Exploring Belarus: Visa-Free Travel Options

Belarus has introduced visa-free travel regulations, allowing citizens of 76 countries to enter the country for up to 30 days without a visa. However, there are specific requirements and restrictions that travellers must meet and be aware of before planning their trip. This includes having a valid passport, sufficient funds, and medical insurance. It is important to note that the visa-free entry rules only apply when arriving and departing from Minsk National Airport, and not from any other international border checkpoints. Additionally, certain countries have advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Belarus due to safety concerns and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Visa-free entry requirements

Citizens of certain countries can enter Belarus without a visa for a period of up to 30 days, which cannot be extended, by fulfilling the following requirements:

• Arrive at and depart from Minsk National Airport (or "Airport Brest", "Airport Gomel", "Airport Grodno", "Airport Mogilev", or "Airport Vitebsk" according to one source). This rule does not apply to those flying to or from Russia, as these flights are considered internal and not subject to border control.
• Hold a valid passport with at least two blank pages intended for visas, valid for at least 90 days beyond the date of expected departure from Belarus.
• Show proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Belarus (BYN 49,000 or approximately CAD$30 for each day of stay).
• Have medical insurance coverage of at least €10,000.

Citizens of the following countries can enter Belarus without a visa for up to 30 days:

• Albania
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Barbados
• Brazil
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Haiti
• Israel
• Macedonia
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Namibia
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Peru
• Qatar
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Samoa
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

Additionally, citizens of 76 countries can take advantage of the 30-day visa-free travel to Belarus, including:

• Vietnam
• Haiti
• Gambia
• Egypt
• India
• Jordan
• Iran
• Lebanon
• Namibia
• Pakistan
• Samoa
• South Africa

Citizens of these countries must also have a valid multi-visa to the EU states or the Schengen Area with a stamp confirming entry to their territory and plane tickets confirming departure from Minsk National Airport or the airports of Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, or Mogilev within 30 days after the date of entry.

Furthermore, citizens of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland can enter Belarus without a visa for up to 90 days through all road and rail checkpoints. From July 19, 2024, to December 31, 2024, citizens of 35 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and the United Kingdom, can visit Belarus without a visa for up to 30 days.

It is important to note that the visa-free entry rules do not apply to foreigners coming to Belarus for work, business, or study if their activities exceed 30 days. Foreign citizens who plan to spend more than 10 days in Belarus must register with the police, indicating their address. This registration can be done online through portal.gov.by.

Visa-free entry exceptions

Citizens of Specific Countries:

Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for visa-free entry to Belarus:

• Vietnam, Haiti, Gambia, Egypt, India, Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, Namibia, Pakistan, Samoa, and South Africa.
• Citizens of Russia: Flights from Russia are considered internal and are not subject to border control, so the visa-free entry rules do not apply.

Arrival by Air:

The visa-free entry is only applicable if you arrive and depart from the Minsk National Airport. It does not extend to other international border checkpoints.

Arrival by Land:

If you are arriving by land, the visa-free entry exceptions vary depending on your country of origin:

• Citizens of Lithuania, Latvia (including non-citizens of Latvia), and Poland can enter visa-free through all road and rail checkpoints.
• Citizens of Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Vatican, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Hungary, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, France, Germany, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, and Estonia (including stateless persons permanently residing in Estonia) can visit without a visa from July 19, 2024, to December 31, 2024.

Additional Requirements:

Regardless of the visa-free entry, all visitors to Belarus must meet certain requirements, including:

• A valid passport or equivalent travel document.
• Sufficient funds for their stay (at least two base amounts per day, denominated in dollars or Belarusian rubles).
• Medical travel insurance valid across Belarus with a minimum coverage of €10,000.
• Registration with the police if staying for more than 10 days, which can be done online or at a local police office.

Visa-free travel programs

Belarus offers several visa-free travel programs for tourists, with varying durations and terms of stay. These programs allow travellers who would normally need a visa to visit the country under a simplified procedure. Here are the key details of the visa-free travel programs:

30-Day Visa-Free Travel

Citizens of 76 countries can take advantage of the 30-day visa-free travel to Belarus. Foreign nationals may visit any place in Belarus within this period but must arrive and depart from Minsk National Airport. This rule does not apply to those flying to/from Russia, as these flights are considered internal and are not subject to border control.

To qualify for this program, foreign nationals must have the following documents:

• A valid passport or equivalent travel document.
• Financial means (at least two base amounts per day of stay in dollars or Belarusian rubles, or 50 base amounts for a 30-day stay).
• Medical travel insurance valid across Belarus with a minimum coverage of €10,000.

