Travel visas for Belarus

Visas to Belarus: who needs them, how to get, supporting documents, cost, visa waiver

Most foreign travelers need a visa to come to Belarus. Belarus issues transit (B), short-term (C) and long-term (D) visas depending on the purpose of the visit and length of stay and also single-entry, double- and multiple-entry visas.

Depending on the purpose of the visit, the following categories of visas are issued:

• visas for diplomats
• visas for foreign government officials
• business visas
• visas for participants in sports, cultural, scientific, educational events and internships
• humanitarian visas; humanitarian grounds include provision of foreign gratuitous aid, children's health improvement programs, volunteer activities
• visas for religious workers
• visas for members of the media
• visas for private trips
• student visas
• worker visas
• tourist visas
• visas for permanent residence

Citizens of a number of states can come to Belarus without a visa if it is stipulated by intergovernmental treaties.

In addition to that, Belarus offers several visa-free travel programs for tourists 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.
 
To learn more about the visa waiver and whether you qualify, click here.

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.

In accordance with the intergovernmental agreements, no visas are needed for citizens of:

• Albania (for stays up to 30 days during one trip, not more than 90 days a year)
• Argentina (for stays up to 90 days during one trip during a year)
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Brazil (for stays up to 90 days)
• China (for stays up to 30 days, not more than 90 days a year)
    - 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, not more than 90 days a year)
• Cuba (for stays of up to 30 days)
• Ecuador (for stays up to 30 days)
• Georgia
• Israel (for stays up to 90 days in each period of 180 days)
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Macedonia (provided visitors have a private invitation or a tourist voucher, an invitation from a healthcare facility, or for the purpose of visiting burial sites)
• Moldova
• Mongolia (for stays up to 90 days)
• Montenegro (for stays up to 30 days)
• Nicaragua (for stays up to 90 days)
• Qatar (for stays up to 30 days)
• Russia
• Saint Kitts and Nevis (for stays up to 30 days)
• Serbia (for stays up to 30 days)
• Tajikistan
• Türkiye (for stays up to 30 days)
• United Arab Emirates (for stays up to 90 days)
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
• Venezuela (for stays up to 90 days)

There are also 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:

• business travellers
• students
• 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:

• frequent business travellers
• 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:

• Embassies of Belarus
• Consulates of Belarus
• Consular Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Minsk National Airport

In order to get a visa, applicants must submit the following documents:

• Application Form duly filled in and signed by the applicant
• 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
• Passport (it should be valid for at least 90 days after the intended stay and have at least two blank pages)
• Supporting documents (depending on the purpose of visit: a formal request, an invitation letter, a proof of accommodation, judicial summons, a job offer, etc.)
• 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)
• Proof of paying the visa fee
• Other documents that may be requested by a consular service.

Belarus to introduce e-visas for 67 states

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:

• 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;
• 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;
• 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.

COVID-19: Belarus Travel Advice

On 3 April 2022 Belarus lifted pandemic- related travel restrictions.

At present there are no entry and exit restrictions at international checkpoints of the Republic of Belarus:

• for citizens of Belarus;
• for foreign nationals and stateless persons (if they have a visa or are entitled to a visa waiver).

Belarus lifted COVID testing and vaccination certificate requirements for foreign visitors on 28 May 2022.

Visit the official website of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus to learn more about the border crossing procedure and the documents you need to present at the checkpoint.

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