Belarus Visa and Passport Requirements

Passports

All visitors must hold a passport valid for 90 days after the date of departure from Belarus and with at least two blank pages.

* While you aren't required to have a return ticket upon arrival, you may need proof of onward travel if you do not have a visa.

** Depending on the length of your stay you may require a visa, see the notes below for more information.

Passport Note

All foreign nationals must register their passports at the local police station within five working days of their arrival; if staying at a hotel, reception will do this automatically.

Visas

From 27 July 2018, citizens from 74 countries can visit Belarus without a visa for up to 30 days (including arrival and departure dates) provided that:
• You must enter and exit Belarus through Minsk National Airport.
• You must not come from any airports in the Russian Federation.
• You must have a valid passport which must be valid at least 90 days beyond intended date of departure.
• You must show your financial means.
• You must have a medical insurance policy with coverage for at least 10,000 euros while in Belarus.

The 74 nationalities that can travel to Belarus without a visa for up to 30 days include: Australia, Austria, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China*, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Gambia*, Germany, Greece, Haiti*, Hungary, India*, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon*, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Namibia*, Netherlands, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa*, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican, Vietnam*.

* For citizens of China, Haiti, India, Gambia, Lebanon, Namibia, Samoa, and Vietnam going to Belarus – you don't need to apply for a Belarus visa for stay less than 30 days but you must have a valid multiple-entry visa of a EU member state or a Schengen visa showing an entry stamp to a EU member state. You must also have a return ticket within 30 days departing from Minsk National Airport.

For visitors who plan to visit Belarus for more than 5 working days, please make sure that your accommodation (hotels & hostels) has registered you with the divisions on citizenship and migration of territorial bodies of internal affairs.

For more information, please check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

Visa Note

To apply for a transit, short-term or long-term Belarusian visa you need to submit an application form, a colour passport photograph, a valid passport and the relevant supporting documents for your visa type, a copy of the obligatory health insurance certificate (coverage of 10,000 euro) and a return envelope. The full list of supporting materials can be accessed here http://mfa.gov.by/en/visa/typesofvisa.

It's possible to visit the areas of Avgustov Canal and Grodno and Belovezhskaya Pushcha for short periods without a visa, but this must be done through a registered tour operator; the areas can't be visited on an independent basis.

Types and Cost

Nationals of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland: single-entry transit visa: €10; double-entry transit visa: €15; multiple-entry transit visa: €35; single-entry short-term visa: €25; double-entry short-term visa: €35; multiple-entry short-term visa: €60; long-term visa: €60.

All other nationals: individual visa: €60; group visa €10 per person.

Fees are double if you choose 48-hour processing.

Validity

Single- or double-entry short-term tourist visa: 30 days; single-, double- or multiple-entry short-term visitor visa (for visiting friends and relatives): 90 days; single-, double- or multiple-entry short-term business visa: 90 days; long-term visa: usually 90 days within a year.

Transit

Transit visas (single-, double- or multiple-entry) allow travel through Belarus for up to two days and are valid for up to a year.

Application to

Contact your nearest Belarusian consulate (or the consular section at an embassy). If you live in a country where there is no Belarusian embassy or consulate, you can obtain a visa at Minsk National Airport, but must submit your documentation to the Foreign Admissions Division of the Consular Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.by) in advance.

Working days

Allow at least seven days for visa processing. There is also a 48-hour express option.

Sufficient Funds

You may be asked to provide proof of funds to cover your stay (typically around US$25 a day).

Extension of stay

If you wish to extend your stay, you should contact the local office of the Citizenship and Migration Department.

Entry with pets

If importing animals, you must provide an international pet passport, proof of microchipping and a veterinary inspection certificate and vaccination certificate. These should be translated into Russian or Belarusian.

This page reflects our understanding of current rules for the most common types of travel to the said country. However, please note that each authority sets and forces entry rules, hence we strongly recommend that you verify critical information with the relevant embassy before travel.

Embassies and tourist offices

Embassy of Belarus in the USA

Telephone: (202) 986 1606.
Website: http://usa.mfa.gov.by/en
Address: , , , ,
Opening times:

Mon-Fri 0930-1230.

Embassy of Belarus in the UK

Telephone: +44 20 7938 3288
Website: http://uk.mfa.gov.by/en
Address: , 6 Kensington Court, London, W8 5DL,
Opening times:

Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 0930-1230.