Border crossing procedure

Crossing the State border is carried out at checkpoints of international railway, road, air and water communications.

Crossing the state border is possible only in the designated place, i.e. at checkpoints across the State Border of the Republic of Belarus.

Lists of checkpoints across the State Border of the Republic of Belarus are available on the website:

• http://gpk.gov.by/informatsiya-dlya-peresekayushhih-granitsu/punktyi-propuska-cherez-gosudarstvennuyu-granitsu-respubliki-belarus/#

Border control is carried out in relation to individuals crossing the State Border and includes:

• document checking;
• oral questioning;
• inspection and/or examination of vehicles in order to identify individuals who have crossed or are attempting to cross the State Border in violation of the established rules for crossing the State Border and/or clearance through the State Border.

Border control is carried out by officers of the border service bodies, and at checkpoints where such control is exercised by customs authorities, by officials of the customs authorities.

The basis for crossing the State Border is the presence of valid documents for the right to cross the State Border, which must be prepared in advance (including removing documents from the cover and any attachments).

DOCUMENTS to have when crossing the border:

1. passport or other valid document for traveling abroad;
2. valid visa (for citizens of countries subject to visa regime) or other valid document permitting entry and stay, if required (e.g. residence permit).
3. health insurance contract.

In addition, border guards may ask a foreigner to present:

• sufficient funds necessary to cover the costs of stay in the Republic of Belarus and departure from the Republic of Belarus, at least 50 basic units per month of stay, for entry for less than one month – at least 2 basic units per day of stay; the availability of funds or guarantees of providing such funds can be confirmed by presenting:
• national currency of the Republic of Belarus or foreign currency convertible by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus,
• a document on the basis of which it is possible to receive payment means;
• a document confirming the booking and payment of accommodation and meals in the Republic of Belarus,
• a guarantee letter from a legal or natural person applying for the entry of a foreign national into the Republic of Belarus, their stay or residence in the Republic of Belarus, and payment of all expenses related to their stay and departure from the Republic of Belarus,
• means of transportation or travel tickets to the state of their citizenship, permanent residence, or a third country);
when crossing the border by vehicle:
• documents authorizing the movement of the vehicle (technical passport);
• vehicle insurance contract;
• documents authorizing the movement of goods – when moving goods across the border.

During border control, border service officers and customs officials have the right to:

• not allow individuals to cross the State Border if there are grounds provided by the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus;
• seize identity documents and documents necessary for entry into the Republic of Belarus and (or) departure from the Republic of Belarus, in cases established by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus;
• make notes in identity documents and documents necessary for entry into the Republic of Belarus and (or) departure from the Republic of Belarus, in the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

Foreign nationals who have been denied entry into the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus, as well as individuals whose right to depart from the Republic of Belarus is temporarily restricted in accordance with the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus, are not allowed to cross the State Border.

Foreign nationals who have not been allowed to cross the State Border must stay in specially designated places at border crossing points located within the territories (waters) of railway stations (stations), river ports, airports open for international traffic (international flights) until they leave the Republic of Belarus.

FOR REFERENCE:

It is planned to make changes to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on the use of a unified sample migration card dated October 5, 2004, according to which all categories of foreigners who are traveling only to the Republic of Belarus will not fill out the migration card. When traveling in transit, as well as when leaving for the Russian Federation, filling out the migration card is necessary.

At the border, a foreign national may be asked about the purpose and conditions of their stay in the Republic of Belarus.

