Border crossing rules for foreign citizens

In order to cross the border of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens and stateless persons should pass border and customs control and, if necessary, automobile, veterinary, sanitary and phytosanitary types of control. 

To cross the Belarusian border, one of the following documents is required:

♦ valid travel document (passport) with visa (for citizens of visa regime countries);

♦certificate for return to the country of citizenship or permanent residence (in case of loss of the passport on the territory of the Republic of Belarus).

When crossing the state border of the Republic of Belarus a foreigner must:

♦ present a passport (another travel document) with valid visa (if necessary); 

♦ have a medical insurance document issued by Belarusian or foreign insurance company (except the categories of persons, who are not obliged to possess a medical insurance);

♦ the driver of the vehicle must have an insurance certificate valid on the territory of the Republic of Belarus and confirming civil liability insurance in a member state of the "Green card" system. (Participation in the road traffic in Belarus of a vehicle, registered abroad, without the insurance of civil liability of owners of vehicles, results in administrative liability in the amount of 20 base values in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 18.20 of the Code of administrative offenses of the Republic of Belarus of April 21, 2003 Nr. 194-3).

When departing from the territory of the Republic of Belarus to the Russian Federation, foreign citizens receive a migration card from the competent authorities of the Republic of Belarus. The migration card is filled in before entering the Russian Federation. A foreigner should be able to show it to the competent authorities of the Russian Federation.

At the border crossing points it is forbidden to:

♦ leave money in the documents, which are presented for checking;

♦ offer and/or hand over officials any valuables, offer and (or) provide the property benefitse;

♦ take photos, including filming with the mobile phones;

♦ perform other actions preventing the implementation of border and other types of control.

On the territory between the state border and a checkpoint it is prohibited to:

♦ park the vehicles;

♦ board and disembark passengers;

♦ load and unload the vehicles;

♦ stay with the purposes not related to border crossing.

Violations of the above requirements lead to an administrative liability (warning with deportation or without deportation or a fine of up to 50 base values in accordance with Article 23.32 of the Code of Administrative Offences dated April 21, 2003 Nr. 194-3).

Foreigners must have funds in the amount equivalent to not less than 50 base values established in the Republic of Belarus on the day of entry for each month of stay. 

When entering the Republic of Belarus for a period less than one month, a foreigner must have funds equivalent to at least 2 base values, established in the Republic of Belarus on the day of entry for each day of stay.

You can prove this with:

♦ national currency of the Republic of Belarus or foreign currency convertible by National Bank of the Republic of Belarus;

♦ document which allows the receiving of payment means;

♦ document confirming the prepaid accommodation and meals in the Republic of Belarus;

♦ letter of guarantee from a legal or private person, who applying for a foreigner’s entry to the Republic of Belarus, residence in the Republic of Belarus, confirming the payment of all expenses related to his stay and departure from the Republic of Belarus; 

♦ vehicle or travel tickets to the state of citizenship, permanent residence or a third country.

A foreigner may be denied entry to the Republic of Belarus. Possible reasons are specified by the Article 30 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus of January 4, 2010 № 105-З “On legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Belarus”.

If a decision was taken to deny entry to the Republic of Belarus, the visa previously issued to the foreigner shall be cancelled. Border control authorities do not provide a foreign citizen with the information concerning the reasons for the refusal of entry into the Republic of Belarus.

Based of the decision to refuse entry into the Republic of Belarus, a foreigner may be included in the list of persons, whose entry into the Republic of Belarus is prohibited or undesirable. The term of prohibiting to enter the Republic of Belarus is from six months to five years.

Foreigners who plan to visit Belarus, can check if they are included in the the list of persons, whose entry into the Republic of Belarus is prohibited or undesirable, on the official web-site of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.   

Information on customs matters can be found on the web-site of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus.