Visa-free entry and exit procedure

The Republic of Belarus has established a visa-free regime for citizens of some countries.

List of countries whose citizens are eligible for visa-free travel:

• Azerbaijan;
• Argentina (for up to 90 days);
• Armenia;
• Brazil (for up to 90 days);
• Venezuela (for up to 90 days);
• Georgia;
• Israel (for up to 90 days in each period of 180 days);
• Kazakhstan;
• Qatar (for up to 30 days);
• People's Republic of China (for up to 30 days, but not more than 90 days in a calendar year);
• Cuba (for up to 30 days);
• Kyrgyzstan;
• Macedonia (with a private invitation/telegram, referral or invitation from a healthcare institution for treatment, application from a travel company, as well as for visiting graves);
• Moldova;
• Mongolia (for up to 90 days);
• United Arab Emirates (for up to 30 days);
• Russia;
• Serbia (for up to 30 days);
• Tajikistan;
• Turkey (for up to 30 days);
• Uzbekistan;
• Ukraine;
• Montenegro (for up to 30 days with an application from a travel company/invitation);
• Ecuador (for up to 30 days).

FOR INFORMATION:

For citizens of the United Arab Emirates holding valid passports or other documents issued by the relevant state authorities of the United Arab Emirates for traveling abroad, Decree No. 156 of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated April 27, 2016, "On Establishing a Visa-Free Regime for Entry and Exit of Certain Citizens" establishes a visa-free regime for entry into the Republic of Belarus, exit from the Republic of Belarus, transit travel (transit) through the territory of the Republic of Belarus, and temporary stay in the territory of the Republic of Belarus for no more than 30 days from the date of entry when traveling through international checkpoints open for international communication. Citizens of the United Arab Emirates arriving in the Republic of Belarus, if staying in the Republic of Belarus for no more than 30 days from the date of entry, are registered with the registration authorities at the place of actual temporary stay on a voluntary basis. Extension of the temporary stay in the Republic of Belarus for citizens of the United Arab Emirates for more than 30 days and their registration are carried out in accordance with the procedure established by law.

By Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 173 of May 18, 2017 "On Establishing a Visa-Free Regime for the Entry and Exit of Citizens of the People's Republic of China", a visa-free regime has been established for citizens of the People's Republic of China holding valid passports for official trips intended for travel abroad and issued by the relevant state authorities of the People's Republic of China. This regime applies to entry into the Republic of Belarus, exit from the Republic of Belarus, transit travel (transit) through the territory of the Republic of Belarus, and temporary stay in the territory of the Republic of Belarus for a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of entry when passing through international checkpoints open for international traffic. Registration of such temporarily staying citizens of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Belarus is not carried out.

VISA-FREE MOVEMENT THROUGH THE CHECKPOINT NATIONAL AIRPORT MINSK

A visa-free regime for entry into the Republic of Belarus and exit from the Republic of Belarus has been established for foreign citizens arriving in Belarus through the checkpoint of the National Airport Minsk.

The exception is flights from the Russian Federation.

FOR INFORMATION:

The visa-free regime does not apply to persons arriving in Belarus by air from the Russian Federation, as well as those departing to airports in the Russian Federation, due to the fact that these flights are considered domestic – border control is not carried out on them. It is possible to arrive and depart from the country only through the National Airport Minsk.

If a foreigner is in Russia and needs to go to Minsk, he must fly through a third country. Citizens can arrive at Minsk airport from any international airport except Russian ones. For example, they can fly via Riga, Warsaw, Berlin, etc.

Visa-free entry (exit) and temporary stay in the territory of the Republic of Belarus are established for a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of entry for foreign citizens of 74 states holding valid documents for travel abroad. The trip must be carried out for private, business, tourist and other purposes not related to employment, commercial activities and training, the period of which exceeds 30 days.

FOR INFORMATION:

Visa-free entry for 30 days does not imply restrictions on movement around Belarus; a foreigner can freely travel around the republic. Within the established period, you can visit any part of Belarus, but you must arrive and leave the country only through the National Airport Minsk. This procedure does not apply at the border in other international checkpoints, as well as other airports in the country.

Foreign citizens can come to the Republic of Belarus multiple times during the year, but the total period of stay should not exceed 90 days.

The period of visa-free stay is calculated in full calendar days; the first days correspond to the date of arrival, the last ones — to the date of departure (regardless of the time of arrival and/or departure). The countdown of the period of stay in the Republic of Belarus starts from the day of arrival in the country.

For example, a foreigner arrived in the Republic of Belarus at 23:00 on January 1, and this is already considered the first days. By January 30, before 23:59, he must leave Belarus.

To enter the Republic of Belarus in a visa-free regime through the checkpoint of the National Airport Minsk, foreign citizens must have with them:

• a valid general passport, the expiration date of which must be at least 90 days later than the expected date of departure from the Republic of Belarus, or another document replacing it, intended for travel abroad and issued by the relevant authority of the state of nationality;
• a medical insurance policy worth at least 10,000 euros, valid in Belarus for the entire period of stay, an insurance card or another document confirming the existence of a medical insurance contract in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus;
• money: an amount in foreign currency or Belarusian rubles equivalent to at least 2 base values for each day of stay, or 50 base values if the stay is for a full 30 days;
• for citizens of the following countries: Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Haiti, Islamic Republic of Gambia, Republic of India, People's Republic of China, Lebanese Republic, Republic of Namibia, Independent State of Samoa — an additional mandatory requirement is the presence of a valid multiple visa of the EU countries or the Schengen area with an entry mark to their territory, as well as air tickets with confirmation of departure from Minsk National Airport within 30 days from the date of entry.

Also, foreign citizens must have funds necessary to cover the expenses for their stay in the Republic of Belarus and departure from the Republic of Belarus in the national currency of the Republic of Belarus or foreign currency convertible by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus, equivalent to at least 2 base values established in the Republic of Belarus on the day of entry into the Republic of Belarus, for each day of stay. The availability of funds can be confirmed in other ways in accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

An identity card is not a document entitling to cross the state border of the Republic of Belarus.

When staying in Belarus for more than 5 working days, foreign citizens must register with the departments of citizenship and migration of the territorial internal affairs bodies. When staying in hotels, hostels, sanatoriums and other collective accommodation facilities, the registration of foreign citizens is carried out by the administrations of such institutions by default upon check-in.

FOR REFERENCE:

Since January 2, 2019, foreigners and stateless persons coming to Belarus can undergo electronic registration on the electronic services portal portal.gov.by without having to personally visit the internal affairs bodies. The service is free and available to foreigners who entered the country at the checkpoints across the state border of the Republic of Belarus.

The period of visa-free stay cannot be extended beyond the established 30 days.

In case of illness, natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances preventing a foreign citizen from leaving the Republic of Belarus before the expiration of the stay period, the foreign citizen or his representative applies to the internal affairs body with an application for an extension of the temporary stay period. When extending the period of temporary stay, the internal affairs body issues a visa to the foreign citizen to leave the Republic of Belarus. The departure of foreign citizens referred to in this paragraph is carried out at any checkpoint across the State Border of the Republic of Belarus.

If a foreign citizen does not leave the country within the 30-day period, this will be regarded as a violation of the legislation on the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons, and the foreign citizen will be held administratively liable in accordance with Article 23.55 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (this violation entails a warning or imposition of a fine in the amount of up to fifty basic units or deportation).

The visa-free regime does not apply to holders of diplomatic, service, special and other passports приравненных to them.

List of states in respect of whose citizens a visa-free regime of entry and exit is established:

