Procedure for obtaining visas to enter the Republic of Belarus
According to the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Belarus” of January 4, 2010 a foreign citizen may enter the Republic of Belarus, leave the Republic of Belarus and transit through the territory of the Republic of Belarus with a foreign travel documen, if there is a visa of the Republic of Belarus, unless otherwise stipulated by the international agreements of the Republic of Belarus or by the decisions of the President of the Republic of Belarus.
http://www.mfa.gov.by/en/visa/freemove/general/
The rules of issuing visas are stipulated by the Visa regulations of the Republic of Belarus, approved by the decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of July 15, 2010 No.1065 (the improved edition, approved by the decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of June 24, 2020 No.364).
The authorities that issue entry visas to the Republic of Belarus are the diplomatic missions and consular institutions of the Republic of Belarus
http://mfa.gov.by/en/bilateral/belarus/, as well as the Foreign Admissions Division of the Consular Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus in the “National Airport Minsk”.
http://mfa.gov.by/en/visa/NationalAirportMinsk/bec47c53ac48c765.html
The consular fee http://mfa.gov.by/en/visa/stavki/ is set by the Tax Code of the Republic of Belarus. Special rates for some categories of the foreigners are established by the President of the Republic of Belarus.
In the Republic of Belarus, the following types of entry visas are provided:
♦ B – transit visa, valid for up to 2 days;
♦ C – short-term visa, valid for up to 90 days;
♦ D – long-term visa, valid for the period exceeding 90 days with the right to stay in the Republic of Belarus up to 90 days, unless otherwise stipulated by the international agreements of the Republic of Belarus.
Entry visas may be single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry.
To obtain an entry visa, the following documents should be submitted to an entry visa issuing authority:
♦ one copy of a duly completed visa application form;
♦ one photograph (35x45 mm., made not earlier than 6 months prior to submitting, full face, with size of face nearly 70-80 percent of the size of photo);
♦ a foreign travel document;
♦ visa support documents.
Entry visa for a purpose of business, private or for participation in sport, cultural, scientific, educational activities for the period of up to 30 days for the citizens of the countries with no migration threat can be issued by the decision of the consular officer without visa support documents.
♦ additional documents required (by request of the consular officer);
♦ medical insurance contract signed with “Belgosstrakh“ or “Beleximgarant“ or medical insurance contract signed with any foreign insurance organization; http://www.mfa.gov.by/en/visa/useful/cc9071395f5f804a.html;
♦ a confirmation of the consular fee paid.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not provide any assistance in reviewing and delivering abroad of visa support documents.
The term of visa procedure is 5 working days (as a matter of urgency — within 2 working days) from the date of application. Decision is taken by the consular officer on the basis of the submitted documents and it is final.
The consular officer has the right to reduce the number of entries and the validity of the visa, increase the term of visa processing. The consular officer is not obliged to indicate the reasons for visa denial. In case of visa denial, the consular fee does not reimbursed.
To extend the term of stay on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, foreigner should contact the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior at the place of ones registration to obtain:
♦ an exit visa;
♦ a residence permit and, if necessary, an exit-entry visa in addition to it.
Types of Belarusian entry visas and visa support documents
There are following types of entry visas:
♦ B – transit visa. It can be single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry. The validity of visa cannot exceed one year with the right to stay in the Republic of Belarus up to 2 days each time including the day of entry.
♦ C – short-term visa. It can be single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry. The validity of visa cannot exceed 90 days.
♦ D – long-term multiple-entry visa. The visa is issued for the period exceeding 90 days but not more than 5 years.
Depending on the purpose of travel to Belarus the following categories of visas are issued:
♦ diplomatic;
♦ service;
♦ business travel; ♦ participation in sport, cultural, scientific, educational activities and internships;
♦ implementation of humanitarian programs, including rendering of the foreign aid, organization of the recovery of the children, volunteer work;
♦ maintaining of the religious ties;
♦ journalist activity;
♦ private purposes;
♦ study;
♦ employment;
♦ tourism;
♦ permanent residence.
