Visa application
Entry into Belarus for Russian citizens and residents of many CIS countries is very simplified, they do not need to issue a visa, it is quite enough to present a civil or foreign passport when crossing the border. Also, unlike citizens of the CIS and a number of other countries, Russian residents do not have to fill out a migration card.
Tourists crossing the Russian-Belarusian border by train do not go through border control at all, while those traveling by bus or car will have to issue vehicles when entering the country. Check a2zdirectory for history of Belarus.
In August 2007, another border crossing condition was adopted for those traveling with children. If before the adoption of this requirement for entry into Belarus with a minor child it was enough to present a birth certificate, now it is necessary to issue a personal passport for him or enter it into the parents’ passport.
If the child is accompanied on a trip by only one parent or some third parties, then it is necessary to take care of a notarized power of attorney from the second parent or both parents, allowing the removal of the minor from the country.
Customs regulations
Despite the fact that entry into Belarus for Russian citizens is quite simple, there are quite a lot of customs rules and subtleties. When crossing the border, it will be necessary to fill out a customs declaration, which is kept until the very moment of departure from the country. Since 2007, duty-free imports have been somewhat relaxed. See Belarus import restrictions.
Allowed to import duty-free:
- Tobacco products (their import, like alcohol, is allowed only for adults), no more than 200 cigarettes or tobacco and other tobacco products weighing no more than 200 grams.
- Alcoholic drinks: up to 2 liters of strong alcohol and up to a liter of beer. However, if the alcohol content in beer does not exceed 7%, then it is not regarded as alcohol at all and is considered an ordinary personal product.
- Jewelry in quantities not exceeding 5 pieces.
- Clothing based on natural leather or fur, no more than 3 items.
- Wrist watch in a single copy.
- Tires, 4 pieces per entrant maximum.
- Things for personal use that have already been used before, with a customs value of not more than 1000 euros and a total weight not exceeding 35 kilograms.
- Temporarily imported domestic animals intended for sports, tourism or hunting purposes.
- Commemorative coins, the material for which is semi-precious and non-precious metal.
- Coins made of precious metal require permission for their export.
- Vacuum cleaners, as well as video recording and video reproducing equipment.
If the above goods are imported in larger quantities, then they are subject to customs duties amounting to 60% of the value of the item. However, the duty should not exceed 4 euros per 1 kg, or 20 euros per 1 liter, if we are talking about alcoholic beverages. Imported auto parts have been subject to duty since 2007, regardless of their number.
Sometimes the import and export of CDs, DVDs, audio and video cassettes is accompanied by some difficulties. By law, such products must be inspected in order to avoid the penetration of information that threatens the national security of the country. However, in recent years, customs officers have practically not paid attention to such things.
You can take foreign currency out of Belarus if it is not more than 3,000 dollars. Amounts exceeding this amount but less than $10,000 are subject to mandatory declaration.
It is forbidden to import and export from Belarus:
- Various materials and media containing information that is in any way harmful to the interests, safety, health or moral character of the citizens of Belarus.
- Various explosives, as well as explosive devices and explosives.
- Conditionally pathogenic and pathogenic products of genetic engineering.
When exporting, the following restrictions apply:
- Medicinal raw materials of wild origin.
- Ferrous, non-ferrous and precious metals, together with their semi-finished products and blanks.
- Personal items that are prohibited from being imported into Belarus.
- Non-food alcohol-containing products with a volume of more than 5 liters.
When importing pets into the country, you need to take care of a vaccination certificate translated into European languages.
A number of things are restricted for import and export from Belarus and require special permits:
- Firearms, both military and used for hunting and in sports, as well as gas weapons and ammunition. This also includes various types of edged weapons and gas cartridges.
- Drugs and psychotropic substances.
- Poisons and things with ionizing radiation.
- Representatives of wild fauna and flora, especially those included in the Belarusian Red Book.
- Radio electronic means (except mobile phone).
- Items of cultural value.
- Samples of botanical, zoological or paleontological collections.
