Entry/Exit Requirements
"[A passport and visa are required.] Travelers who do not have
a visa cannot register at hotels. U.S. citizens visiting or residing
in Belarus are required to register with the local office of visas
and registration (OVIR) within three business days after arrival.
Failure to register can result in fines and difficulties when departing.
U.S. citizens staying in hotels are automatically registered at
check-in. Visa validity dates are strictly enforced; travelers should
request visas of sufficient length to allow for changes in arrival
and departure plans, and should carefully review the beginning and
ending dates of their visas before traveling.
A valid exit visa is necessary to depart Belarus . Generally, the
visa issued by a Belarusian Embassy or Consulate is valid for both
entry and exit. Photocopies of visas may be helpful in the event
of loss, but note that a copy of a visa will not be sufficient for
entry or departure, as Belarusian border officials always require
original travel documents.
Travelers who overstay their visa’s validity -- even for
one day -- will be prevented from leaving until they have been granted
an extension by OVIR. United States citizens without valid visas
face delays in leaving Belarus and may have trouble finding adequate
accommodation. By Belarusian law, travelers with an expired visa
may not check in at any hotel or other lodging establishment.
Belarusian Embassies and Consulates will issue visas for temporary
stays. A temporary stay visa will allow the bearer to be present
physically in Belarus for a maximum of 90 days within the 365-day
period for which the visa is issued. Once an individual has spent
90 days in Belarus , at one time or through a combination of visits,
he or she will not be eligible to receive another visa until the
original 365-day period has passed.
The legislation also introduces a migration card that will be filled
out by foreign citizens upon entry into Belarus . Foreign citizens
will be required to retain this card and present it to the border
authorities when exiting Belarus .
Foreign citizens without a valid Belarusian visa, migration card,
or proper registration with OVIR as a temporary visitor or resident
can be subject to sanctions up to and including deportation under
the provisions of a new Code of Administrative Violations that entered
into force on March 1, 2007. Depending upon the circumstances, deportees
also can be banned from returning to Belarus for a period from one
to ten years.
Belarus requires all foreign nationals (other than accredited diplomats)
entering the country to purchase medical insurance at the port-of-entry,
regardless of any other insurance they might have. Costs for this
insurance will vary according to the length of stay. (Subject to
change, current information puts costs at approximately $1 for a
one or two day stay, $15 for a stay of up to 31 days, and $85 for
a stay of one year.)
A presidential decree adopted in June 2005 requires citizens of
foreign countries to pay a one-time fee when entering/exiting Belarus
. This entry/exit tax currently amounts to approximately $3 per
person. Travelers should receive a receipt and produce this document
at the request of Border Control Officers at border crossing points.
Diplomats and their family members, as well as members of official
delegations and representatives of international organizations,
are exempt from the duty." - US State Dept
For non-US Citizen requirements, please contact
us for updated information.
Dropping off Your Documents in Person?
BPS offers photos on-site for your convenience. |
