Travel visas for Belarus
Most foreign travelers need a visa to come to Belarus. Belarus issues transit, short-term and long-term visas depending on the purpose of the visit and length of stay and also single-entry, double- and multiple-entry visas.
Citizens of a number of states can come to Belarus without a visa if it is stipulated by international treaties.
In addition to that, Belarus offers several visa-free travel programs with varying duration and terms of stay. Thus, travelers who would normally need a visa to come to Belarus, can visit the country under a simplified procedure. Travelers may opt for one of them:
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to 30 days
No visas are required provided travelers cross the Belarusian border via Minsk National Airport, "Airport Brest", "Airport Gomel", "Airport Grodno", "Airport Mogilev", "Airport Vitebsk". The given order of visa-free movement through the airports does not extend to persons coming to Belarus by plane from the Russian Federation. -
to 15 days
No visas are required to visit visa-free tourist zone (including the country's large cities of Grodno and Brest) provided travelers have a special document issued by a certified travel agency in their home country.
COVID-19: Belarus Travel Advice
Belarus government and the Healthcare Ministry enforced certain measures to prevent the import and spread of the coronavirus infection. In this regard, please be ready for increased attention and control and keep in mind that you will have to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19.
Please note that:
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entry into Belarus through land checkpoints is temporarily suspended for foreign citizens and stateless persons, except for those who have a permit for permanent or temporary residence in Belarus (there are exceptions for certain categories);
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foreigners and stateless persons (except those who have a temporary/permanent residence permit in Belarus) are allowed to enter Belarus only through airports.
According to government decisions, foreigners over six years old arriving in Belarus must have an original or a copy of a medical document either in hard copy or an electronic form, confirming a negative COVID-19 test result. The PCR test must be done no later than three days before the border crossing date (this period includes the date of border crossing). The requirement does not apply to citizens with temporary or permanent residency permits.
A PCR test is not required if you have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
The certificate must be submitted in hard copy and be in Belarusian or Russian and (or English).
COVID-19 vaccination must be completed within 1 to 12 months prior to the date of arrival in Belarus.
According to Council of Ministers’ Resolution No. 727 of 17 December 2021, self-isolation was canceled for all categories of citizens arriving from abroad.
Citizens of Belarus, foreigners and stateless persons diagnosed with the COVID-19 infection are required to quarantine for seven calendar days.
Citizens of the Russian Federation transiting to Russia do not need to take a PCR test.
For more information regarding the rules of crossing the state border of the Republic of Belarus and the documents required at the checkpoint, please visit the official website of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
More details are available here:
Belarus’ government outlines measures to curb coronavirus
Belarus sets self-isolation rules
UPDATE! 15 July 2021. Belarus reduces self-isolation period to seven days
No self-isolation for vaccinated arrivals in Belarus
Who need the Belarusian visa
Most foreign visitors need a visa to come to Belarus. However, some of them are entitled to visa-free travel options.
Belarusian visa-free entry terms adjusted
In accordance with the international treaties of the Republic of Belarus, no visas are required for citizens of:
- Argentina (for stays up to 90 days)
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Armenia
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Azerbaijan
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Brazil (for stays up to 90 days)
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China (for stays up to 30 days in each period of 90 days), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (for stays up to 30 days during one trip), Macao Special Administrative Region (for stays up to 30 days in each period of 90 days)
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Cuba (for stays of up to 30 days)
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Ecuador (for stays up to 30 days)
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Georgia
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Israel (for stays up to 90 days in each period of 180 days)
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Kazakhstan
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Kyrgyzstan
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Macedonia (provided they have a private invitation or a tourist voucher)
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Moldova
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Mongolia (for stays up to 90 days)
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Montenegro (for stays up to 30 days)
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Qatar (for stays up to 30 days)
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Russia
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Serbia (for stays up to 30 days)
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Tajikistan
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Turkey (for stays up to 30 days)
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United Arab Emirates (for stays up to 90 days in each period of 180 days)
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Ukraine
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Uzbekistan
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Venezuela (for stays up to 90 days)
There are also some exceptions for diplomatic passport holders from a number of states.