1. Australia.
2. Austrian Republic.
3. Antigua and Barbuda.
4. Barbados.
5. Republic of Albania.
6. Principality of Andorra.
7. Kingdom of Bahrain.
8. Kingdom of Belgium.
9. Republic of Bulgaria.
10. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
11. Socialist Republic of Vietnam (if the current document for traveling abroad has a valid multiple visa of the member states of the European Union or the Schengen Area member states with an entry stamp to the territory of a member state of the European Union or a Schengen Area member state, as well as air tickets with confirmation of the departure date from Minsk National Airport).
12. Hungary.
13. Republic of Vanuatu.
14. The Vatican City State.
15. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
16. The Federal Republic of Germany.
17. The Hellenic Republic.
18. The Republic of Haiti (if the valid travel document contains a valid multiple-entry visa from a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area with an entry stamp for the territory of a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area, as well as air tickets confirming the departure date from Minsk National Airport).
19. The Kingdom of Denmark.
20. The Islamic Republic of The Gambia (if the valid travel document contains a valid multiple-entry visa from a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area with an entry stamp for the territory of a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area, as well as air tickets confirming the departure date from Minsk National Airport).
21. The Commonwealth of Dominica.
22. The Republic of Indonesia.
23. The Republic of El Salvador.
24. The Republic of Estonia (including stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Estonia).
25. Japan.
26. The Republic of India (if the valid travel document contains a valid multiple-entry visa from a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area with an entry stamp for the territory of a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area, as well as air tickets confirming the departure date from Minsk National Airport).
27. The Kingdom of Sweden.
28. Ireland.
29. The Republic of Iceland.
30. The Kingdom of Spain.
31. The Italian Republic.
32. Canada.
33. The Republic of Cyprus.
34. The People's Republic of China (if the valid travel document contains a valid multiple-entry visa from a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area with an entry stamp for the territory of a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area, as well as air tickets confirming the departure date from Minsk National Airport).
35. The Republic of Korea.
36. The State of Kuwait.
37. The Republic of Latvia (including persons with the status of non-citizen of the Republic of Latvia).
38. The Lebanese Republic (if the valid travel document contains a valid multiple-entry visa from a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area with an entry stamp for the territory of a member state of the European Union or a member state of the Schengen Area, as well as air tickets confirming the departure date from Minsk National Airport).
39. The Republic of Lithuania.
40. The Principality of Liechtenstein.
41. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
42. The Swiss Confederation.
43. The Republic of Macedonia.
44. Malaysia.
45. The Republic of Malta.
46. The Republic of Chile.
47. The United Mexican States.
48. The Federated States of Micronesia.
49. The Principality of Monaco.
50. The Republic of Namibia (if the current travel document has a valid multiple-entry visa for the member states of the European Union or the Schengen Area countries with an entry stamp for the territory of a member state of the European Union or a Schengen Area country, as well as air tickets confirming the departure date from Minsk National Airport).
51. The Kingdom of the Netherlands.
52. The Republic of Nicaragua.
53. New Zealand.
54. The Kingdom of Norway.
55. The Sultanate of Oman.
56. The Republic of Panama.
57. The Republic of Peru.
58. The Republic of Poland.
59. The Portuguese Republic.
60. Romania.
61. The Independent State of Samoa (if the current travel document has a valid multiple-entry visa for the member states of the European Union or the Schengen Area countries with an entry stamp for the territory of a member state of the European Union or a Schengen Area country, as well as air tickets confirming the departure date from Minsk National Airport).
62. The Republic of San Marino.
63. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
64. The Seychelles Republic.
65. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
66. The Republic of Singapore.
67. The Slovak Republic.
68. The Republic of Slovenia.
69. The United States of America.
70. The Oriental Republic of Uruguay.
71. The Republic of Finland.
72. The French Republic.
73. The Republic of Croatia.
74. The Czech Republic.

VISA-FREE ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS VISITING THE TOURIST AND RECREATIONAL ZONE "BREST" AND THE "AUGUSTOV CANAL" PARK

The entry rules for 10 days in the visa-free zones differ from those for tourists arriving in the country for 30 days through Minsk National Airport.

In order to enhance the efficiency of using tourist infrastructure facilities and further develop cross-border tourism, visa-free visits by foreign citizens from states specified in Decree No. 462 of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated December 26, 2017, "On Establishing a Visa-Free Entry and Exit Procedure for Foreign Citizens," for tourist purposes in the "Brest" tourist and recreational zone and the "Augustov Canal" park for up to 10 days have been established.

The "Brest" tourist and recreational zone includes the following territories:

• The city of Brest and Brest District;
• Kamenets District of Brest Region;
• Pruzhany District of Brest Region;
• Zhabinkovsky District, Brest Region;
• Svisloch District, Grodno Region.

The procedure for foreign citizens to visit the territory of the Brest Tourist and Recreation Zone and more detailed information on organizing visa-free entry can be found on the website: www.tour.brest.by

Visa-free entry (exit) to the Republic of Belarus is carried out through the State Border of the Republic of Belarus at:

• road checkpoints:
• Brest (Terespol),
• Domachevo (Slovatichi),
• Peschatka (Polovtsy),
• simplified checkpoint Pererov (Bеловежа),
• railway checkpoint Brest (Terespol) (checkpoint at Brest-Vostochny railway station in the central district, Brest)

Augustow Canal Park includes areas adjacent to the special tourist and recreation park "Augustow Canal", Grodno and Grodno District.

The procedure for foreign citizens to visit the territory of the Brest Tourist and Recreation Zone and more detailed information on organizing visa-free entry can be found on the website: www.grodnovisafree.by

Visa-free entry (exit) to the Republic of Belarus is carried out through the State Border of the Republic of Belarus at:

• road checkpoints:
• Bruzgi (Kuznica Bialostocka),
• Privalovka (Raigardas),
• simplified checkpoint Lesnaya (Rudavka),
• simplified checkpoint Privalovka (Shvyandubre),
• railway checkpoint Grodno (Kuznica Bialostocka) (checkpoint at Grodno railway station, Grodno).

The period of stay for citizens under the visa-free procedure for entry into the Republic of Belarus and exit from the Republic of Belarus is the duration of the tour implemented by the travel operator providing services in the Brest tourist and recreation zone or Augustow Canal Park.

If citizens purchase additional tourist services, the period of stay may be extended upon request of the citizens by the travel operators providing the services. Additional tourist services refer to tourist services the purchase of which as part of a tour implemented by a travel operator providing services in the Brest tourist and recreation zone or Augustow Canal Park entails an extension of the period of stay of citizens (additional accommodation in a hotel or similar accommodation, additional excursions, transfer services and other services).

The duration of the tour, including when extended, shall not exceed the period of temporary stay – 10 days.

The basis for visa-free entry into the Republic of Belarus, exit from the Republic of Belarus and temporary stay in the tourist and recreation zone "Brest" or the "Augustow Canal" park, including within the border zone and border strip, are documents granting citizens the right to individual or group visits to the tourist and recreation zone "Brest" or the "Augustow Canal" park.

Citizens arrive in the tourist and recreation zone "Brest" of the State Public Institution "NP 'Belovezhskaya Pushcha'" or the "Augustow Canal" park on the basis of the following documents:

• a valid passport intended for travel abroad and issued by the relevant authority of the state of nationality or an international organization;
• a document granting citizens the right to individual or group visits to the tourist and recreation zone "Brest" or the "Augustow Canal" park;
• insurance policy.

Visits by citizens to the "Brest" tourist and recreation zone and the "Augustow Canal" park are organized by travel operators with a certificate of conformity.

Citizens provide the following data to entities engaged in tourism activities that provide tourism services: surname, first name, patronymic (if any); date of birth (day, month, year); citizenship (nationality); series and number of the document for traveling abroad; gender; contact details (email address, mobile phone number); date of expected entry (Latin transcription in accordance with the machine-readable zone of the document for traveling abroad).

FOR REFERENCE:

In the interests of citizens ordering or intending to order services for visiting the Brest tourist and recreational zone or the Augustow Canal park, documents for the right to visit can be filled out in a foreign language. The text of the documents for the right to visit in a foreign language must correspond to the text of the documents for the right to visit in Russian or Belarusian. No fee is charged for filling out and/or issuing documents for the right to visit. If actual entry is not carried out within 10 days from the date of the expected entry, the document for the right to visit is canceled. Information in the document for the right to visit is entered by the tour operator in Latin transcription in accordance with the machine-readable zone of the document for traveling abroad. The document for the right to visit is issued by the tour operator with the subsequent transfer of information in electronic form to the Brest Regional Executive Committee when visiting the Brest tourist and recreational zone, the Grodno Regional Executive Committee when visiting the Augustow Canal park, or the authorized body. The authorized body ensures the transfer to the border service and internal affairs bodies in electronic form via technical communication channels or on an external medium of information about citizens who have documents for the right to visit, no later than 24 hours before the expected time of entry into the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

When entering Belarus, a foreign citizen must have with them an amount of money in foreign currency or Belarusian rubles equivalent to at least two base amounts for each day of stay.

Foreign citizens who have come to the visa-free zone must register with the internal affairs bodies within 5 days. As a rule, this is done automatically by employees of hotels, agro-estates, sanatoriums where tourists stay, as well as entrepreneurs who officially rent apartments to foreigners.

Citizens located in the Brest tourist and recreational zone, the State Public Institution "NP 'Belovezhskaya Pushcha'" or the Augustow Canal park and who have lost their document for traveling abroad, contact the nearest internal affairs body.

Citizens located in the Brest tourist and recreational zone, the Augustow Canal park and who have lost their document for the right to visit, contact the tour operator who provided the tourist services to obtain a duplicate of such document.

Citizens entering the Republic of Belarus on the basis of a document granting the right to visit are required to stay only in the Brest tourist and recreation zone or the Augustow Canal park. Entry, temporary stay, and movement in the border strip and border zone of the Brest tourist and recreation zone or the Augustow Canal park are carried out within the designated tourist routes (bicycle, pedestrian, water, and others), and roads. There are no checkpoints or any barriers at the borders of visa-free tourist zones within Belarus (only warning signs may be installed), but it is prohibited to violate the rules for visiting the country under the 10-day program and leave the visa-free territory. Citizens who have visited the Brest tourist and recreation zone or the Augustow Canal park must leave the Republic of Belarus before the expiration of the stay period under the implemented tour. Otherwise, the foreign citizen will be held accountable.

To visit both visa-free territories of Belarus — the Brest tourist and recreation zone and the Augustow Canal park — a tourist must leave the country and, having booked a new tour, come again — this time to another visa-free zone.

In case of natural disasters, accidents, or emergency situations of a natural or man-made nature, illness or health conditions, the occurrence of other unforeseen circumstances preventing a citizen from leaving the Republic of Belarus before the expiration of the 10-day stay period, the citizen or their representative applies to the nearest internal affairs body with an application for an extension of the temporary stay and registration. When extending the period of temporary stay, the internal affairs body issues a visa to the citizen for departure from the Republic of Belarus. Departure of citizens referred to in this paragraph is carried out at any international checkpoint across the State Border of the Republic of Belarus.

When identifying citizens who have left the territory of the Brest tourist and recreation zone or the Augustow Canal park or evaded departure from the Republic of Belarus within the prescribed period, the internal affairs bodies, border service, and state security, in accordance with their competence, consider the issue of bringing to administrative responsibility for violating the legislation on the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Belarus.

The costs associated with the deportation or expulsion of citizens are paid at the expense of the citizens or travel operators who issued the document granting the right to visit.

List of states whose citizens are subject to a visa-free regime of entry and exit in the territory of the Brest tourist and recreation zone and the Augustow Canal park:

1. Australian Federation.
2. Austrian Republic.
3. Republic of Albania.
4. Principality of Andorra.
5. Antigua and Barbuda.
6. Barbados.
7. The Kingdom of Bahrain.
8. The Kingdom of Belgium.
9. The Republic of Bulgaria.
10. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
11. The Republic of Vanuatu.
12. The Vatican City State.
13. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
14. Hungary.
15. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
16. The Republic of Haiti.
17. The Islamic Republic of The Gambia.
18. The Federal Republic of Germany.
19. The Republic of Honduras.
20. Hong Kong (Xianggang) - a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China (not a state).
21. The Hellenic Republic.
22. The Kingdom of Denmark.
23. The Commonwealth of Dominica.
24. The Republic of India.
25. The Republic of Indonesia.
26. Ireland.
27. The Republic of Iceland.
28. The Kingdom of Spain.
29. The Italian Republic.
30. Canada.
31. The Republic of Cyprus.
32. The People's Republic of China.
33. The Republic of Korea.
34. The State of Kuwait.
35. The Republic of Latvia (including persons with the status of non-citizen of the Republic of Latvia).
36. The Lebanese Republic.
37. The Republic of Lithuania.
38. The Principality of Liechtenstein.
39. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
40. The Republic of Macedonia.
41. Malaysia.
42. The Republic of Malta.
43. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (not a state).
44. The United Mexican States.
45. The Federated States of Micronesia.
46. The Principality of Monaco.
47. The Republic of Namibia.
48. The Kingdom of the Netherlands.
49. The Republic of Nicaragua.
50. New Zealand.
51. The Kingdom of Norway.
52. The Sultanate of Oman.
53. The Republic of Panama.
54. The Republic of Peru.
55. The Republic of Poland.
56. The Portuguese Republic.
57. Romania.
58. The Independent State of Samoa.
59. The Republic of San Marino.
60. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
61. The Seychelles Republic.
62. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
63. The Republic of Singapore.
64. The Slovak Republic.
65. The Republic of Slovenia.
66. The United States of America.
67. The Oriental Republic of Uruguay.
68. The Republic of Finland.
69. The French Republic.
70. The Republic of Croatia.
71. The Czech Republic.
72. The Republic of Chile.
73. The Swiss Confederation.
74. The Kingdom of Sweden.
75. The Republic of El Salvador.
76. The Republic of Estonia (including stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Estonia).
77. Japan.