa-free access to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Haiti, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles and Vanuatu.

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving to Belarus were from the following countries:[45]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Visa-free countries in general.
  2. Previous visa-free agreement was applied under the agreement between Commonwealth of Independent States member states from 9 October 1992
  3. Web site: СОГЛАШЕНИЕ о безвизовом передвижении граждан государств Содружества Независимых Государств по территории его участников . Agreement on visa-free travel of citizens of the states of the Commonwealth of Independent States on the territory of its participants . A single register of legal acts and other documents of the Commonwealth of Independent States . Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States . 10 December 2017 . ru.
  4. Web site: Соглашение между Правительством Союза Советских Социалистических Республик и Союзным Исполнительным Вече Скупщины Социалистической Федеративной Республики Югославии о взаимных поездках граждан . Agreement between the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Federal Executive Council of the Federal People's Assembly of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on reciprocal travel of citizens . Information Channel on Technical Regulation in Russia . Techexpert . 10 December 2017 . ru.
  5. Web site: Пагадненне паміж Урадам Рэспублікі Беларусь і Урадам Рэспублікі Куба аб узаемных бязвізавых паездках грамадзян . Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Cuba and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on mutual visa-free travel . National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus . National Center of Legal Information of the Republic of Belarus . 9 December 2017 . ru.
  6. Web site: Соглашение между Правительством Республики Беларусь и Союзным Правительством Союзной Республики Югославия об отмене виз . Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on the abolition of visas . ru . Department of Information and Public Relations Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus . . 10 December 2017 .
  7. Web site: Bilateral Issues with Foreign Countries - Belarus . . 9 December 2017 .
  8. Web site: Соглашение между Правительством Республики Беларусь и Правительством Боливарианской Республики Венесуэла об отмене виз в национальных паспортах . Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the abolition of visas in national passports . National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus . National Center of Legal Information of the Republic of Belarus . 9 December 2017 . ru.
  9. Web site: Об установлении безвизового порядка въезда, выезда и осуществления транзитного проезда (транзита) через территорию Республики Беларусь граждан Государства Катар . On the establishment of a visa-free entry, exit and transit transit through the territory of the Republic of Belarus of citizens of the State of Qatar . National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus . National Center of Legal Information of the Republic of Belarus . 9 December 2017 . ru.
  10. Web site: Nationals of following countries are exempted from visa to enter Mongolia (as of may 2017) . Consular Department . . 9 December 2017 .
  11. Web site: Visa Free Travel between Belarus and Turkey . Consulate General of the Republic of Belarus in Istanbul . . 9 December 2017 .
  12. Web site: Regimen sin visado para los ciudadanos del Ecuador . Visa-free regime for citizens of Ecuador . Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Republic of Ecuador. . 9 December 2017 . es.
  13. Web site: Belarus-Israel visa abolition agreement to enter into force on 26 November . 27 August 2015 . . 9 December 2017 .
  14. Web site: Об установлении безвизового порядка въезда и выезда отдельных граждан . On the establishment of a visa-free entry and exit procedure for individual citizens . National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus . National Center of Legal Information of the Republic of Belarus . 9 December 2017 . ru.
  15. Web site: No visa requirements between Belarus and Brazil as from November 25 . 24 November 2016 . . 9 December 2017 .
  16. Web site: Belarus enters into visa-free agreement with Brazil, Macau . 25 November 2016 . Y-Axis . 9 December 2017 .
  17. Previously part of the visa exemption when arriving at and departing from Minsk National Airport from 12 February 2017
  18. Web site: Об установлении безвизового порядка въезда и выезда иностранных граждан . On the establishment of a visa-free entry and exit order for foreign citizens . National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus . National Center of Legal Information of the Republic of Belarus . 9 December 2017 . ru.
  19. Web site: La Supresión de Requisitos de Visa en Pasaportes Ordinarios . The Suppression of Visa Requirements in Ordinary Passports . Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Republic of Argentina. . 9 December 2017 . es.
  20. Web site: Belarus, Hong Kong to start visa-free regime next month . https://web.archive.org/web/20180119060642/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/19/c_136906293.htm . dead . January 19, 2018 . 19 January 2018 . . 19 January 2018.