Transit visa (type B)
Supporting document to receive a transit visa is a visa of the country to which a foreign citizen travels through the territory of the Republic of Belarus. If a visa to enter the third country is not required, other reasons for obtaining a transit visa are taken into consideration, including tickets for travelling by rail, road and air.
Short-term visa (type C)
Supporting documents to receive a short-term entry visa are the following:
♦ for business travel:
a letter of visa support, issued by the Belarusian legal entity http://www.mfa.gov.by/kcfinder/upload/files/GKU/petition_visa.pdf;
an application of the national association of the international road carriers or another competent authority that contains information about the foreigner and the visa requested, or the documents that confirm the transport of goods or passengers, – for issuing visa to the crew member of the international road carrier;
an application of the national railway organization or the railway company that contains information about the foreigner and the visa requested, – for issuing visa to the train, refrigerator, locomotive crew member;
documents for rendering burial services and documents confirming the necessity of transporting the coffin or urn with the remnants of the deceased, — for issuing visa to the employee of the specialized organization rendering services of transporting to the Republic of Belarus of coffins or urns with the remnants of the deceased;
an application of the foreign enterprise office in the Republic of Belarus, — for issuing visa to the managers and employees of this office or offices in other countries or to the founders, managers and employees of the foreign enterprise (organization), which has established this office;
♦ for participation in sport, cultural, scientific, educational activities and internships:
a letter of visa support, issued by the Belarusian legal entity;
an application (verbal note) of the diplomatic representation or consular institution of the foreign state or of the representation of the foreign organization, accredited to the Republic of Belarus, that contains information about the foreigner and the visa requested, – for issuing visa to the participants of the events, that were organized by those representations and institutions;
♦ for implementation of humanitarian programs, including rendering of the foreign aid, organization of the recovery of the children, volunteer work:
a letter of visa support of the Humanitarian Activities Department of the Presidential Property Management Directorate or another authorized governmental institution of the Republic of Belarus;
a letter of visa support of the Belarusian humanitarian organization approved by the Humanitarian Activities Department of the Presidential Property Management Directorate or another authorized governmental institution of the Republic of Belarus;
♦ for maintaining of the religious ties:
a letter of visa support of a religious association, approved by the Commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs; ♦ for journalist activity: the temporary accreditation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus;
♦ for private purposes:
an invitation issued by the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus;
the documents confirming the serious illness or death of a person on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, – for processing an entry visa to a foreign citizen and his close relatives, in case his/her spouse or the close relative or the close relative of his/her spouse became seriously ill or died in Belarus;
a subpoena;
a document, confirming the ownership of the real estate property in Belarus, – for processing an entry visa to the owner of property and to his/her family members;
a letter of visa support of a Belarusian healthcare institution or contract for medical services with a Belarusian healthcare institution, made in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus, – for processing a visa to a foreigner, who is in need of medical care, provided in Belarus, as well as to an accompanying person, if required;
a letter of visa support of a Belarusian educational institution – for processing a visa to a foreigner, who accompanies a person, travelling to Belarus to enroll in the Belarusian educational institution;
documents proving the family ties with the citizen of the Republic of Belarus (birth certificate, marriage certificate) – for family members of the citizen of the Republic of Belarus;
documents (birth certificate) proving the birth on the territory of the Republic of Belarus;
an original certificate, confirming the fact of burial in the Republic of Belarus and the maintenance of the graves of the family member of a foreign citizen or of his/her spouse, – for issuing visa to the foreign citizen, his close relatives and a spouse;
♦ to study:
an invitation of the Belarusian educational institution, approved by the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or the relevant confirmation from the Citizenship and Migration Department, sent directly to the Embassy/Consulate;
♦ for employment:
a copy of a special employment permit, issued by the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, certified by the Belarusian Public Notary or the relevant confirmation from the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, delivered directly to the Embassy/Consulate;
♦ for tourism:
a letter of visa support of a Belarusian tourist company;
a letter of visa support of a sanatorium, resort or recreation center;
a letter of visa support of a representative of agritourist business;
a ticket to the cultural/sport event — upon the decision of the consular officer for the period up to 2 days;
a confirmation of the hotel reservation excluding the foreigners who can pose a migration threat; Visa for tourist purposes can be single- or double-entry and is issued for the period not longer than 30 days;
♦ for permanent residence:
the decision of the regional branch of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.
