Traveling To Belarus: Safe Or Not?

Is it safe to travel to Belarus now?

The short answer is no. Here's why.

The UK, US, Canadian and Australian governments all advise against travel to Belarus. This is due to the ongoing war in neighbouring Ukraine, the military presence along the Belarus-Ukraine border, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws by the Belarusian authorities. There is also a heightened risk of conflict spreading to Belarus, and the potential for civil unrest.

The security environment in Belarus is described as volatile and could deteriorate at short notice. There is a high risk of arrest, questioning or detention, particularly for those who have previously been involved in activities inside or outside of Belarus that the authorities have since classed as illegal. This includes political activities and donating to organisations now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime.

There is also a risk of harassment targeted specifically at foreigners.

If you are in Belarus, the advice is to leave immediately using the limited commercial options available or private means.

Political activity and the risk of arrest

Political activity in Belarus is extremely risky, and those who engage in it may face arrest, questioning, or detention. This includes donating to organisations or supporting activity now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime. The authorities may apply laws retroactively, so even if your actions were legal at the time, you could still be punished for them. If you have previously been involved in activities inside or outside of Belarus, or on social media, which the authorities have since classed as illegal, your risk of arrest is even higher.

Belarusian security forces may carry out a stop and search or ask for identification documents, and they will require you to unlock your phone. Make sure you always carry your passport or a printed copy of the photo page of your passport, and visa if you have one.

If you are arrested or detained, the Belarusian authorities are unlikely to allow foreign consular access, severely limiting the ability of foreign governments to help their citizens. This is because Belarus does not recognise dual nationality. Even if you have a foreign passport, if you are a Belarusian national, you will be treated as such by the authorities.

The risk of arrest and detention is not limited to Belarusian nationals or those with Belarusian citizenship. Foreign journalists, for example, have been scrutinised, intimidated, harassed, and subjected to violence, with some even being detained or having their equipment confiscated.

Military conflict and operations

Belarus has been supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. In the initial stages of the conflict, Belarus lent its territory to Russian soldiers to attack Ukraine, and allowed Russian missile launchers to be stationed on its territory and shoot at Ukrainian targets.

The Belarusian Armed Forces consist of the Ground Forces and the Air Force and Air Defence Forces, all under the command of the Ministry of Defence. The Ground Forces include the Territorial Forces, which are a homeland defence organisation, and the Special Forces, which are an airmobile and strategic deterrence force. The Air Force and Air Defence Force consist of fighter/interceptor bases, fighter-ground attack/training aircraft, and attack and support helicopters, among other units.

In 2017, the IISS estimated that personnel in the armed forces numbered 49,000, and nearly 350,000 reserves. Most soldiers are conscripts serving for a period of 18 months, although there is an alternative service option.

In the early days of the invasion, Belarus was also involved in peace initiatives, holding Russo-Ukrainian talks on its border. Despite some preliminary agreements, however, the talks did not result in a lasting ceasefire.

Several reports have emerged claiming that Belarusian troops are in Ukraine fighting alongside Russians, but these have been dismissed by the Belarusian leader, Aleksander Lukashenko, who has stated that the Belarusian Armed Forces (BAF) would not participate directly in the conflict. As of early 2023, the BAF has not been involved in fighting against Ukraine and has remained on Belarusian territory.

In 2022, the Belarusian government held a constitutional referendum, which was declared to have passed with 65% support. One of the changes was the revocation of Belarus's neutral and non-nuclear status. Following the referendum, the Belarusian and Russian militaries have pursued policies of stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

In August 2024, Belarus announced the transfer of an Iskander missile, Polonez MLRS and special forces to areas bordering Ukraine. President Lukashenko has also ordered Belarusian troops to join Russian troops near Ukraine, claiming that Kyiv posed a clear threat to Belarus.

Border crossings and restrictions

The security environment in Belarus is volatile and could deteriorate at short notice. Several countries have advised their citizens to avoid all travel to Belarus, including the UK, Canada, the US, and Australia. This is due to the war in neighbouring Ukraine, the military presence along the Belarus-Ukraine border, and the arbitrary enforcement of laws by Belarusian authorities.

There is a heightened security presence in Belarus, including on the streets of Minsk and other major cities. Security forces may carry out stops and searches and ask for identification documents. You should carry your passport or a printed copy of the photo page of your passport at all times.