  21. Web site: HKSAR, Belarus to mutually extend visa-free period - Xinhua | English.news.cn. https://web.archive.org/web/20190408172246/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-04/08/c_137960393.htm. dead. April 8, 2019. www.xinhuanet.com.
  22. Web site: Agreement between Belarus and China on mutual visa exemption enters into force - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. mfa.gov.by. 17 June 2019.
  23. Web site: 25/2001 Z.z. Dohoda medzi SR a Bieloruskom o vzájomných bezvízových cestách - OZNÁMENIE Ministerstva zahraničných vecí Slovenskej republiky . 25/2001 Z.z. Agreement between the Slovak Republic and Belarus on reciprocal visa-free travel - NOTICE of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic . sk. ASPI . 30 December 2017 .
  24. Web site: Указ Президента Республики Беларусь от 29 сентября 2003 г. № 428 О применении Соглашения между Правительством Республики Беларусь и Правительством Республики Польша о взаимных поездках граждан . Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of September 29, 2003 No. 428 On the Application of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of Poland on Mutual Travel of Citizens . ru . BUSEL . 9 December 2017 .
  25. Web site: Visa-free entry for citizens of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus . mfa.gov.by . . 4 December 2023 . en . 1 July 2022.
  26. Web site: Statement of Belarus Foreign Ministry on visa-free travel to Belarus for the citizens of 35 European countries . mfa.gov.by . . 17 July 2024 . en . 17 July 2024.
  27. Web site: State Border Committee: No limit on number of visa-free entries to Belarus . 10 January 2017 . . 9 December 2017.
  28. Web site: Беларусь вводит пятидневный безвизовый режим для граждан 80 стран . Belarus introduces visa-free entry for nationals of 79 countries. Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus . 9 January 2017. ru.
  29. Web site: Information on visa-free travel via the checkpoint "Minsk National Airport" . . 9 December 2017 .
  30. Web site: Об установлении безвизового порядка въезда и выезда иностранных граждан . The decree "On establishing a visa-free order of entrance and departure of foreign citizens" . National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus . National Center of Legal Information of the Republic of Belarus . 9 December 2017 . ru.
  31. Web site: Five-day visa-free regime to enter into force in Belarus on 12 February 2017 . 11 January 2017 . . 9 December 2017 .
  32. http://eng.belta.by/president/view/belarus-extends-visa-free-entry-to-30-days-113548-2018/ Belarus extends visa-free entry to 30 days
  33. http://mfa.gov.by/upload/18.07.27_attachment_list_states_eng.pdf List of states
  34. Web site: Visas to the Republic Of Belarus . Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . . 9 December 2017.
  35. Web site: Number of visa-free visitors to Belarus reaches 52,000 . 25 September 2017 . . 9 December 2017 .
  36. Web site: Over 54,000 visa-free tourists visit Belarus in 2017 . 28 November 2017 . . 9 December 2017 .
  37. Web site: Effective October 17, 2021, visa is required for US Citizens to travel to Belarus - Consulate General of the Republic of Belarus is New York . 2021-10-22 . newyork.mfa.gov.by.
  38. Web site: Lukashenka expands visa-free zone. naviny.belsat.eu.
  39. Web site: On establishing visa-free order of entry and exit of foreign nationals. 2019-08-07.
  40. Web site: О порядке посещения гражданами безвизовой территории "Брест – Гродно", а также территорий районов Брестской и Гродненской областей. Совет Министров Республики Беларусь. 2019-10-15.
  41. Web site: Комментарий к Указу № 462 от 26 декабря 2017 г. . Commentary to Decree No. 462 of December 26, 2017. ru . Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus . 30 December 2017.
  42. Presidential Decree . On establishing of visa-free regime of entry and exit of foreign nationals . 318 . 23 August 2016 . 29 August 2016.
  43. Web site: Plans to develop digital visas, travel authorization system in Belarus. 6 July 2018. eng.belta.by. 17 June 2019.
  44. Web site: Belarus to introduce visa-free rules at regional airports, land border crossings. 26 November 2019. eng.belta.by.
  45. Web site: Tourism statistics for Belarus - 2013. imagebelarus.by . 9 December 2017.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Visa policy of Belarus".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.