Belarus Exit Visa: What Are The Requirements?

Belarus requires citizens of certain countries to obtain a visa to enter the country. The type of visa required depends on the purpose and duration of the visit. For instance, citizens of the UK can enter Belarus without a visa for up to 30 days, but they must obtain a visa if they wish to stay longer than 30 days or for a total period exceeding 90 days per calendar year. Additionally, those travelling directly from or to Russia are not eligible for the visa-free arrangement and must obtain a visa. Belarus also has a list of 74 countries whose citizens can enter visa-free for 30 days, although this list does not include those travelling from Russia or to its airports. For those who require a visa, the process typically takes 5 business days and requires a valid passport, visa application form, photograph, and health insurance coverage of at least €10,000.

Visa-free entry for citizens of 74 countries

According to the Law of the Republic of Belarus, a foreign citizen may enter and leave the country with a foreign travel document, and a visa is not required if this is stipulated by the international agreements of Belarus or the decisions of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

On 19 July 2024, visa-free entry to Belarus and exit from Belarus through all road and railway international checkpoints was established for citizens of 35 European countries, in addition to Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia (as well as non-citizens of Latvia), bringing the total number of countries with visa-free entry to Belarus to 74. This arrangement is valid until 31 December 2024 and allows for a temporary stay of up to 30 days from the date of entry (up to 90 days for citizens of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia).

The 35 European countries included in this arrangement are:

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia (including stateless persons permanently residing in Estonia)
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• North Macedonia
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City

It is important to note that this procedure does not apply to holders of diplomatic, service, special, or equivalent passports. However, holders of biometric diplomatic passports issued by EU member states can enter, exit, and transit through Belarus without a visa according to the Agreement between Belarus and the European Union on visa facilitation.

For citizens of other countries, the standard procedure for obtaining a visa to enter the Republic of Belarus involves submitting the required documents to an entry visa-issuing authority, such as a diplomatic mission or consular institution of Belarus.

Visa requirements for US citizens

US citizens wishing to enter Belarus must have a visa issued by a Belarusian embassy or consulate overseas. This applies even if they plan to stay for less than 30 days. US citizens can enter Belarus visa-free for up to 30 days if they meet certain conditions, including arriving and departing via Minsk International Airport, and not travelling to or from the Russian Federation.

To obtain a Belarusian entry visa, the following documents should be submitted to the Embassy:

• A completed visa application form, filled out in legible block capitals in English or Russian/Belarusian. The form should be signed by the applicant personally.
• One colour photograph, taken within the last 6 months, with a plain background, no sunglasses, hat or head covering (unless for religious or ethnic reasons), and with the full face comprising 70-80% of the picture.
• A valid original passport, with at least two blank pages, valid for at least 90 days after the expected departure date from Belarus, and containing a photograph of the owner.
• Visa support documents for the required type of visa.
• Health insurance, valid for the whole period of stay in Belarus, with a minimum coverage of 10,000 Euros.

The consular officer may request additional documents as part of the visa issuance process. The regular visa processing time is 5 business days, with an expedited process of 2 business days.

US citizens should be aware that the situation in Belarus is unpredictable due to the country's involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine. There is heightened tension in the region, and potential harassment targeted at foreigners is possible. US citizens are strongly advised against travelling to Belarus.

Visa-free entry for British citizens

As of 19 July 2024, British citizens with ordinary passports can enter Belarus without a visa for a period of up to 30 days, not exceeding 90 days in a calendar year. This applies to entry and exit through all road and railway international checkpoints across the State border of the Republic of Belarus. This arrangement is valid until 31 December 2024 and does not apply to those entering on diplomatic or official passports.

If you wish to stay longer than 30 days during a visit, or for a total period exceeding 90 days per calendar year, you must obtain a visa from the Embassy of Belarus in the UK. You will need to provide documentary evidence of medical insurance to the value of 10,000 euros and show funds equivalent to 25 euros per day. This can be in the form of cash, credit card or traveller's cheques in any currency.

If you are travelling directly from or to Russia, the visa-free arrangement does not apply and you must have a visa. There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Belarus. However, it is important to ensure that your passport is valid for at least 3 months from the date of your arrival in Belarus.