Crossing the state border by individuals, vehicles, and goods includes border and customs control, and, if necessary, sanitary-quarantine, veterinary, phytosanitary, automobile, and other types of control. When entering the checkpoint area to cross the border, it is necessary to choose a channel (corridor). The "green" corridor is a specially designated place in the areas for moving goods across the customs border of the union, intended for moving goods for personal use across the customs border of the union in accompanied baggage that are not subject to customs declaration. Crossing the entry line (entrance) into the "green" corridor by an individual is a statement by the individual about the absence of goods subject to customs declaration. You can follow through the "green" channel ("green" corridor) and not fill out a declaration if, when entering the Republic of Belarus or exiting the Republic of Belarus, there are no goods: * subject to customs duties; * alcoholic beverages and beer in quantities exceeding 3 liters but not more than 5 liters, ethyl alcohol; * in respect of which prohibitions and restrictions must be observed; * imported with exemption from customs duties and taxes; * cash and/or traveler's checks in excess of 10 thousand US dollars, monetary instruments; * coffins with bodies (remains), urns with ashes (ashes) of the deceased; * vehicles for personal use registered in a foreign state or not registered. **FOR REFERENCE:** Moving goods subject to customs declaration through the "green" channel ("green" corridor) is a customs violation, which is subject to administrative and, in some cases, criminal liability. If in doubt about the correct choice of channel (corridor), follow through the "red" channel ("red" corridor). It is necessary to follow through the "red" corridor and fill out a declaration if, when entering the Republic of Belarus, there are goods: 1. subject to customs duties: * since January 1, 2019, worth more than 500 euros, and/or weighing more than 25 kg. * Indivisible goods — goods for personal use weighing more than 35 kg (taking into account the actual packaging that is inseparable from the goods before their consumption and/or in which the goods are presented for retail sale), consisting of one unit of goods (including those moved in an unassembled or disassembled form, including incomplete or unfinished form), provided that the division of such goods is impossible without changing its purpose.

Alcoholic beverages and beer in quantities of more than 3 liters but not more than 5 liters per individual who has reached the age of 18.

Ethyl alcohol.

Quads, snowmobiles, swamp vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and other motor vehicles not intended for use on public roads, motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, trailers for vehicles.

goods that do not belong to goods for personal use:

• defined by Appendix No. 6 to the Decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission of December 20, 2017 No. 107 "On certain issues related to goods for personal use";
• imported more than once every 3 calendar months, the cost of which exceeds 300 euros and (or) the weight of which exceeds 20 kilograms.

for which prohibitions and restrictions must be observed and the submission of documents and (or) information confirming compliance with such prohibitions and restrictions is required:

• goods subject to veterinary control (pets, animal products), except for finished animal products in factory packaging, provided that the country of origin of the goods and the country of export are epizootically благополучны up to 5 kilograms inclusive per individual;
• quarantine products of high phytosanitary risk (seeds, plants, bulbs, tubers, fresh flowers and buds, fruits, vegetables), except for quarantine products of high phytosanitary risk with a total weight of not more than 5 kilograms, as well as flowers in an amount of not more than 3 bouquets. The procedure for importing such products is determined by the Decision of the EEC Council of November 30, 2016 No. 157 "On approval of the Unified phytosanitary quarantine requirements for plant products and objects at the customs border and on the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union". List of checkpoints across the border of the Eurasian Economic Union Customs Union, where sanitary-quarantine, veterinary and phytosanitary types of control are carried out. Information about republican customs clearance points where phytosanitary and veterinary quarantine control (supervision) is actually carried out.
• weapons, its components, ammunition;
• narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, including in the form of medicines;
• samples of human biological materials (samples of cells, tissues, biological fluids of humans, secretions, human metabolic products, physiological and pathological secretions, smears, scrapings, washes).
• radio-electronic equipment and high-frequency devices for civilian use (except for microwave ovens, mobile phones, baby monitors, karaoke microphones, hearing aids, and radio trainers for people with hearing impairments (defects)).

goods for personal use imported duty-free:

• inherited outside the customs territory of the EAEU;
• imported by a person recognized as having relocated to permanent residence in an EAEU member state or granted refugee status, or вынужденного переселенца status;
• cultural valuables, documents from national archival funds, and original archival documents, provided their classification as such is confirmed in accordance with the legislation of the EAEU member state.

cash and/or traveller's cheques, if the total amount of such cash and/or traveller's cheques when imported into the customs territory of the Union at one time or exported from the customs territory of the Union at one time exceeds the amount equivalent to 10 thousand US dollars at the exchange rate applicable on the day the passenger customs declaration is submitted to the customs authority;

monetary instruments, except for traveller's cheques (bills of exchange, cheques (bank cheques), as well as securities in documentary form);

coffins with bodies (remains), urns with ashes (cremated remains) of the deceased;

vehicles for personal use, except for vehicles for personal use registered in the EAEU member states.

