Belarus Transit Visa: How Long Is It Valid For?

Belarus issues transit visas, known as B visas, which are valid for up to two days. This includes the day of entry and does not include instances of delay due to natural disasters, vehicle repairs, illness, transfer delays, and other unforeseen circumstances. Transit through Belarus is possible without a visa if the traveller has another type of Belarusian visa, is a passenger on a direct flight, or is travelling to another destination by international airline with a transfer at a Belarusian airport.

Belarus transit visas are valid for up to 2 days

To be granted a Belarus transit visa, foreign citizens must have a valid passport, insurance for a car registered outside of Belarus, and an electronic control stamp confirming payment for disinfection services. They must also be able to present the necessary documents upon entry and exit, including a passport, insurance, and a document confirming payment of a local fee for crossing the border.

It is important to note that the visa-free arrangement does not apply when travelling directly between Belarus and Russia, and a visa is required for this journey. Additionally, U.S. citizens and other foreigners may not cross the Belarusian-Russian land border, even with a valid visa.

The process of obtaining a Belarus transit visa typically takes up to 5 working days, with an option for expedited processing within 2 working days for an additional fee.

Transit without a visa is possible under certain conditions

A Belarus transit visa (type B) is valid for up to 2 days. However, there are certain conditions under which transit without a visa is possible.

Firstly, if a foreigner holds another type of Belarusian visa that grants them the right to cross the state border, they can transit without a specific transit visa.

Secondly, if a foreigner is a passenger on a direct flight through Belarus, they do not need a separate transit visa.

Thirdly, if a foreigner is travelling to their destination by international airline with a transfer at a Belarusian airport, they do not need a transit visa as long as they have the necessary documents for entering their destination country, their air tickets with a confirmed departure date, and they do not stay in Belarus for longer than 24 hours without leaving the designated airport zone.

Additionally, citizens of states that have visa-free travel agreements with Belarus, as well as foreigners who fall under a relevant decision by the President of Belarus, can transit through Belarus without a visa.

It is important to note that the period of transit through Belarus should not exceed two days, excluding cases of unintended delay due to natural disasters, vehicle repairs, illness, unforeseen delays during transport transfers, or other unforeseen circumstances.

A passport must be valid for at least 3 months

A Belarus transit visa is valid for up to 2 days. To obtain this visa, applicants must submit a passport that is valid for at least 90 days after their intended stay, along with other supporting documents.

When applying for a Belarus transit visa, it is important to ensure that your passport meets the validity requirements. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay in Belarus. This means that your passport should not expire within 3 months of your planned departure date from Belarus. For example, if you plan to stay in Belarus for 2 days and your passport expires in 2 and a half months, you will need to renew your passport before applying for the visa. It is always a good idea to check the validity of your passport well in advance of your trip to ensure that you have enough time to renew it if needed.

In addition to the validity period, it is also important to make sure that your passport has at least two blank pages. This is a standard requirement for most visas, including the Belarus transit visa. The blank pages are needed for the visa stamp and for entry and exit stamps. Keeping your passport up to date and ensuring that it has enough validity and blank pages will help ensure a smooth visa application process and hassle-free travel.

It is worth noting that the Belarus transit visa is specifically for those transiting through the country and has a short validity period of up to 2 days. This visa type is suitable for travellers who need to stop in Belarus for a short period on their way to another destination. If you plan to stay longer in Belarus or have a different purpose for your visit, you may need to apply for a different type of visa, such as a short-term or long-term visa, which have different validity periods and requirements.

In summary, when applying for a Belarus transit visa, make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay and has at least two blank pages. This will help ensure that your visa application process goes smoothly and that you can enter and exit Belarus without any issues.

A medical insurance certificate is required

A Belarus transit visa is valid for up to two days.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons who are temporarily staying or residing in Belarus are required to have a medical insurance certificate. This can be an obligatory medical insurance contract with a Belarusian insurance company, such as Belgosstrakh or Eximgarant, or a medical insurance contract with a foreign insurance company. The insurance should cover emergency medical treatment in medical institutions.

The insurance should meet the following requirements:

• Contain the name of the insurance company and its location, phone numbers, or international assistance services, as well as the full name of the insured foreign citizen.
• Be valid in the territory of Belarus.
• Be valid for the period of the foreign citizen's temporary stay or temporary residence in Belarus.
• Provide an insured amount of not less than €10,000.
• Be confirmed by an insurance policy, an insurance card, or another document containing information about the health insurance.

Foreign citizens who do not have a valid insurance policy and refuse to take out compulsory health insurance at border checkpoints will be refused entry to Belarus.

Citizens of certain countries, including Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Russia, and Turkmenistan, are exempt from the obligatory medical insurance requirement, as they are entitled to free emergency healthcare under reciprocal healthcare agreements.

A visa fee of €60 is charged

In line with the visa facilitation agreement between Belarus and the European Union, Belarus reduced the visa fee to €35 for all types of entry visas for citizens of certain countries. These include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Spain, and several others. Stateless persons permanently residing in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are also entitled to the €35 visa fee. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the visa fee.

Japanese citizens are exempt from paying for any type of Belarusian visa.

There are additional fees for certain circumstances. For instance, an extra fee is required for expediting the case's adjudication (within 2 working days) by consular institutions. This additional fee is equal to the visa fee.

If you are getting a visa at Minsk National Airport, there is an additional fee if there are no Belarusian diplomatic missions in your country of citizenship or residence. In this case, the extra fee will be half the amount of the visa fee. However, if there are Belarusian diplomatic missions in your country, the additional fee will be 200% of the visa fee.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus provides a regularly updated list of consular fees, so be sure to check for the latest information.

Frequently asked questions