GoBelarus Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

1. Visa free entry

According to the current agreement between China and Belarus, holders of diplomatic passports, official (including official ordinary) passports, ordinary passports, Hong Kong or Macao Special Administrative Region passports who enter Belarus and stay for no more than 30 days are exempt from visa requirements. If staying in Belarus for more than 30 days, or going to Belarus for residence, study, work, news reporting, or other activities that require prior approval from the Belarusian authorities, the corresponding visa should still be obtained before entering Belarus. According to the internationally prevailing principles, the border inspection authorities have the right to refuse entry of foreigners (even if they are exempted from signing according to the agreement) without giving reasons. My citizen is required to comply with the following requirements for visa free entry:

(1) Staying in Belarus for no more than 30 days at a time, and the total duration of stay within a calendar year does not exceed 90 days;

(2) Take an international flight and enter through Minsk International Airport. If entering Belarus by land from a neighboring country, one must pass through a land border checkpoint that opens up international passenger transport channels (note: Belarus and Russia are allied countries, and there is no border between the two countries by land. As a citizen, one should avoid entering Belarus by land from Russia. If entering Belarus from Russia, please take a passenger flight to enter);

(3) Effective medical insurance is required when entering Belarus. The information of the medical insurance policyholder must be the individual entering the country, the claim amount must not be less than 10000 euros, and the insurance validity period should cover the policyholder's stay in Belarus. Insurance can be purchased before traveling to Belarus or at the port of entry upon arrival. Please keep the English or Russian policy for verification.

2. Visa entry

Belarusian entry visas are divided into Class B transit visas: they can be processed for one, two, or multiple transits, with a maximum stay of 2 natural days per visit and a total validity period of no more than 1 year; C type short-term visa: divided into one, two or multiple entries, with a maximum stay of 90 days; D type long-term visa: multiple entries, with a maximum stay period ranging from 90 days to 5 years. Please consult the Embassy of Belarus in China for specific processing requirements. Individuals studying, working, or residing in Belarus must apply for a short-term residence permit from the local immigration department after obtaining their visa. Those holding the aforementioned residence permit should go to the immigration department again to complete the procedures for departure or entry before leaving the country.

3. Residence registration

According to the regulations of the Belarusian immigration department, foreign citizens who stay in Belarus for more than 10 days must register their residence within 10 days of entry. If they change their place of residence during their stay, they must reapply for residence registration; Those who violate relevant regulations will face punishment upon departure.

Chinese citizens who check in at hotels or other commercial venues will have the hotel handle the registration procedures on their behalf; Those who reside in non-commercial places (such as private residences) need to go to the immigration department in their jurisdiction or log in to the website on their own https://platform.gov.by/ Go through the residence registration procedures for foreigners (if the subsequent residence changes or the stay period is extended, you must go to the immigration department within 3 days after the change).

*The above information is for reference only. Please refer to the regulations of the official department of Bai for specific requirements.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

According to the regulations of the Belarusian Customs, items, luggage, and foreign exchange carried in and out of Belarus through air ports include but are not limited to the following requirements:

Foreign exchange, cheques, and valuable items: designated bills such as foreign exchange cash and traveler's checks with an equivalent amount exceeding 10000 US dollars, financial instruments such as securities and cheques, as well as personal valuable items, all need to go through customs clearance procedures in accordance with the law (special reminder, the amount of cash carried by each individual during group clearance shall be based on the actual amount carried by each individual, not calculated based on the average number of group members, please avoid one person carrying the entire group's cash, etc.);

Personal luggage items: with a total value not exceeding 1500 euros and not exceeding 50 kilograms, any excess shall be subject to a customs duty of not less than 4 euros per kilogram;

Smoking and alcoholic beverages: alcoholic beverages (including beer and other alcoholic beverages) not exceeding 3 liters; Ordinary cigarettes shall not exceed 200 (or cigars shall not exceed 50, or tobacco shall not exceed 250 grams), and the total weight of the above-mentioned items shall not exceed 250 grams;

Items prohibited or restricted by laws and regulations.

*The above information is for reference only. If you enter the country multiple times in a short period of time or enter through land ports, the corresponding quota will also be reduced. For specific requirements and changes, please refer to the website of the National Customs Committee of China https://www.customs.gov.by/

Residency and Naturalization

1. According to relevant laws in Belarus, foreign citizens who stay in Belarus for more than 90 days per year must apply for a "short-term" residence permit. The so-called "short-term" (разреチениенавременое проживание) refers to the approved stay period not exceeding one year. To apply for a "short-term" residence permit, a series of supporting documents such as a written application and insurance policy must be submitted to the internal affairs department of the intended place of residence. The internal affairs department will complete the review within 15 days and send a written response to the intended place of residence.

2. According to the Belarusian nationality law, Belarus does not recognize dual citizenship. To obtain Belarusian citizenship, in addition to submitting a series of notarized and authenticated documents related to nationality, one must also reside in Belarus for at least 7 years.

public security

The social security situation in Belarus is good, and the crime rate is relatively low.

natural disaster

Belarus is a landlocked plain country located in a non seismic zone, with few large-scale natural disasters, and occasional small-scale wind and flood disasters.

FDA

Belarus attaches great importance to food hygiene management and supervision, and can confidently purchase food sold in legitimate markets.

Special reminder: The Chernobyl nuclear accident that occurred in 1986 has had an impact on agricultural production in Belarus to this day.

Urgent Help

Fire alarm: 101.

Police officer: 102.

First aid: 103.

air traffic

1. Air traffic

(1) The air traffic network in Belarus is relatively developed, with direct flights to most CIS cities. Currently, it is subject to Western sanctions by the United States and major European cities have suspended its routes. Air China has opened a direct flight route from Beijing to Minsk and has an office in the capital city of Minsk. From within China, one can also transit through Moscow, Dubai, Istanbul, Tashkent and other places to Belarus.