It is necessary to go through the "red" corridor and fill out a declaration if, when leaving the Republic of Belarus, there are goods:

1. in respect of which prohibitions and restrictions must be observed and the submission of documents and/or information confirming compliance with such prohibitions and restrictions is required:
• samples of human biological materials (samples of cells, tissues, biological fluids of humans, secretions, human metabolic products, physiological and pathological secretions, smears, scrapings, washes);
• wild living animals, certain wild-growing plants, and wild-growing medicinal raw materials;
• rare and endangered species of wild living animals and wild-growing plants included in the Red Books of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union;
• cultural valuables, documents from national archival funds, and original archival documents;
• collectible materials on mineralogy, palaeontology, and bones of extinct animals;
2. vehicles for personal use, except for vehicles for personal use registered in the EAEU member states;
3. coffins with bodies (remains), urns with ashes (cremated remains) of the deceased.
4. cash and/or traveller's cheques, if the total amount of such cash and/or traveller's cheques when they are brought into the customs territory of the Union at one time or taken out of the customs territory of the Union at one time exceeds the amount equivalent to 10 thousand US dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the day of submission of the passenger customs declaration to the customs authority;
5. monetary instruments, except for traveller's cheques (bills of exchange, cheques (bank cheques), as well as securities in documentary form).

More detailed information on customs declaration and customs control when entering and leaving the Republic of Belarus can be found on the website of the State Customs Committee: http://gtk.gov.by/ru.

THE PROCEDURE FOR USING THE MIGRATION CARD ON THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Foreigners, except those temporarily or permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus, fill out a migration card when entering the Republic of Belarus, which is presented together with the document for travelling abroad to an officer of the border service at the checkpoint across the State Border.

The migration card is a document containing information about a foreigner entering and leaving the Republic of Belarus, and is used to monitor their temporary stay in the Republic of Belarus.

If an international treaty of the Republic of Belarus provides for the issuance of a migration card of a uniform sample to foreigners entering the Republic of Belarus with a state that has concluded the relevant international treaty, a migration card of such a sample is issued in the Republic of Belarus.

Migration card forms are issued free of charge to foreigners before entering the Republic of Belarus in the following cases:

• by air and inland water transport - by the crew members of the vessels;
• by rail - by train crews;
• by public road transport (buses) - by drivers;
• by other mechanical vehicles or on foot - by officials of the border service bodies of the Republic of Belarus, and at checkpoints where control over compliance with the rules of stay of foreigners in the Republic of Belarus, as well as the rules of transit travel (transit) of foreigners through the territory of the Republic of Belarus is carried out by the customs authorities of the Republic of Belarus - by officials of the customs authorities of the Republic of Belarus.
• they can be issued by employees of diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Belarus when issuing visas to foreigners to the Republic of Belarus.

Employees of the departments for citizenship and migration of the territorial bodies of the internal affairs issue a migration card form in the following cases:

• loss or damage during the stay in the Republic of Belarus;
• entry and stay in the Republic of Belarus without a migration card, as well as without an entry stamp in the migration card for reasons beyond the foreigner's control;
• temporary departure to the Russian Federation of a foreigner permanently or temporarily residing in the Republic of Belarus.

Upon entry into the Republic of Belarus, a foreigner is required to obtain and complete a migration card form in accordance with the following requirements for filling out the migration card form:

1. The migration card form must be filled out legibly, in block letters, without erasures or corrections, in the designated sections and columns, using an ink or ballpoint pen in Russian (Belarusian) or Latin letters in accordance with the data specified in the valid passport or other document replacing it, intended for travel abroad and issued by the relevant authority of the foreigner's home country or usual place of residence or by an international organization (hereinafter referred to as the travel document).
2. Both parts of the migration card (A and B) are filled out as follows:
• last name, first name, patronymic (if any) - in the nominative case in accordance with the travel document;
• date of birth (day, month, year) - in the format "DD MM YYYY", for example: "25 05 1983";
• gender - the square corresponding to the foreigner's gender is crossed out;
• citizenship - the foreigner's citizenship is indicated based on the travel document;
• identity document - its series and number are indicated;
• identification number (identifier) of the visa, invitation number for entry - the number of the Belarusian visa on the basis of which the foreigner arrived in the Republic of Belarus is indicated. For citizens of countries with a visa-free regime for entry into the Republic of Belarus, a dash is put in this column;
• purpose of visit - the purpose of the foreigner's stay in the Republic of Belarus is underlined;
• information about the inviting party (name of the individual or legal entity, address) - the full name of the inviting party is indicated: for individuals - last name and initials in the nominative case, place of permanent residence (registration), for legal entities - the name of the organization and its location;
• duration of stay - the date of entry into the Republic of Belarus and the expected date of departure from the Republic of Belarus are indicated;
• signature - the foreigner puts his signature, certifying the accuracy of the information entered in the migration card form, except in the cases specified in part two of paragraph 7 of the Regulation on the procedure for using the migration card.

