Verified as of 15/06/2026
Entry to Belarus
Belarus has significantly expanded its visa-free programs since 2024. Most European citizens can now enter without a visa through any border crossing — and a new e-visa system launched in March 2025 covers dozens more countries.
Which regime applies to you?
Citizens of 38 European countries can enter Belarus without a visa through any international border crossing — airports, road and rail checkpoints. The programme is valid until 31 December 2026.
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia — up to 90 days per entry
Other 35 countries — up to 30 days per entry
In all cases, total time in Belarus cannot exceed 90 days per calendar year.
- Unlimited number of entries allowed
- Applies to all international airports and all road/rail border crossings
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your expected departure date
- You may not transit onward to Russia under this visa-free programme
- Diplomatic and service passports are excluded (separate agreements apply)
Buy it before your trip at bgs.by — the official Belarusian state insurer. The site is available in English, Russian, and Chinese.
Important: this policy only covers life-threatening emergencies. You can only use it at a hospital emergency room (skoraya pomoshch), where doctors assess and decide whether treatment is needed. In practice, if you arrive with a genuine problem you will almost always be seen and treated.
Belarus launched its electronic visa system on 20 March 2025. Citizens of 67 countries — including the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea, UAE and many others — can now apply online without visiting a consulate.
- Valid for up to 30 days, single entry
- Purposes: tourism, business, private affairs, cultural/sporting/scientific events
- Apply via e-pasluga.by — no passport scan or photo required
- Pay online with Visa or Mastercard
- Entry through all international airports and land/rail checkpoints
- Apply at least 7 days before your intended entry date
- Print the e-visa or carry it digitally at border control
A separate programme allows citizens of 76 countries to visit Belarus visa-free for up to 30 days, provided they both enter and exit through a Belarusian international airport (Minsk, Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Mogilev, Vitebsk).
- 30 days maximum stay
- Must enter AND exit via an international airport — land exits are not permitted under this programme
- Flights to/from Russia are treated as domestic and do not qualify for this programme
- Citizens of Egypt, Gambia, Haiti, India, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Namibia, Pakistan, Samoa, South Africa, Vietnam must additionally present a valid Schengen or EU visa
Citizens of most countries can visit the Brest and Grodno regions of western Belarus visa-free for up to 15 days. Entry is via 14 designated crossings from Poland and Lithuania, including Brest and Grodno airports.
- Up to 15 days — great for a short trip to Brest Fortress, Białowieża Forest, Grodno Old Town
- Must stay within the Brest and Grodno oblasts (western Belarus only)
- Registration within 5 days, handled by your hotel
- Financial requirement: Br 90 per day of stay
- Travelling to Minsk or other regions requires a standard visa or other visa-free regime
For those not covered by any of the visa-free programmes above, Belarus issues three types of visas: