Press releases

MINSK, 22 March (BelTA) – Belarus may create a visa-free zone in its Brest Oblast and Grodno Oblast, Vitaly Gritsevich, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Department of Belarus’ Sports and Tourism Ministry, told the media on 22 March, BelTA informs.

Vitaly Gritsevich stated that the Sports and Tourism Ministry constantly considers the ways to expand Belarus’ visa-free zone. “In late 2016 the visa-free zone was introduced in the Augustow Canal. A year later this area was expanded. The visa-free zone was also expanded in Brest. Earlier, it was limited to the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Now, this zone included other regions. It is highly possible that the two zones will be united in one,” he said.

Vitaly Gritsevich stressed that the unified visa-free zone would contribute to the further development of tourism.

A five-day visa-free program for 80 countries was launched in Belarus in February 2017. There are plans to expand it to ten days, given the entry through Minsk National Airport. On 1 January 2018 the visa-free stay in certain areas of Brest Oblast and Grodno Oblast was extended to ten days for foreign visitors.