In exceptional cases, the receipt and completion of migration card forms by foreigners entering the Republic of Belarus are carried out directly in the arrival halls of airports, railway stations, and road checkpoints before the start of border control.

Visual information about the mandatory requirement to obtain and the requirements for filling out the migration card form, as well as the locations of migration card forms at the State Border checkpoint of the Republic of Belarus, is posted on special stands.

Each foreigner, regardless of age, fills out the migration card form based on their travel document. It is allowed for another person to fill out the migration card form on behalf of a foreigner who cannot do so independently. In this case, both parts of the migration card are signed by the person who filled it out and the foreigner on whose behalf it was filled. If the foreigner, on whose behalf the migration card was filled, cannot sign it due to young age or disability, both parts of the migration card are signed only by the person who filled it out.

The migration card form is filled out in Russian (Belarusian) or in Latin letters in accordance with the data in the travel document.

Upon entry into the Republic of Belarus, a foreigner presents the completed migration card to an official of the border service of the Republic of Belarus (customs authorities of the Republic of Belarus), who, after verifying the accuracy of the information entered in the migration card with the information contained in the foreigner's visa and travel document, stamps both parts of the migration card with an entry mark for the Republic of Belarus and also takes part "A" of the migration card from the foreigner.

To register at the place of actual residence in the Republic of Belarus, a foreigner presents part "B" of the migration card with the entry mark for the Republic of Belarus to the registration authority along with the documents required for registration. Based on the submitted documents, the relevant registration authority stamps part "B" of the migration card with a mark of registration of the foreigner at their place of actual residence.

If a decision to extend or reduce the period of temporary stay of a foreigner in the Republic of Belarus is made in the prescribed manner, the registration authority stamps part "B" of the migration card with a mark indicating the change in the period of temporary stay of the foreigner in the Republic of Belarus.

Part "B" of the migration card must be kept by the foreigner throughout the entire period of their stay in the Republic of Belarus.

Staying in the Republic of Belarus without a migration card entails liability in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

If part "B" of the migration card is lost or damaged during a stay in the Republic of Belarus, a foreigner must report this to the territorial internal affairs body at the place of registration within three working days from the date of loss or damage. Upon presentation of documents by the foreigner on the basis of which he entered the Republic of Belarus, the body shall issue him a free duplicate of part "B" of the migration card.

When leaving the Republic of Belarus, a foreigner must submit part "B" of the migration card or its duplicate to an official of the border service bodies of the Republic of Belarus (customs bodies of the Republic of Belarus).

REFUSAL TO ISSUE A VISA FOR ENTRY OR ENTRY INTO THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The grounds for refusal to issue a visa for entry or entry into the Republic of Belarus are contained in Article 30 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated January 4, 2010, No. 105-Z "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Belarus" (hereinafter referred to as the Law).

According to Part 1 of Article 30 of the Law, a foreigner may be refused a visa for entry into the Republic of Belarus or entry into the Republic of Belarus if:

• the foreigner violated the rules for crossing the State Border or customs regulations at the border checkpoint - until the violation is eliminated;
• the validity period of the document for traveling abroad does not exceed ninety days before the day of the foreigner's expected departure from the Republic of Belarus;
• the foreigner has been convicted in the Republic of Belarus or another state of a crime recognized as such in accordance with the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, and the conviction has not been expunged or extinguished;
• the foreigner, during his stay in the Republic of Belarus, was repeatedly (five or more times) subject to administrative liability within one calendar year, and the period has not expired at the end of which he is considered not subjected to administrative penalty;
• a foreigner subjected to an administrative penalty in the form of a fine during his stay in the Republic of Belarus did not pay it within the time limit established by the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus for the execution of the decision on the imposition of an administrative penalty in the form of a fine;
• the foreigner cannot confirm the availability of funds necessary to cover the costs of his stay in the Republic of Belarus and departure from the Republic of Belarus, or present guarantees of providing such funds (at least 50 base units for each month of stay; when entering for a period of less than one month - at least 2 base units for each day of stay);
• the period of temporary stay of the foreigner in the Republic of Belarus has expired (90 days);
• there are sufficient grounds to believe that the foreign national may evade departure from the Republic of Belarus upon expiration of the temporary stay or temporary residence period, or use the territory of the Republic of Belarus for illegal migration to a third country;
• the stay of a foreign national in the Republic of Belarus contradicts the interests of national security of the Republic of Belarus, public order, protection of morality, public health, rights and freedoms of citizens of the Republic of Belarus and other persons;
• the entry of a foreign national into the Republic of Belarus should be restricted in order to implement international treaties of the Republic of Belarus;
• a foreign national subject to mandatory health insurance in accordance with the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus does not have a mandatory health insurance contract concluded with a Belarusian insurance organization or a health insurance contract concluded with a foreign insurance organization valid on the territory of the Republic of Belarus.
• the foreign national's document for traveling abroad does not have space for stamping the mark of the foreign national's entry into the Republic of Belarus and (or) the mark of his departure from the Republic of Belarus.