It should be noted that Russia and Belarus are alliance countries, and flights between Russia and Belarus are considered as domestic flights and are subject to the relevant regulations for domestic flights between Russia and Belarus. Therefore, when taking an international flight from Moscow to Belarus, it is necessary to first complete the border and customs procedures for entering Russia, and then go to the designated counter at the airport to handle the transfer procedures for Belarus; On the contrary, to travel to Russia through Belarus, it is necessary to obtain a Russian transit visa in advance.

Minsk National Airport is the largest airport in Belarus, located over 30 kilometers from the city center. It is the most convenient port for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports to enter and exit Belarus without a visa within 30 days.

(2) Airport inquiry hotline:+ 375-17-2791300，+ 375-17-2791730.

2. Mutual recognition of visas between Russia and Belarus

On December 10, 2020, Belarusian President Lukashenko signed a bill approving the visa mutual recognition agreement between the governments of Belarus and Russia. The agreement stipulates that foreign citizens have the right to enter, leave, stay, and transit through Belarus and Russia based on visas and identification documents from one of the two countries. It should be noted that this agreement does not apply to foreign citizens who enter Belarus through visa free means.

At present, the agreement has not yet come into effect. After the agreement takes effect, the governments of Russia and Belarus will officially announce it.

land transport

1. The railway network in Belarus is relatively developed, connecting major cities in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Minsk Railway Station is one of the largest railway stations in Europe, with multiple day and night service locations including restaurants, bars, shops, pharmacies, and luggage storage.

Railway station inquiry hotline: 105+ 375-17-2257000.

Official website of Belarusian Railways: www.rw.by/

2. The road transportation network in Belarus is very developed, and residents of neighboring countries can enter Belarus through border checkpoints (if driving, vehicle insurance needs to be obtained at the border). It is also reported that the Russia Belarus highway border checkpoint currently does not allow citizens of third countries to pass through. Belarus belongs to left-hand drive and right-hand drive, and holding an international driver's license allows driving motor vehicles within Belarus. The speed limit on highways is 120 kilometers per hour, and road signs in Belarus use Cyrillic letters, but the main grade separated road signs use Latin letters.

water communication

Belarus is a landlocked country. The nearest port cities to Belarus are Klaipeda in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia.

Urban transportation

The transportation in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is very developed. You can take buses, trams, trolleybus, subways, and taxis when going out.

Minsk City Subway Route Map Query Website: https://metropoliten.by/sxema-linii/shemes_linii/

Taxi reservation phone numbers: 135, 7788, 157 (or through a taxi hailing app).

major city

Apart from the capital Minsk, the main cities in Belarus are Vitebsk, Mogilev, Gomel, Brest, and Grodno.

Commodity prices

1. Main products: potassium salt, peat, flax, potatoes.

2. Price situation: Overall high. Among them, meat prices are relatively expensive, vegetables and fruits are cheaper in summer and very expensive in winter, and most of them are imported from abroad.

Insurance Medical

1. Good medical conditions and free medical care for citizens.

2. Belarus implements a medical insurance system for foreigners. During the period of paying medical insurance, foreign citizens can enjoy free medical care. The thyroid incidence rate in Belarus is high. The main general hospitals in Belarus are experienced in the treatment of thyroid diseases, and the cure rate is high.

3. There are many public and private hospitals in Belarus, including comprehensive hospitals and various specialized hospitals. Among them, the main comprehensive hospitals include the Norman Medical Center, the Economic Medical Service Center, and the Lord Medical Center. Pharmacies are located in every corner of the city, making it easy and convenient to purchase medicine.

4. Pharmacy consultation hotline: 169.

Customs taboos

1. Important holidays in Belarus include: Gregorian New Year (January 1), Orthodox Christmas (January 7), Victory Day of the Great Patriotic War (May 9), Independence Day (also known as Republic Day) (July 3), and October Revolution Day (November 7).

2. Belarusians receive distinguished guests with bread and salt, expressing their wishes for a prosperous life. When meeting and saying goodbye, a handshake is usually performed, and men should wait for women to reach out first. Hugging is generally suitable for very familiar friends. Avoid making loud noises in public places, avoid hitting dishes with knives and forks during meals, avoid giving even numbers of flowers, women entering religious places such as churches should wear headscarves, and men should take off their hats.

3. Belarusians mainly believe in Eastern Orthodoxy and worship white. Their ethnic clothing is usually sewn with snow-white linen cloth and carefully embroidered with colorful traditional patterns. Bread and potatoes are the daily staple foods in Belarus. Belarusians are generally fond of drinking vodka, beer, and various medicinal liquors made from herbs; I love to eat pork, ham, and pancakes made with flour and potatoes. Traditional handicrafts include dolls woven from wheat straw and linen, wooden lacquer boxes, embroidered linen decorative fabrics, etc.

Communications Power

Belarus has relatively developed communication and wide network coverage. The main mobile network standards are: GSM、UMTS、3G、4G。 The main voltage used in the territory is 220V, and round head two-phase sockets are used.

contact information

Emergency and Help Hotline

Fire alarm 101. Police officer 102. First aid 103. Gas accident 104.

Railway inquiry 105. Airport inquiry 106. Taxis 7788, 135, 157. Telephone inquiries: 109, 153. Car malfunctions 135 and 184.

Beneficial website information

1. Official website of Belarus: www.belarus.by

2. Belarusian Presidential Website: www.presidents. gov.by (including links to major institutional websites in the country)

3. Belarus Tourism Network: www.belarustourist.minsk.by

4. Belarusian News Agency: www.belta.by