New visa-free travel rules
Visa-free entry rules have been changed in line with Decree No. 345 On Amending the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus as of September 14th – as informed by the Foreign Ministry’s press service
The document will come into force in a month after its official publication: on October 17th.
In line with the document, the visa-free entry to Belarus for a period of no more than 30 days (and leaving the country) is possible at the Minsk National Airport, as well as the checkpoints of Brest Airport, Vitebsk Airport, Gomel Airport, Grodno Airport, and Mogilev Airport. The list has been expanded to further simplify the entry of foreigners to Belarus and to promote the development of business, interpersonal contacts, and inbound tourism.
The decree adjusts the list of states which citizens are eligible for visa-free entry.
Albania and China have been removed from this list since visa-free trips between Belarus and China are regulated by the intergovernmental agreement as of June 10th, 2018 which envisages even more preferences, while visa-free travels between Belarus and Albania are regulated by the intergovernmental agreement on the mutual cancellation of visa requirements as of December 27th, 2019.
Visa-free entry of Chinese and Albanian citizens to Belarus is still in force via all checkpoints open for international passenger traffic – in line with the bilateral agreements.
The United States of America has also been excluded from the list.
In turn, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Pakistan and South Africa have been added. Visa-free travel procedures will apply to their citizens if they have a valid multiple-entry visa of the EU or Schengen zone participating states with entry stamps of a European Union member state or a Schengen area country, as well as air tickets with a confirmed date of departure from the airports of Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno and Mogilev.
