Belarus
Belarus visa and entry guide
- 8 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Belarus work
Under the Law on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons of 4 January 2010, foreigners need a Belarusian visa to enter, leave or transit through Belarus unless an international agreement or a decision of the President provides otherwise. Visa rules are set by the Visa Regulations approved by the Council of Ministers, and consular fees by the Tax Code.
Many nationals are exempt under bilateral or presidential visa-free regimes listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with periods that differ by country, from 30 days for Türkiye to 90 days in 180 for Israel. Citizens of 76 countries can also come visa-free for up to 30 days through six international airports, except on flights from Russia, and citizens of 35 European countries can enter for up to 30 days through road and rail checkpoints. Holders of ordinary passports of 68 countries can apply online for an e-visa valid for up to 30 days.
All foreigners must carry medical insurance valid in Belarus with cover of at least EUR 10,000, unless exempted by an agreement, and must be able to show funds of at least two base values per day of stay. Temporary visitors register their place of stay within ten days, which hotels do automatically. Longer stays, work, study and residence are handled by the citizenship and migration units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This guide covers the entry visas published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with employment on a special work permit, temporary and permanent residence permits and international protection.
Which visa do I need?
Nationality covered by a visa-free regime: no visa within the period on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list; longer trips need a visa from a Belarusian mission.
Tourism, private visits or business up to 30 days for nationals of the 68 listed countries: e-visa.
Air travellers from the 76 listed countries, not arriving from Russia: airport visa-free entry for up to 30 days.
Business trips, events and repeated visits: short-term C or long-term D visa with a visa support letter.
Crossing Belarus to a third country: transit B visa or visa-free transit where allowed.
Working for a Belarusian employer: special work permit obtained by the employer, then a long-term visa for employment.
Living in Belarus for study, marriage, property or other listed grounds: temporary residence permit.
Settling for good after five years, through family or investment: permanent residence permit.
Fearing persecution or serious harm: an application for protection made inside Belarus or at the border.
Visa types for Belarus
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Visa-free stay and short-term (C) visa for tourism and private visits
Nationals of visa-exempt countries can visit Belarus without a visa for the period their regime allows.
Maximum stay: Visa-free: the period set for your nationality (often 30 days); C visas are valid for up to 90 days; tourist visas up to 30 days. - Transit visa Transit through Belarus and transit (B) visa
Foreigners crossing Belarus to another country must enter and leave within two days, including the day of entry, unless an unintended delay occurs.
Maximum stay: Up to 2 days per transit, including the day of entry.
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business visas: short-term (C) and long-term multiple-entry (D)
Business travellers who are not visa-exempt, or who need more than their visa-free period, apply for a short-term C visa or a long-term multiple-entry D visa at a Belarusian mission.
Maximum stay: C: validity up to 90 days. D: validity over 90 days with stays of up to 90 days unless agreements provide otherwise.
Work
- Work visa Employment on a special work permit (spetsialnoe razreshenie) with an employment visa
Foreigners without Belarusian permanent residence work in Belarus on a special permit for the right to engage in labour activity, which the Belarusian employer obtains from the citizenship and migration department, and a fixed-term employment contract.
Validity: Special permit: one year, renewable; highly skilled workers: two years, renewable for the same period
Residence
- Residence permit Temporary residence permit (razreshenie na vremennoe prozhivanie)
A temporary residence permit lets a foreigner live in Belarus beyond the 90 days per calendar year allowed to temporary visitors.
Maximum stay: For the length of the stay, generally not more than one year per grant (study: the study period, up to one year) - Permanent residence Permanent residence permit (razreshenie na postoyannoe prozhivanie)
A permanent residence permit gives a foreigner the right to live in Belarus without time limit and is evidenced by a biometric residence permit card.
Maximum stay: Unlimited while the grounds and residence conditions are met
Online travel permits
- e-Visa Belarusian e-visa (single-entry, up to 30 days)
Holders of ordinary passports of 68 countries, including the United States, Canada, the EU states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom, can obtain a Belarusian e-visa online through the e-Pasluga portal.
Maximum stay: Up to 30 days.
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Refugee status, complementary protection and asylum (Law No. 354-Z)
Belarus grants refugee status, complementary protection, asylum and temporary protection under Law No.
Maximum stay: Refugee status and asylum: while the grounds persist; complementary protection: up to one year, extendable by up to one year each time
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Belarus?
It depends on your nationality. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the list of visa-free regimes and their periods; nationals of 68 countries can use the e-visa, citizens of 76 countries can arrive visa-free for 30 days through six airports, and everyone else applies for a visa at a Belarusian mission.
Is medical insurance compulsory?
Yes. Foreigners need insurance valid in Belarus for the whole stay with cover of at least EUR 10,000, or must buy a Belarusian policy at the border; citizens of CIS states, Russia and Turkmenistan are exempt under agreements.
Do I have to register?
Temporary visitors register their place of stay within ten days, online on the unified services portal or at a citizenship and migration unit. Hotels register guests automatically.
How much money must visitors carry?
At least two base values per day for stays under a month, or 50 base values per month, in cash, cards, prepaid services or a guarantee letter.
Can I enter Russia from Belarus on a Belarusian e-visa?
No. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that Russia currently does not admit foreigners entering directly from Belarus on Belarusian e-visas, and Belarus does not admit e-visa holders arriving from Russia.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.