There is a risk of arrest, questioning, or detention if you have engaged in any political activity related to Belarus, including donating to organisations or supporting activity now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime. The authorities can apply laws retroactively. The risk is greater for those who have previously been involved in activities inside or outside of Belarus that the authorities have since classed as illegal, including on social media.

Mobile phones and other personal items may be seized and inspected by the authorities, including at the border when entering Belarus.

Belarus does not recognise dual nationality. If you enter Belarus with a Belarusian passport, local authorities will treat you as a Belarusian national even if you are a dual national. This severely limits the consular services that can be provided if you are arrested or detained.

Border crossings with neighbouring states are sometimes closed with little notice. Additional closures of crossing points along Belarus's borders with Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, and Ukraine are possible.

If you are planning to cross the border from Belarus to Poland, Lithuania, or Latvia, only the following border crossings remain open to cars and buses:

• Šalčininkai/Beniakoni
• Paternieki/Grigorovshchina

The situation close to the Polish border is unpredictable. Only the Terespol-Brest border crossing point remains open with Belarus for passenger travel. This border crossing may close or implement restrictions at short notice.

Only two border crossing points between Lithuania and Belarus remain open: Medininkai-Kamenny Log and Šalčininkai-Benyakoni. Lithuania has announced further restrictions at the border with Belarus to deny entry to cars registered in Belarus, with certain exemptions. These border crossings may close or implement restrictions at short notice.

Only the Paternieki-Grigorovshchina border crossing point between Latvia and Belarus remains open. Latvia has introduced restrictions at the border with Belarus to deny entry to passenger vehicles registered in Belarus. This border crossing may close or implement restrictions at short notice.

If you are driving into Belarus, you must be able to produce original vehicle ownership documents at border crossings. If you are not the owner, you will need a letter to show you have 'power of attorney'. You must also have car insurance.

There is a zero-tolerance policy towards drink-driving in Belarus. Penalties can include fines or imprisonment.

Drivers with foreign license plates must pay a fee to use toll roads in Belarus or face a fine.

There can be police checkpoints on routes throughout the country. You should stop when instructed and have vehicle documentation available.

Financial transactions and access to money

There are currently problems with withdrawing cash or paying with foreign credit and debit cards in Belarus. Almost no major banks in the country accept foreign cards. Those that do may charge a higher commission. There is also limited cash available in the country. Many ATMs have limits on the amount of cash that can be withdrawn, especially for foreign cards.

It is difficult to exchange British pounds for Belarusian roubles. US dollars and euros are more widely accepted. It is recommended to use government-licensed currency exchanges and have your passport with you when exchanging money. If you exchange money elsewhere, you could be fined or arrested, and the currency will be confiscated.

You cannot exchange Belarusian roubles into other currencies outside of Belarus.

If you are travelling to Belarus, speak to your bank before you go. Due to sanctions against Belarus, your bank may block your card if you use it in the country.

Crime levels in Belarus are low, but be alert to the possibility of street crime and theft from vehicles or hotel rooms. The most common crime against foreigners is robbery, but taking sensible precautions should keep you safe.

Healthcare and insurance

The Belarusian healthcare system has improved in recent years, with the country's leadership citing it as being on par with the most developed nations. The country has a high number of healthcare institutions, including 609 inpatient institutions, 1,432 outpatient institutions, and 18 applied science centers. The availability of short-term hospital beds per 10,000 people in Belarus is 82.4, which is higher than in neighboring Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. The availability of practitioner medics and nurses per 10,000 people is also higher than in the European Union and the CIS states.

However, despite these improvements, the standard of healthcare in Belarus is still below that of some other countries. For instance, the Australian government advises that if you become seriously ill or injured in Belarus, you will need to be medically evacuated to receive proper care. The Canadian government also advises its citizens to purchase travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

To enter Belarus, foreign citizens must have a certificate of insurance from a foreign insurance company or take out health insurance at border checkpoints. The insurance must meet the following requirements:

• It must be valid for the entire period of the foreign citizen's stay in Belarus.
• It must provide a minimum coverage of €10,000.
• It must contain the name of the insurance company, its location, and contact information, as well as the insured person's name.
• It must be valid in the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

The following groups are exempt from the insurance requirement:

• Tourists passing through Belarus on a transit visa.
• Diplomats and official delegations.
• Flight and rail staff.
• Foreigners entitled to free emergency healthcare due to reciprocal agreements between Belarus and their country (Russia, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine).

Frequently asked questions