Visa-free entry for citizens of 35 European countries

To enter Belarus, a foreign citizen must have a passport valid for at least three months from the date of arrival and a visa from the Republic of Belarus. However, there are exceptions to this rule, as stipulated by international agreements or decisions made by the President of the Republic of Belarus.

On July 19, 2024, Belarus introduced a 90-day visa-free regime for citizens of 35 European countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. This policy allows citizens of these countries to enter Belarus without a visa and stay for up to 90 days per year. Previously, travellers from these countries could only stay in Belarus for 30 days and had to fly into Minsk airport. This new policy is a sign that Belarus, a close ally of Russia, may be looking to ease tensions with the West.

The 35 countries whose citizens can now enter Belarus visa-free are:

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia (including stateless persons permanently residing in Estonia)
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• North Macedonia
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City

This visa-free entry is valid through all road and railway international checkpoints across the State border of Belarus and is effective until December 31, 2024. It is important to note that this procedure does not apply to holders of diplomatic, service, special, or equivalent passports. Additionally, visitors arriving without a visa can transit through Belarus to third countries, except Russia.

Visa-free entry for citizens of other countries

As of 2024, Belarusian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 81 countries and territories, ranking the Belarusian passport 61st in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.

• Cuba (10 March 1999)
• Turkey (29 April 2013)
• Serbia (10 August 2013)
• Brazil (25 November 2016)
• Argentina (19 May 2017)
• China (10 August 2018)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis (23 June 2019)
• Montenegro (5 August 2019)
• Albania (15 July 2020)
• United Arab Emirates (16 January 2021)

Additionally, citizens of the following countries can enter Belarus without a visa:

• Albania (up to 30 days from the date of entry, up to 90 days within a current year)
• Antigua and Barbuda (up to 30 days)
• Argentina (up to 90 days—consecutive days from the date of their first entry within a current year)
• Barbados (up to 28 days)
• Brazil (up to 90 days)
• Cuba (up to 30 days)
• Dominica (up to 21 days for tourism, a return air ticket is required)
• Ecuador (up to 30 days)
• El Salvador (with a permanent and temporary residence permit in Russia, valid visa of the USA, Canada or Schengen visa)
• Haiti (up to 90 days)
• Israel (up to 90 days in each period of 180 days)
• Macedonia (an invitation/telegram, referral/invitation of the healthcare institution or invitation letter of travel agency is required, as well as for visiting the burial places)
• Malaysia (up to 30 days)
• Mexico (up to 180 days for the purposes of tourism, business, participation in cultural or sporting events, to engage in activities that do not suppose remuneration, with a valid visa to Canada, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom or the Schengen State, or a valid document confirming permanent residence in the mentioned countries, or a valid document confirming permanent residence in one of the countries of the Pacific Alliance)
• Micronesia (Federated States) (up to 30 days)
• Mongolia (up to 90 days)
• Montenegro (up to 30 days)
• Namibia (up to 90 days)
• Nicaragua (up to 90 days)
• Panama (up to 180 days)
• Peru (up to 183 days for tourism purposes)
• People's Republic of China (30 days but no longer than 90 days within one calendar year)
• Qatar (up to 30 days with additional extension, when required, for up to 30 days while multiple entries; when outside the country since the expiration of the above period, re-entry is available after 60 days; the validity of the passport should be at least 6 months on the day of entry before it is expired)
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (up to 30 days)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis (up to 30 days)
• Samoa (up to 60 days, a return ticket and hotel reservation/invitation are required)
• Serbia (up to 30 days)
• Seychelles (up to 90 days, a return ticket and financial guarantees are required)
• Tunisia (up to 90 days)
• Turkey (up to 30 days)
• United Arab Emirates (up to 90 days from the date of entry)
• Vanuatu (up to 30 days)
• Venezuela (up to 90 days)
• Vietnam (up to 45 days)

Furthermore, citizens of the following 35 European countries can enter Belarus without a visa:

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia (including stateless persons permanently residing in Estonia)
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• North Macedonia
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City

This visa-free entry is valid for temporary stays in Belarus not exceeding thirty days from the date of entry and can be used an unlimited number of times until 31 December 2024. The total number of days of visa-free stay in Belarus should not exceed 90 days in a calendar year.

Frequently asked questions