Today, events in the Republic of Belarus do not leave the front pages of the world's news tabloids. Unfortunately, the reasons for this are not the brightest. Therefore, the number of tourists wishing to visit Belarus, the land of forests and lakes has drastically decreased. However, this article will still consider visiting the country because the author is a citizen and an undoubted patriot of Belarus and expresses an absolute hope for stabilizing the peaceful situation in a once so friendly and cheerful state.
The Republic of Belarus is located in the heart of Europe. It is unique because one-third of its territory is covered by forests, meadows, rivers, lakes, swamps, and reservoirs. For this reason, the country has been deservedly called the "lungs of Europe".
There are national reserves in the places where ancient plantations and landscapes are preserved. Here you can see rare animals and birds in their natural habitat and enjoy the unity with nature.
The country has highly developed systems of education, sport, medicine. Visiting the Republic, tourists are always surprised by the cleanliness and order in the streets, friendliness and goodwill of the local Belarus population, and high order and safety.
The question of interesting, informative leisure here is also not a question. Every traveller will find something to his liking: historical sites, palaces, castles, ski slopes, agritourism, hunting and fishing, sports arenas. Great importance in the country is given to children's and adolescent recreation and development.
First of all, if you want to come to the Republic, you need to answer whether or not you need a visa to Belarus to obtain citizenship.
Visa policy of Belarus
Any state of our planet is improving and developing its visa policy. Thanks to it, there is a particular set of rules in compliance with which citizens can travel between countries.
The visa policy of Belarus in this context is very loyal. Since 2017, citizens of 74 countries have visited Belarus for up to 30 days without a visa. Such an innovation was, of course, welcomed by foreigners. And the local population was somewhat favourably disposed to such a decision.
However, the guests of the country, who wished to stay for a more extended period, had to face some difficulties. The Belarusian visa policy for those applicants who would like to move here for a long-term stay requires a visa for up to 90 days or up to 1 year. In this regard, many foreign immigrants have refused to consider the country a permanent residence. And this is fraught not only with the loss of the country's image as a welcoming state but also with the country's lack of resources from visiting citizens and a reduction in the inflow of qualified specialists. Visa to Belarus is a direct source of income, which the Republic is also deprived of because of the lack of a clear and precise policy on issuing long-term visas.
Someone may ask: are there those who want to come to Belarus permanently? We answer: yes, there are. And in recent years, their number has increased considerably. There are several reasons for that:
- High quality of life
- Low consumer spending
- Attractive salary size for highly specialized workers
- Proximity to Europe
- Ecology
Now let's take a closer look at what visas to Belarus are available. After all, the purpose and duration of your trip depend on the type of permit to enter the country.
How to get Belarus visa?
Are you wondering How to get Belarus visa? Well, before you begin gathering the documents for your Belarus visa application, find out Belarus visa free countries require free travel. If your country is not on the list, determine the purpose of your visit. Your visa type will depend on that.
Visas to Belarus are divided into:
- transit
- short-term
- long-term
Also, they can be single entry, double entry and multiple entries.
Transit visa to Belarus. It is issued for the term of up to 1 year. A foreign citizen can stay in the Republic not longer than two days during each transit trip. The basis for such a visa is a country visa where a foreigner is going through Belarus. If there is no such permit (because it is not necessary), a travel document of a foreigner travelling by rail or air transport is considered.
1. Short-term visa to Belarus. The period of validity doesn't exceed 90 days. The following categories are distinguished:
- business trip
- participation in scientific, cultural or sport events
- charitable, journalistic or religious activity
- for employment
- to receive education in universities of the country
- tourist
- of private purpose
The following documents are accepted for obtaining a short-term visa for private purposes:
- invitation
- death certificate of a close relative (or documents of a severe illness)
- police record
- document confirming the birth on the territory of the state or belonging to the Belarusian nationality
- certificate of real estate ownership in the country
- application for a visa to Belarus for medical assistance, issued by a health care institution
- document confirming close relationship with a citizen of Belarus
- certificate of the burial place of relatives in the country
2. Long-term visa to Belarus. It is a multiple entry visa. It is issued for up to 1 year with the right of stay for up to 90 days.