Citizens of certain countries, including Vietnam, Haiti, and India, must also have a valid multi-visa to EU states or the Schengen Area and plane tickets confirming their departure from specific airports in Belarus within 30 days of entry.

15-Day Visa-Free Access to Brest-Grodno Tourist Zone

Citizens of a number of countries can visit the Grodno-Brest tourist zone visa-free for 15 days. This zone includes popular attractions and major cities in the western part of the country, such as Brest, Zhabinka, Kamenets, and Pruzhany.

To be eligible for this program, foreign nationals must present the following documents:

• A valid passport or equivalent identity document.
• Travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €10,000, valid in Belarus.
• A migration card issued upon arrival.
• A document allowing entry to the Tourism and Recreation Zone Brest-Grodno, obtained from a certified tour operator.

Visa Waiver for Citizens of European Countries

Belarus introduced a visa waiver for citizens of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, allowing them to enter through all road and rail checkpoints. This waiver has been extended to 2023 and 2024 due to its popularity.

From July 19, 2024, to December 31, 2024, citizens of 35 additional European countries, including Austria, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, can visit Belarus without a visa. The period of visa-free stay depends on the country of origin, with up to 90 days for Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, and up to 30 days for the other 35 countries.

Visa requirements

Most foreign travellers need a visa to enter Belarus. However, there are several visa-free options for tourists, depending on the traveller's country of origin and the length of their stay.

Visa-Free Travel

Citizens of 76 countries can take advantage of the 30-day visa-free travel to Belarus, provided they arrive and depart from Minsk National Airport. This list includes:

• Albania
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Barbados
• Brazil
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Haiti
• Israel
• Macedonia
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Namibia
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Peru
• Qatar
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Samoa
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

Citizens of the following countries can also enter visa-free, but must have a valid multi-visa to the EU or the Schengen Area, and proof of departure within 30 days:

• Vietnam
• Haiti
• Gambia
• Egypt
• India
• Jordan
• Iran
• Lebanon
• Namibia
• Pakistan
• Samoa
• South Africa

Additionally, citizens of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Vatican, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Hungary, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, France, Germany, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden and Estonia can visit without a visa for up to 90 days (for the former three) or 30 days (for the latter 35).

To obtain a visa for Belarus, the following documents should be submitted to the Embassy:

• A completed visa application form, which includes the purpose of the visit and is signed by the applicant.
• A 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 a full-face view.
• A valid original passport, with at least two blank pages, valid for at least 90 days after the expected departure date from Belarus.
• 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.
• A pre-paid envelope for the return of documents (when applying by post).

The regular visa processing time is 5 business days, or 2 days for expedited processing. The visa fee is €60 for all types of visas, with some exceptions.

Visa extensions

As of July 19, 2024, citizens of 35 European countries can enter Belarus without a visa for a period of temporary stay not exceeding 30 days. This visa-free entry is valid until December 31, 2024, and the number of days of visa-free stay in Belarus should not exceed 90 days in a calendar year.

Citizens of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia (as well as non-citizens of Latvia) can stay for up to 90 days from the date of entry. This visa-free entry has been in force since 2022 and has been extended to the following countries:

• 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

The visa-free entry is only valid through Belarusian airports and international checkpoints across the State border of Belarus. It is not applicable to holders of diplomatic, service, or special passports. However, holders of biometric diplomatic passports issued by EU member states can enter, leave, and transit through Belarus without a visa.

To extend a stay in Belarus beyond the visa-free period, foreigners should contact the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior at the place of their registration to obtain an exit visa or a residence permit. The registration must be completed within five business days of arrival. If staying in a hotel, the hotel will complete the registration. For short-term rentals, the rental agent may be able to assist. For stays in private homes, individuals must complete the registration themselves.

Failure to register or remaining in Belarus longer than the visa-free period can result in administrative action, including a fine of up to €550, deportation, and prohibition from entering Belarus in the future.

U.S. citizens who require a visa to enter Belarus can apply through the Embassy of Belarus. The required documents include a completed visa application form, a color photograph, a valid original passport, visa support documents, and health insurance with a minimum coverage of €10,000. The regular visa processing time is 5 business days, and the consular officer has the right to reduce the validity period of the visa. Once issued, a visa cannot be extended, and individuals must apply for a new visa if their travel plans change.

Frequently asked questions