Estonia-Belarus Border: Is There A Boundary?

Belarus and Estonia are two countries in Europe, but they do not share a border. Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, while Estonia is located in Northern Europe and has borders with Russia to the east and Latvia to the south. Belarus shares its borders with Russia to the east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the north, Lithuania and Latvia to the north, and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast to the northwest.

Belarus' border crossing requirements

Belarus Border Crossing Requirements

When crossing the border into Belarus, foreign citizens and stateless persons must pass through border and customs control. If necessary, automobile, veterinary, sanitary-quarantine, and phytosanitary types of control may also be required.

Documents Required

When entering Belarus, you must present the following documents to the border guard:

• A valid passport intended for crossing the border.
• Insurance for a car registered outside Belarus.
• An electronic control stamp confirming payment for disinfection services.

Documents Required for Leaving Belarus

When leaving Belarus, you must present the following documents to the border guard:

• A valid passport intended for crossing the border.
• Insurance for a car registered outside Belarus.
• A document confirming the payment of a local fee for crossing the border by drivers of vehicles registered in Belarus or abroad.

Additional Requirements for Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons

Foreign citizens and stateless persons must also have the following:

• A valid document for travelling abroad (passport) with a visa for citizens of countries with which Belarus has a visa regime.
• A document for returning to the state of citizenship or residence (if the passport is lost on Belarusian territory).

Additional Requirements When Crossing the State Border

When crossing the state border, foreign citizens must:

• Produce a document for travelling abroad with a valid visa for Belarus (if required).
• Upon entry, receive and fill in a migration card. This must be presented with the passport to the border service officer at the border checkpoint, who will then put a mark on both the migration card and the passport to indicate the foreign citizen's entry into Belarus. The foreign citizen will then receive part "B" of the migration card.
• Upon departure from Belarus, a foreign citizen, except those temporarily or permanently residing in the country, must hand over part "B" of the migration card to the official of the border service body when passing border control at state border checkpoints, unless stipulated otherwise by legislative acts and international treaties.

Rules of Stay in Belarus for Foreign Citizens

A foreign citizen or stateless person who arrives in Belarus is obliged to register with a registration authority at the place of actual temporary stay within ten days, except for Sundays, public holidays, and high days. Since 2 January 2019, foreign nationals and stateless persons who are temporarily staying in Belarus can register on the website portal.gov.by without visiting a local police office. This service is free of charge and is available to foreigners who arrived in Belarus through checkpoints on the Belarusian border.

Specific Aspects of Transit Travel for Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons

Foreign citizens travelling in transit through Belarus must enter and depart from the country on a valid passport or other appropriate documents suitable for travelling abroad. This must be issued by the relevant authority of the state of citizenship or habitual residence of the foreigner or an international organisation, with a transit visa or another visa for Belarus that grants the right to cross the state border, unless otherwise provided by international treaties.

Estonia's border crossing requirements

COVID-19 Requirements

As of May 17, 2022, Estonia has lifted its COVID-19 travel restrictions. However, travellers from outside the EU/Schengen area must provide proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or a negative test result. The vaccination certificate must be in Latin or Cyrillic script and include specific information such as the disease targeted, the date of vaccination, and the issuer of the certificate. Recovery must be proven with an authenticated certificate or medical document, and negative test results must be performed by a healthcare professional. These requirements do not apply to children under 12.

Border Crossings with Russia

Estonia has a land border with Russia that is approximately 294 kilometres long. This border emerged during World War I when Estonia declared its independence from the Russian and German Empires. Since September 2022, Estonia, along with the other Baltic countries, has closed its borders to most Russians in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Estonia also banned vehicles with Russian license plates from entering their territory in September 2023.

There are several border crossing points between Estonia and Russia, including Narva–Ivangorod, Narva 2–Parusinka, Saatse–Krupp, Koidula–Pechory, Koidula–Kunichina Gora, and Luhamaa–Shumilkino. However, as of February 2024, the Narva–Ivangorod border crossing on the road between Narva and Ivangorod is closed to automobile traffic due to the reconstruction of the border crossing station on the Russian side.

General Border Crossing Requirements

All travellers entering Estonia by plane, ship, bus, or car must fill out a traveller's questionnaire before arrival. This can be done electronically or on paper up to three days before arriving. Those arriving by plane, ship, or car from a high-risk country are required to fill out the questionnaire.

Estonia has its own national classification of risk areas, and travel restrictions are based on this classification rather than the common "EU Traffic Lights" map. Travellers from high-risk countries are subject to additional requirements, such as pre-departure negative PCR tests and a 10-day quarantine period. These restrictions do not apply to individuals who have been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the last 12 months.

Belarus' visa requirements

Belarus Visa Requirements

Belarus has specific visa requirements that must be met before travelling to the country. These requirements include the type of visa, necessary documents, and exemptions for certain cases.

