BREAKING: Belarus Extends Visa Free Time Up To 30 Days.
How to count your days?
The term of visa-free stay is calculated in calendar days.
The visa-free stay starts on the day of arrival and finishes on the day of departure (regardless the time of arrival and departure).
Mind that the visa-free stay cannot be extended beyond 30 days.
My country is not in the list, can I still come to Belarus visa-free?
Yes, the possibility remains.
For example, no visa at all is needed for the citizens of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine.
Also, Belarus has relaxed visa rules for short-term visits (usually up to 90 days) for citizens of the following states:
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Brazil (twice a year up to 90 days)
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Venezuela (90 days)
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Israel (90 days)
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Qatar (30 days)
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Cuba (30 days)
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Macedonia (with an invitation or a tourist voucher)
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Mongolia (90 days)
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Serbia (30 days)
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Turkey (30 days of one visit and up to 90 days within one year from the date of first entry)
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Montenegro (30 days with an invitation or a tourist voucher)
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Ecuador (30 days of one stay and 90 days within a year)
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Chinese citizens don’t need a visa in case of a transit travel (up to 3 days if you come by direct flights from China and have a valid Schengen visa). In case of group tourist visits you also need no visa.
However, before you come, make sure you consult the nearest Belarusian embassy for document formalities.
Visa Application
All necessary information about planning your trip to Belarus, applying for Belarusian visa, obligatory registration procedures you can find on the web-site of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Rebublic of Belarus. Links to applications and examples are also available there.
Registration
Registration is compulsory.
Foreign citizens planning to stay in Belarus over five business days should register with the internal affairs bodies at their place of stay in the country.
When staying at a hotel, hostel, sanatorium or other accommodation facilities, the management of the facilities is responsible for the tourist’s registration during check-in by default.
The decree is intended to contribute to the further development of the Belarusian tourist industry, to promote Belarus’ spa and medical tourism, to stimulate the development of the national economy, to facilitate the inclusion of Belarus into the world economy, to strengthen its position as a convenient venue for international forums, conferences, festivals, sporting events.
The document comes into force after its official publication.
My country is in list of visa-free regime. Since I am in Eastern Europe I fancy seeing Russia as well! Can I leave to Russia from Belarus or can I come to Minsk from Russia?
No, you can’t. Visa-free travel does not apply to persons coming to Belarus with flights from Russia and intending to fly to Russia!!!!!!!!
Despite the fact that Belarus and Russia are a Union State, visa-free initiative applies to the territory of Belarus alone. And because flights from Minsk to Russia are considered internal ones, flying there without a visa will be considered a violation. Even if you have just transit flight to Minsk through Moscow you will need russian transit visa.
At the Airport. Local money and SIM card.
You are able to change money at the second floor at the airport. Each floor has ATM.
You are able to buy SIM card on the first floor (MTS).
There are 3 main operators: Velcom, MTS, Life.
Velcom - best connection, but expansive.
MTS - good connection, good price.
Life - normal connection, good price. In general, no big difference between them.
At the Airport. How do I get to Minsk?
1. Private Car. If you don't want to worry about getting safely to Minsk, you can order a private car from me. An English-speaking driver will meet you at the airport with your name on the badge, so you will not be confused about which person to talk to. He will show you where to change money, to take out the cash from the ATM in case of necessity, he will take care of your baggage; will show you the most interesting places you are about to visit, because the way from the airport runs through the central Avenue Niezalezhnosti, and practically all strategic places of interest are situated right there. Please do not hesitate to contact me in case you need a car, and you will be surprized by the level of prices and service.
2. Taxi. The fastest and the most expensive way to get to the city from the Airport and back. The prices vary and it may cost you around 30 - 40 dollars (one way). There is a bunch of taxis when you go out of the Airport (up to you which one to choose, but they usually stand in a regulated queue) and it will take 40-45 minutes to get to the center of the city.
3. Minibus. A minibus "Aeroexpress" usually runs very often to and from the airport, but you should really try to be the first among those who buy the tickets from the driver. Normally they stay near the bus stop (to be exact - gate 5-6 of the airport) and fill in quite quickly. They make a stop near metro "Uruczje" and run further to the Railway Station. The way back to Minsk is the same.
4. Bus. A regular bus runs to and from the Airport. BUSES No. 300Э (route to the bus terminal "Centralnyi") The official carrier: CUE "Minsktrans".
The fare is about 2 USD. The ticket: you can buy a ticket at the bus terminal "Centralnyi" in Minsk. Also, you can buy a ticket in the bus if you depart from Minsk National Airport.
The bus-stop at the Airport is situated in front of Gate 5-6 (at the previous taxi stand, the ground floor, arrival hall).
Way time: 60 minutes in the daytime, 55 minutes at night. You can check the departure time here. Please note, that the buses are not available from 00.50 till 03.15 and from 03.15 till 05.20.
5. Train. The train starts from the deck No.3 of the railway station "Minsk Passazhirskiy". The nearest metro station is "Ploscha Lenina". The train makes a stop in Smolevichi and arrives to the Airport in 70 minutes. There is a free shuttle bus to take you to the airport, as the platform is 900 meters away from it. Tickets can be bought in suburb box offices, in terminals on the deck No.3 of the station "Minsk Passazhirskiy" and at the bus stop next to the entrance to the Airport.
City transport
Minsk public transport is cheap, safe and efficient. What we have here - buses, trolley-buses, trams, metro (subway), and special mini buses that are running throughout the city called marshrutka.
1. Metro map - download it here!
2. Bus. Buses run everywhere, including the city center and the main avenues of Minsk. The most popular buses that will allow you to see Minsk with the eyes of a real resident are buses No. 100 that starts from the Airport Minsk 1 and follows the main central avenue of the city - Independence Avenue (Praspekt Niezalezhnasci) You will practically see all main attractions on the way, starting from Plosca Niezalezhnasci (Independence Square) where the Red Church completes the architectural ensemble, you will notice a majestic building of the Head Post Office; and alongside the whole road your eyes will come across historical monuments - architecture of Stalin times; GUM, a typical Soviet department store; the first taxi parking; Victory Square; Jakub Kolas Square; TSUM, another kind of a universal shop where you can find usual and unusual souvenirs that every foreigner wants to take home as a present; Printing House, the biggest printery of the Republic of Belarus; and if you walk a little, you will notice the National Library.
Timetable of all buses running in Minsk you can find here.
3.Minsk can boast of having a wide and popular system of trolley-buses. Fist trolley-bus started running in Minsk in 1952 following the line Railway Station - Round Square. Now they are connecting the heart of Minsk with uptown and downtown districts. You can't take a trolley-bus along Praspekt Niezalezhnasti, trolley-buses just cross it, and mainly connect minor streets and alleys of Minsk, where locals, actually, live.
4. Trams. First tram appeared in Minsk in 1929, and is still very popular among the citizens. Trams connect residential areas of Minsk with industrial ones. It is very romantic, and if time permits, never miss a chance to make a circle around old and new streets and gaze at people of our hospitable city. Trams number 1 and 4 will take you from Victory Square to the Railway Station.
5. Marshrutka. It will be rather brave of guests who do not speak Russian to take this kind of public taxi. Either you should be able to learn how to address the driver who is unlikely to speak any English at all, or just have someone by yourside who would advice you upon your destination. Surely try it if you are confident enough of just for experience. Prices vary, count on 2-5 dollars to cover the distance from the beginning to end of Praspekt Niezalezhnasti.
Currency
The national currency can be bought from banks and currency exchange offices. You will easily find them in any shopping centre. It’s worse at night, but there’s always a chance. 24 currency exchange can be found inside the railway station (Pryvakzalnaya - пл. Прывакзальная, 3), in the hotel “Minsk”
(Niezalezhnastsi – Незалежнасці, 11/1) and in the hotel "Victoriya" (prospect Pobeditelei - Проспект Победителей 59).
You can always check official exchange rates here.