According to Part 2 of Article 30 of the Law, a foreign national is refused a visa to enter the Republic of Belarus or entry into the Republic of Belarus if:

• when submitting documents to the relevant state bodies of the Republic of Belarus necessary for obtaining a visa to enter the Republic of Belarus or making a decision on his entry into the Republic of Belarus, the foreign national provided false information, submitted documents and (or) information that do not meet the requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus, including forged, counterfeit or invalid documents;
• the foreign national is included in the List of persons whose entry into the Republic of Belarus is prohibited or undesirable;
• the Republic of Belarus has declared the foreign national unacceptable or undesirable (persona non grata);
• there is information that the foreign national is or was a person engaged in extremist activities, including terrorist activities, has or had relation to activities aimed at causing damage to the national security of the Republic of Belarus, to illegal trafficking in weapons, ammunition, explosives, explosive devices, radioactive materials, narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors and analogues, organization of illegal migration, human trafficking;
• the foreign national has a disease included in the list of diseases posing a danger to public health.

If a decision is made to refuse entry into the Republic of Belarus, the visa previously issued to the foreign national for entry into the Republic of Belarus is annulled.

Based on the decision to refuse entry into the Republic of Belarus, a foreign national may be included in the List of Persons Whose Entry into the Republic of Belarus is Prohibited or Undesirable, with the establishment of a term of entry ban into the Republic of Belarus ranging from six months to five years.

The authorities that made the decision to refuse entry into the Republic of Belarus or to include a foreign national in the List of Persons Whose Entry into the Republic of Belarus is Prohibited or Undesirable are entitled to allow him to enter the Republic of Belarus for a period not exceeding one month.

RULES FOR CROSSING THE BORDER WITH CHILDREN

List of documents required for a minor to leave the country accompanied by both or one of the legal representatives:

• a document for leaving and entering the Republic of Belarus of the legal representative, which has a mark about the minor, whose legal representative is the owner of the document (passport with the child recorded);
• birth certificate of the minor;
• adoption certificate or a copy of the court decision on the adoption of the minor — if the adopter is not recorded in the book of records of birth acts as the parent of the adopted minor;
• certificate of the right to represent the interests of the ward;
• agreement on the transfer of the minor for upbringing in a foster family;
• agreement on the conditions of upbringing and provision of the minor in a family-type children's home;
• copy of the decision of the guardianship and trusteeship authority on the establishment of guardianship or trusteeship over the minor and the appointment of a citizen as guardian or trustee of the minor.

If the child is traveling with one of the parents, notarized permission from the second parent is not required. If the child is traveling without the accompaniment of parents, it is necessary to present the border guard with a written consent of both parents (legal representatives).

Written consent of parents for a minor to leave the Republic of Belarus must be certified by:

• a notary or other official entitled to perform such notarial act;
• an official of the department of citizenship and migration of the internal affairs body of the Republic of Belarus at the place of residence of the legal representative or minor;
• a competent authority or official of a foreign state. This document is accepted if it bears an apostille, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of the Republic of Belarus, and must be accompanied by its translation into one of the official languages of the Republic of Belarus. The accuracy of the translation or the authenticity of the translator's signature on the translation must be certified by a notary or other official entitled to perform such notarial act.

Children permanently residing outside the Republic of Belarus leave the Republic of Belarus using their own passports, accompanied by one of the parents.

Unaccompanied children must present written consent from one of the parents.

Children can leave the Republic of Belarus using their diplomatic or official passports of citizens of the Republic of Belarus, accompanied by one of the parents.

FOR REFERENCE:

If you are traveling with children under 3 years of age or disabled children under 18 years of age, you have the right to priority entry at road checkpoints. This rule applies at checkpoints where the electronic queue system is not functioning.