Long-term visa (type D)
Supporting documents to receive a long-term entry visa are the following:
♦ for a business travel:
a letter of visa support http://www.mfa.gov.by/kcfinder/upload/files/GKU/petition_visa.pdf
, issued by the Belarusian legal entity;
an application of the national association of the international road carriers or another competent authority that contains information about the foreigner and the visa requested, or the documents that confirm the transport of goods or passengers, – for issuing visa to the crew member of the international road carrier;
an application of the national railway organization or the railway company that contains information about the foreigner and the visa requested, – for issuing visa to the train, refrigerator, locomotive crew member; an application of the foreign enterprise office in the Republic of Belarus, – for issuing visa to the managers and employees of this office or offices in other countries or to the founders, managers and employees of the foreign enterprise (organization), which has established this office;
♦ for participation in sport, cultural, scientific, educational activities and internships:
a letter of visa support, issued by the Belarusian legal entity;
♦ for implementation of humanitarian programs, including rendering of the foreign aid, organization of the recovery of the children, volunteer work:
a letter of visa support of the Humanitarian Activities Department of the Presidential Property Management Directorate or another authorized governmental institution of the Republic of Belarus;
a letter of visa support of the Belarusian humanitarian organization approved by the Humanitarian Activities Department of the Presidential Property Management Directorate or another authorized governmental institution of the Republic of Belarus;
♦ for maintaining of the religious ties:
a letter of visa support of a religious association, approved by the Commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs;
♦ for journalist activity:
the permanent accreditation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus;
♦ for private purposes:
an invitation issued by the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus;
a document, confirming the ownership of the real estate property in Belarus, – for processing an entry visa to the owner of property and to his/her family members;
a letter of visa support of a Belarusian healthcare institution or contract for medical services with a Belarusian healthcare institution – for processing of visa to a foreigner, who is in need of medical care, provided in Belarus;
documents proving the family ties or close relationship with the citizen of the Republic of Belarus (birth certificate, marriage certificate) – for family members and close relatives of the citizen of the Republic of Belarus;
documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate) proving the birth on the territory of the Republic of Belarus;
documents proving the Belarusian nationality;
an original certificate, confirming the fact of burial in the Republic of Belarus and the maintenance of the graves of the family member of a foreign citizen or his/her spouse, – for issuing visa to the foreign citizen, his close relatives and a spouse;
♦ for employment:
a letter of visa support from the Belarusian legal entity or from the foreign enterprise office in the Republic of Belarus and a copy of a special employment permit, issued by the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, certified by the Belarusian Public Notary or the relevant confirmation from the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, delivered directly to the Embassy/Consulate.
If a foreigner during the last 3 years had received a long-term entry visa for business travel, private purposes, participation in sport, cultural, scientific, educational activities and internships or implementation of the humanitarian programs, he/she can obtain a long-term entry visa valid up to 5 years.
The requirement of submitting the visa support documents can be waived upon the decision of the consular officer when issuing short-term visas for the period up to 30 days for business travel, private purposes, participation in sport, cultural, scientific, educational activities and internships, excluding the foreigners who can pose a migration threat.
In a number of cases the visa support documents can be submitted in copies. In some cases the entry visa can be issued on other grounds.
The consular officer can request additional documents for taking decision of issuing visa.
