Transit through Belarus

Transit travellers must enter and leave Belarus within two days, counting the day of entry. Delays count as unintended in cases of natural disasters, accidents and other emergencies, diagnosed illness when a Belarusian medical organisation considers further travel dangerous, unforeseen delays when changing transport, and other unforeseen circumstances that prevent onward travel.

A foreigner can transit without a transit visa if they hold another Belarusian visa giving the right to cross the border; are a passenger on a direct flight over Belarus; change planes at a Belarusian airport with documents for the destination country and a confirmed onward ticket, staying no more than 24 hours and within the designated airport zone; are a citizen of a state with a visa-free agreement with Belarus; or are covered by a decision of the President.

The supporting document for a B visa is the visa of the country the traveller is heading to. If that country requires no visa, other evidence such as rail, road or air tickets is considered. The application also includes the form, a photo, the passport and medical insurance of at least EUR 10,000 valid in Belarus.

Transit visas carry the standard fee of EUR 60, or EUR 35 for EU citizens, with children under 14 exempt. Decisions take five working days, or two with urgent processing at double the fee.

Drivers need green card insurance valid in Belarus; driving a foreign-registered car without it is an administrative offence punished with a fine of 20 base values. Travellers continuing to Russia receive a migration card from the Belarusian authorities, fill it in before entering Russia and show it to the Russian authorities. Airport visa-free rules do not apply to flights to Russian airports, which are treated as domestic and have no border control.