Types of Visa

Belarus offers different types of visas depending on the purpose and duration of the visit. These include:

• Transit Visa (Type B): This visa is for travellers passing through Belarus and is valid for one year. Travellers must exit the country within two days of entry.
• Short-Term Visa (Type C): This is the main type of visa for foreign citizens and covers various purposes such as education, business, tourism, and private visits. The validity of this visa is limited to 90 days.
• Long-Term Visa (Type D): This visa is issued for stays exceeding 90 days and is meant for business contacts, sports/cultural events, and journalistic activities. The validity of this visa is up to one year.

Visa Entries

Belarus visas can be single, double, or multiple entry:

• Single-Entry: Allows a single entry and stay in Belarus for up to 90 days within the indicated period.
• Double-Entry: Allows two entries and stays within the indicated period and number of days, not exceeding 90 days.
• Multiple-Entry: Permits multiple entries and stays of up to 90 days within the indicated period.

Required Documents

When applying for a Belarus visa, the following documents are generally required:

• Visa Application Form: This form must be fully completed and signed, with no corrections or white-outs.
• Passport: The passport must be valid for at least six months after the intended departure date and have at least two blank visa pages.
• Passport-Type Photograph: Taken within the last six months, against a white background, and meeting specific size and format requirements.
• Proof of Status: For non-US citizens, a copy of immigration status in the country of residence, such as a resident card or work/study permit, is necessary.
• Health Insurance: Proof of international health insurance covering travel to Belarus with a minimum medical coverage of $13,500 or €10,000 is required.
• Invitation Letter: Depending on the purpose of the visit, an invitation letter from a Belarusian company, host, or travel agency may be needed.
• Proof of Travel Arrangements: This includes flight details or e-tickets.

Visa Exemptions

Citizens of certain countries may be exempt from obtaining a visa for Belarus under specific conditions. For example, visa-free entry for up to 30 days is allowed for those entering and exiting through the Minsk National Airport, holding valid medical insurance, and meeting other requirements. Additionally, visa-free access is provided for visitors to certain national parks and regions, such as the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park and the Grodno Region.

Processing Times and Fees

The processing times and fees for Belarus visas vary depending on the type of visa, the applicant's nationality, and the issuing authority. It is recommended to check with the appropriate Belarusian diplomatic mission or consular institution for detailed information.

Estonia's visa requirements

Estonia is a member of the Schengen Area, and so its visa requirements are determined by the common Schengen rules. These vary depending on the purpose of your visit, and the country you are travelling from.

No Visa Required

If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you do not need a visa to enter Estonia. You can stay in Estonia for up to 90 days within 180 days.

Short-Stay Visa

If you are travelling from a non-EU/EEA/Swiss country that does not have a visa-free agreement with Schengen, you will need to apply for a short-stay visa. This allows you to stay in Estonia for 90 days within 180 days. This visa is suitable for short visits and tourism, and can also be used to transit through an Estonian airport.

Long-Stay Visa

If you want to stay in Estonia for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa. This will allow you to stay in Estonia for up to a year, and can be used for work, studies, family reunification, retirement, or investments. With a long-stay visa, you can also visit other Schengen countries for 90 days.

Estonian National Visa

If you are travelling from a country with visa liberalization with Schengen (e.g. USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand), you can stay in Estonia for 90 days within 180 days without a visa. For longer stays, you will need to apply for an Estonian National Visa.

Estonian Digital Nomad Visa

Estonia has a special visa for freelancers who want to work in the country, known as the Estonian Digital Nomad Visa.

Other Visa Types

Estonia also offers work, student, family, investment, and EU Blue Card residence visas.

Application Process

To apply for an Estonian visa, you must:

• Contact the consulate/embassy of Estonia in your home country and book an appointment
• Complete the application form online, print a hard copy, and sign it
• Pay the application fee
• Submit the required documents, including:
• A valid passport
• Two passport-sized photos
• Schengen Medical insurance
• A cover letter
• Proof of accommodation
• Civil status documentation
• Bank statement
• Wait for a response from the embassy or consulate

Belarus-Estonia relations

Belarus and Estonia established diplomatic relations on April 6, 1992, and have since opened embassies in each other's countries. Both nations are also part of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Ministerial Council and have met several times under this framework.

During the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, about 10 Belarusian official delegations visited Estonia. These visits were coordinated by various ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications. One notable visit was that of the First Deputy Prime Minister V.Matyushevsky, who met with the Prime Minister of Estonia, J.Ratas.

Estonia's approach to developing political dialogue with Belarus is currently defined by the European Union's common position on the country. The West's increasing diplomatic, economic, and informational pressure on Belarus, based on far-fetched accusations, negatively impacted the dynamics and level of bilateral relations with Estonia between 2020 and 2023.

Despite the challenges, Belarus remains committed to mutually beneficial cooperation and constructive dialogue with Estonia, based on the principles of mutual respect and equality. Belarusian citizens can also take advantage of visa-free entry when travelling to Estonia.

Frequently asked questions