Belarus Visa | Passport Health Passports and Visas (2024)

Do I Need a Visa for Belarus?

Yes. US citizens traveling to or transiting through Belarus for any purpose are required to have a visa. Temporary stay visas permit stays of up to 90 days in one calendar year. Belarusian authorities enforce visa validity very strictly. If you overstay your visa by even one day, you will not be permitted to depart Belarus until the Department of Citizenship and Migration grants you an extension. It is illegal for hotels to allow foreigners who are not in possession of a current, valid visa to check in, so you will have difficulty finding lodging during this waiting period. Therefore, it is best to request a visa that is valid for enough time to allow changes in your travel plans. It is necessary to have proof of health insurance to apply for a visa, and applications that do not include a copy of the policy and proof of purchase will not be considered. If you are transiting through Belarus on your way to another country, you must have a transit visa, no matter how short your stay in Belarus will be. Transit visas permit 48 hours of stay in Belarus. The transit visa requirement is strictly enforced, and travelers without the proper visa have been forcibly removed from trains going through Belarus. US citizens who arrive in Belarus without the proper visa will be subject to sanctions, arrest, and deportation and potentially banned from returning to Belarus for up to ten years. To avoid such situations, be sure to work with a travel document expert to obtain the proper visa before your trip.

Sources: Belarusian Embassy and U.S. State Department

Can I Obtain My Visa for Belarus on Arrival?

In some cases, on arrival visas may be available at the Minsk International Airport. However, the process of obtaining an on arrival visa is very complicated. An inviting person in Belarus must submit all of the traveler’s paperwork to the airport consular office at least two business days before arrival. When the traveler arrives in Belarus, he or she will be required to complete a visa form, provide a passport style photo, demonstrate proof of health insurance, and show proof of sufficient funds to support the trip. If any of these materials are lacking, entrance can be denied. The consular officer at the airport has the authority to deny visa requests for any reason and without explanation, and the traveler whose request is denied will be deported from Belarus immediately. Therefore, travelers are strongly advised against attempting to obtain a visa on arrival in Belarus. Note that on arrival visas are not offered at any port of entry other than the Minsk International Airport.

What Types of Materials Support My Belarus Visa Application?

To apply for a Belarus visa, you will need:

• Valid Passport
• Passport Photos that meet the government of Belarus’s requirements
• Invitation Letter
• Proof of Travel Arrangements
• Proof of Health Insurance
• Proof of Sufficient Funds to support your trip
• Properly Completed Belarus Visa Application Form
• Money Order

Depending on the details of your trip to Belarus, you may also need:

• Business Introduction Letter

Confused by the document requirements for travel to Belarus? Let the Belarus visa experts help! Call for expert advice.

How Do I Obtain My Visa for Belarus?

Call ! We make the extremely complicated application process for a Belarus visa simple, and we give you peace of mind in that you know you have met the entry requirements before your trip. We provide you with a step by step application kit, visa application review service, pre-paid shipping labels, and hand delivery of your documents to the Embassy of Belarus. Once your visa is issued, we are immediately notified, and we pick the document up and mail it back to you.

What Else Do I Need to Do Before Traveling to Belarus?

Make sure your US passport is still valid and will be for 6 months after the date you plan to exit Belarus. Especially if you are a frequent traveler, make sure your passport has a minimum of 2 blank visa pages to avoid potential issues with the immigration authorities. Do you need to get your passport renewed? We can help, and we can expedite your passport application to get you a new or renewed passport in as few as 1-3 business days.

Be sure to prepare your health! The health risks in Belarus are very different than those you might face in the US. Schedule an appointment at the Passport Health travel clinic nearest to you to get all of the vaccines, medications, advice, and travel supplies you need for a healthy trip to Belarus.

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