Rules for minors crossing the border of the Russian Federation

Minor citizens of the Russian Federation, as a rule, leave the Russian Federation together with at least one of the parents, adoptive parents, guardian, or trustee.

If a minor citizen of the Russian Federation leaves Russia unaccompanied, they must have, in addition to their passport, a notarially оформленное consent of the aforementioned persons for their departure, indicating the departure date and the state(s) they intend to visit. If a minor citizen of the Russian Federation leaves their country for more than three months, this consent must also be certified by the guardianship and trusteeship authorities.

If one of the parents, adoptive parents, or trustees declares their disagreement with the departure of a minor citizen of the Russian Federation from the country, the issue of the possibility of their departure from the Russian Federation is resolved in court.

In case of an organized departure of groups of minor citizens of the Russian Federation without the accompaniment of parents, adoptive parents, guardians, or trustees, the responsibilities of the legal representatives of minors are borne by the leaders of the departing groups.

A citizen of the Russian Federation, declared by the court to be incapable, upon application of the parents, adoptive parents, or guardians, may leave the Russian Federation accompanied by an adult capable of ensuring the safety of the incapable person and the safety of surrounding people.

Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on ensuring equal rights for citizens of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation to freedom of movement, choice of place of stay and residence in the territories of the states – participants of the Union State.

In case of departure from the Republic of Belarus of orphan children or children left without parental care, accompanied by guardians or without their accompaniment, but with their written consent, an officer of the border service authority must be presented with one of the following documents:

• decisions of the local executive and administrative body on sending a minor to study outside the Republic of Belarus — in case of departure from the Republic of Belarus of a minor for study for more than 30 calendar days;
• documents specified in Article 14 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated September 20, 2009, No. 49-3 "On the Procedure for Departure from the Republic of Belarus and Entry into the Republic of Belarus of Citizens of the Republic of Belarus" — in case of departure from the Republic of Belarus of a minor for improvement, sanatorium-and-spa treatment or medical care;
• a copy of the order of the management (department) of education of the local executive and administrative body on permission for a minor to leave the Republic of Belarus for a certain period — in case of departure from the Republic of Belarus of a minor on other grounds.

BORDER ZONE

The border zone is an area adjacent to the State Border of the Republic of Belarus within part of the territory of an urban-type settlement, village council. The border zone may also include part of the waters of border rivers, lakes and islands located in these waters. Direct protection of the State Border is carried out in the border zone. In order to create the necessary conditions for protecting the border, border regime is established and operates in the border zone. Control over entry (access), temporary stay and movement in the border zone and border strip is carried out by the border service and internal affairs bodies.

Entry (access), temporary stay and movement in the border zone of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing outside the Republic of Belarus

To enter the border zone, the following are required:

• a valid passport or other document intended for traveling abroad (issued by the relevant authorities of the states of nationality or habitual residence of foreigners or stateless persons or by international organizations);
• a pass issued by the border service authorities.

The pass can be individual or group.

To obtain a pass, you must complete an application to which you attach:

• a document for traveling abroad;
• documents confirming the purpose of entry (for example, invitation, call for study, certificate of burial or residence of relatives in the border zone, certificate of ownership of real estate in the border zone, etc.);
• a document confirming payment of the state fee (0.4 base units).

The validity period of the pass should not exceed the validity period of the identity document and the temporary residence permit of a foreigner in the Republic of Belarus. The maximum validity period of the pass is 2 years.

Passes are issued to foreign citizens who have reached the age of 14. The entry, temporary stay, and movement in the border area of foreigners under the age of 14 are carried out on the basis of an identity document.

Passes are issued within no more than five working days from the date of registration of the application.

With a passport and a pass, foreign citizens have the right to move freely within the territory specified in the pass.

To obtain a pass allowing access to the border strip, it is necessary to contact the appropriate territorial body of the border service where the border strip is located.

Citizens must предварительно notify the border guards by phone of their intentions to visit the border strip for a specific purpose.

At night, as well as beyond the engineering and technical structures, citizens are allowed only in cases of extreme necessity by decision of the head of the appropriate territorial body of the border service.

The passes of persons who have violated the procedure for entry (access), temporary stay, and movement in the border strip are confiscated.

Foreigners transiting through the border area in order to cross the State Border of the Republic of Belarus in the established manner and having documents for departure from the Republic of Belarus and (or) entry into the Republic of Belarus are allowed to move along these documents on republican highways located in the border area. In this case, there is no need to obtain a pass to the border area.

Within the border area and border strip, it is prohibited to:

• conduct without the appropriate permission of authorized officials of the border service bodies, photo and video recording of border detachments, border signs, infrastructure objects of the border area and the State Border, other objects of the border service bodies, photo and video recording of the territory of the neighboring state;
• be without documents provided for by Article 37 of this Law;
• leave money in documents submitted for verification;
• obstruct the performance of duties by employees of the border service bodies and internal affairs bodies;
• destroy, render unsuitable, move border and warning signs, lines of communication and communications, infrastructure objects of the border area and the State Border, other objects of the border service bodies;
• to leave motor vehicles outside populated areas without notifying the nearest unit of the border service authorities. In case of a breakdown of a motor vehicle, an individual driving it and residing within the border area is obliged to take measures to evacuate it to the locality of residence; another individual — outside the border area and border strip. If an individual does not notify the nearest unit of the border service authorities about such a motor vehicle and does not take measures to evacuate it to the locality of residence or outside the border area and border strip, respectively, this motor vehicle is subject to forced towing (evacuation) and placement in a secured parking area or towing without placement in a secured parking area in the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus;
• to move and store goods in cases established by legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus.

Within the border strip, it is also prohibited:

• to use optical (electronic-optical), optoelectronic means, including optical sights, binoculars, night vision devices, thermal imagers, telescopic sights, camera traps, without agreement with the border service authorities;
• to talk to individuals located in the territory of the adjacent state, to accept or transfer any goods to them, or to give any signals;
• to interfere with or overcome engineering structures and barriers, other objects constructed, equipped, and used for the purposes of marking, maintaining the State border, and ensuring its protection;
• hunting, except for the removal of wild animals to prevent epizootics and other emergencies and eliminate their consequences, regulate the spread and number of wild animals, carried out in agreement with the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus;
• grazing and keeping livestock within the preventive strip along the State border established by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus.

All necessary information about the procedure for entering the border area, including the address of the State Border Committee, application forms, payment details for the state fee, is posted on the official website of the State Border Committee on the Internet at: http://gpk.gov.by

Limits of the border area and strip: http://gpk.gov.by/border/chto-takoe-pogranichnaya-zona-i-pogranichnyiy-rezhim.php

SMALL BORDER MOVEMENT

Small border movement is a form of facilitating border crossing for citizens of two states living in the border area.

FOR REFERENCE: The Republic of Belarus has concluded international treaties on the introduction of a simplified procedure for cross-border movement for residents of border areas with the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania.

Currently, only the agreement on small cross-border movement with the Republic of Latvia has come into force and is being implemented, within the framework of which residents of border areas can regularly cross the common border without visas to stay in the border area of the neighboring state in the following cases:

• organization or regular participation in cultural, educational, scientific, and sports events held by the authorities and institutions of the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Latvia;
• owning real estate;
• visiting relatives;
• serious illness or death of relatives;
• visiting the burial places of relatives;
• receiving medical care;
• participation in events related to local traditions and religious rituals;
• maintaining regular contacts in the field of economic activity without the right to engage in labor activity.

Residents of border areas of the Republic of Latvia cross the state border at checkpoints open for international and bilateral traffic without visas if they have:

• valid travel documents,
• permission for local cross-border movement.

For residents of border areas of the Republic of Latvia:

• when staying in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, it is necessary to have a document confirming the conclusion of a medical insurance contract;
• there is no need to obtain a pass for the right to be in the border zone of the Republic of Belarus to be in the border zone.

Registration of citizens of border areas of Latvia is carried out in the usual manner; they are not exempt from registration.

The border area of Belarus includes:

• Bigosovsky, Chapaevsky, Saryansky, Osveisky, Kokhanovichsky, Belkovshchinsky Village Councils of the Verkhnedvinsky District, the city of Verkhnedvinsk.
• Poviatsky, Perebrodsky, Dolginovsky, Miorsky, Novopogostsky, Turkovsky Village Councils of the Miorsky District, the city of Miory.
• Druevsky, Plyussky, Slobodkovsky, Opsovsky, Dalekovsky, Akhremovsky, Mezhansky, Teterkovsky, Vidzovsky Village Councils of the Braslav District, the city of Braslav, the settlement of Vidzy.

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