A significant advantage is obtaining a visa to Belarus immediately on arrival at Minsk National Airport. It is necessary to send the original and a copy of visa support documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus.
If a foreign citizen arrives in Belarus due to a severe illness or death of a relative, you can present the certificate when applying for a visa.
The consular fee in case of Belarus visa application at the National Airport of Minsk has the following increased rates:
- if there is no Belarusian embassy or consulate in the immigrant's country - the cost is 50% higher
- if there is a Belarusian embassy or consulate in the immigrant's country - the fee is 200% higher
Urgent (up to 2 days) procedure of visa request examination implies double the rate.
Belarus tourist visa
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If you have decided to visit Belarus for tourism purposes, gather information about whether you need a visa to Belarus. It turns out that your citizenship requires an entry permit, do not get upset. The list of documents and the size of the consular fee should not scare you. Belarus tourist visa requires:
- An identity document (passport). It must have at least two blank pages. The period of validity must not exceed ten years.
- visa application form (filled in Russian, Belarusian or English)
- 1 photo 35x45 mm (must not be older than six months)
- contract of medical insurance in the amount, not less than 10 thousand euros. Please note that the warranty should cover the entire territory of the country and be valid for the whole period of stay of a foreign citizen in the country
- payment of a consular fee
- Application of a tour company registered in the Republic of Belarus. This document must contain information on the company itself (name, legal address, license number), tourist (term, ID-document data, period of stay in Belarus), and payment of tourist services.
The maximum term of issue of Belarus tourist visa doesn't exceed 30 days.
List of Belarus visa free countries
As mentioned above, several countries have a visa-free regime with approved terms and conditions of stay in the territory of the state. Foreigners can stay in the Republic of Belarus for up to 30 days if the point of their arrival and departure is the National Airport of Minsk. Also, you should have your passport, health insurance policy, and money in the amount of 2 basic units per day. Citizens of India, Vietnam, Haiti, Namibia, Gambia, Lebanon, Samoa must have a multiple entry EU or Schengen visa and the air tickets with the departure date from the National airport of Minsk within 30 days of the date of entry into Belarus.
It is also possible to enter Belarus without a visa through the two largest western cities of the country - Brest and Grodno. In this case, the tourist's stay shall not exceed 15 days. The Belarus visa requirements for the availability of documents under this condition of entry are as follows:
- valid passport
- health insurance for the sum, not less than 10 thousand Euros
- Migration card (issued to a foreign citizen upon entry into the territory of the Republic. I filled out the card a tourist shows to an official at the checkpoint of Belarusian customs. The migration card is checked for completeness and accuracy of the information it contains after part A of the card is withdrawn and part B is returned to the foreigner. The tourist keeps
the returned part for the entire period of his stay in Belarus. When leaving Belarus, you must hand it over to the border guard)
- permit for visiting visa-free territory "Brest-Grodno" (is a document confirming the purchase of individual or group tours from the Belarusian tour operator)
The list of countries without a visa to Belarus for up to 30 days is as follows: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Great Britain, Hungary, Haiti, Gambia, Vietnam, Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Spain, Vanuatu, United Kingdom Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay.
Here is the list of visa-free countries according to the current international treaties:
Azerbaijan
Argentina
Armenia
Brazil
Venezuela
Georgia
Israel
Kazakhstan
Qatar
Cuba
China
Kyrgyzstan
Macedonia
Moldova
Mongolia
UAE
Russia
Serbia
Tajikistan
Turkey
Ecuador
Uzbekistan
Ukraine
Montenegro
Rules for visits to Belarus by foreign nationals for tourism, business trip or private purposes are pretty favourable. Visa to Belarus is available to citizens of all countries, and in some cases, you can even get by without it.
We hope that this article was helpful, and you have got the answer to whether you need a visa to Belarus.