Аll other foreigners need visas to travel to Belarus.
What kind of visa do you need?
The most commonly used visa is the short-term visa (C). These visas are valid for up to 90 days and are suitable for:
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business travellers
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students
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private travellers on family business
Short-term visas can be single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry visas.
Tourists usually receive a short-term group visa via their travel agency.
Long-term visas (D) are usually valid for the period ranging from 90 days to five years and allow multiple entry to Belarus. They are suitable for:
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frequent business travellers
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private travellers wishing to stay longer in the country
Transit visas (B) are valid for the period of up to one year and allow travelers to stop in Belarus for two days on their way to another destination each time they go through Belarus in transit.
How do you get a visa?
Visas are issued by the following bodies:
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Embassies of Belarus
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Consulates of Belarus
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Consular Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Minsk National Airport
In order to get a visa, applicants must submit the following documents:
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Application Form duly filled in and signed by the applicant
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One recent passport size photograph (3.5cm by 4.5cm, made not earlier than 6 months prior to submitting), with the applicant's face covering 70-80% of the photograph
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Passport (it should be valid for at least 90 days after the intended stay and have at least two blank pages)
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Supporting documents (depending on the purpose of visit: a formal request, an invitation letter, a proof of accommodation, judicial summons, a job offer, etc.)
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Medical Insurance from Belgosstrakh or Eximgarant of Belarus or any foreign insurance company (it should be valid for Belarus and cover the applicant for at least €10,000)
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Proof of paying the visa fee
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Other documents that may be requested by a consular service.
Can you get your visa upon arrival?
Foreign nationals arriving in Belarus via Minsk National Airport can get a visa at the airport.
No later than two days before the arrival a foreign national needs to submit supporting documents (an original and copy of a formal request) to the Foreign Admissions Division of the Consular Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus.
In case of a serious disease or death of a close relative (family member) supporting documents can be submitted at the time of applying for a visa.
The documents can be submitted by an applicant personnally (to the information center of the Foreign Admissions Division located at Minsk National Airport (ground floor, sector ½) or by post (keep in mind that the delivery might take some time)
Note! Employee of the Foreign Admissions Division will put a stamp on a copy of a supporting document that will confirm the acceptance of the documents. Foreign nationals with no valid visas to Belarus need to present this stamp during the flight registration.
Address: Foreign Admissions Division of the Consular Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus,
Minsk National Airport, Minsk, 220054.
Phone: +375 17 279 20 58, +375 17 279 28 72
How long does it take to get a visa?
Successful applications will be processed within five working days (as a matter of urgency — within 2 working days).
Visa fees
Since 1 January 2017, applicants need to pay a visa fee of €60 for all types of visas with any number of entries. Foreigners under the age of 14 are exempt from the visa fee.
In line with the visa facilitation agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the European Union, on 1 July 2020, Belarus reduced the visa fee down to €35 for all types of entry visas for citizens of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, France, Finland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Estonia. Stateless persons permanently residing in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are also entitled to the €35 visa fee. Foreigners under the age of 12 are exempt from the visa fee.
Japanese citizens are exempt from paying for any type of the Belarusian visa.
Foreigners will have to pay an additional fee:
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for expediting the case’s adjudication (within 2 working days) by consular institutions of the Republic of Belarus – the additional fee is equal to the visa fee;
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for getting a visa at Minsk National Airport if there are no Belarusian diplomatic missions in the countries of citizenship or residence of the applicant – the additional fee will be half the amount of the visa fee;
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for getting a visa at Minsk National Airport if there are Belarusian diplomatic missions in the countries of citizenship or residence of the applicant – the additional fee will 200 percent as much as the visa fee.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus provides a regularly updated list of consular fees.
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