Belarus Entry Requirements
A passport is required to visit or transit. Passports need to be valid for at
least three months beyond scheduled departure date. Belarus has
recently allowed visa-free travel for leisure or business for 30
days. To qualify for the visa-free stay, the following conditions must
be met:
- Hold a valid passport;
- Enter and exit Belarus via Minsk International Airport;
- Arrive from and depart to any country other than the Russian Federation;
- Show evidence of finances in the form of cash, credit cards or travelers checks equivalent to 25 Euros for each day of stay;
- Show
evidence of a medical insurance policy with at least 10,000 Euros of
coverage valid throughout Belarus. Such a policy may be purchased at
the airport upon arrival; please see the Embassy of Belarus website for
information about current fees; and
- Register with the local
office of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of
the Interior for stays longer than five working days
Visas
are required if you enter or exit at border crossings other than the
Minsk Airport, or if you travel directly to or from the Russian
Federation. Typically, visas issued by a
Belarusian embassy or consulate works as both entry and exit visa.
Visitors must register with the office of
Citizenship and Migration within five days of their arrival, unless
they remain for fewer than seven days. Travelers must also pay a
registration fee. Hotel guests may register by checking in at their
hotel, in which case the registration fee is waived.
Travelers to Belarus must also fill out a migration card and
carry it with them at all times. If they do not have a valid visa,
current registration, and a migration card, they may be subject to
sanctions. These sanctions may include deportation, and deportees may
be banned from returning for anywhere between one to ten years.
All visitors to Belarus must earn permission for a temporary
stay (90 days), a temporary residence (1 year), or a permanent
residence. Visitors may not apply for more than one temporary stay
permit within a 365 day period. The Belarusian Embassy and consulates
will issue temporary stay visas, and visitors may apply to the Ministry
of the Interior for temporary or permanent resident permits after
entering Belarus.
Proof of financial means must be demonstrated upon arrival in
Belarus, or during registration. The country currently requires funds
in the amount of approximately USD $25/day or USD $580/month. Cash,
credit cards, prepaid hotel reservations, or letters pledging financial
support are all accepted as proof of funds. Medical insurance purchased
at the port of entry is also required for all foreign nationals
regardless of any existing insurance.
Additional permits are necessary to travel into certain protected
border zones. Visitors are advised to be aware of signs and barriers,
and to avoid restricted areas.
Religious worker visas are required for foreign missionaries
who plan to engage in spiritual activities outside of their host
institution. The approval process can be both difficult and lengthy.
Naturalized U.S. citizens from Belarus typically retain their
Belarusian citizenship unless they take specific steps to renounce it.
Dual nationals may enter Belarus without a Belarusian passport, but
will not be allowed to leave until they obtain one. This includes
children of at least one Belarusian parent, who are considered to be
Belarusian citizens until they turn 16 and can claim or reject
citizenship. Dual nationals are also subject to Belarusian laws
requiring military service, and may not be permitted to leave until
they have completed this service.
For the most current visa information, visit the
Embassy of Belarus website or visit the Embassy of Belarus at 1619 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009.
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