From July 19, through railway and automobile checkpoints
Belarus introduces a visa-free entry regime for citizens of 35 more European countries from July 19. This is reported by TASS with reference to the data of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic.
“In order to further demonstrate the openness and peacefulness of our country, commitment to the principles of good neighborliness, as well as to simplify interpersonal contacts and improve freedom of movement, the President of the Republic of Belarus [Alexander Lukashenko] supported the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other state bodies to establish a procedure for temporary visa-free entry, exit and stay in the Republic of Belarus through all roads and railways Checkpoints are additionally available for citizens of 35 European countries. Technically, this procedure will take effect from 08:00 on July 19, 2024,” the message says.
The diplomatic department clarified that “citizens of all European countries in respect of which Belarus applies the visa regime can enter and leave through all land and air international checkpoints of the state border of the Republic of Belarus on valid documents from Friday,” and stay in the country for no more than 30 days from the date of entry. “This procedure for visa—free entry and exit will be valid until December 31, 2024,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed, stressing that “the current regime of visa-free entry through land checkpoints for citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other countries is also maintained.””Foreigners who arrived on a visa—free basis on the territory of the Republic of Belarus will be able to transit to third countries with the exception of the Russian Federation, including through aviation checkpoints,” the State Border Committee of Belarus clarified.
According to Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, the visa-free regime will not apply to holders of diplomatic and official passports. “There is one caveat. For holders of diplomatic and official passports, for those who are at the heart of these sanctions things today, the visa regime will be continued,” he said in an interview with ONT TV channel.In 2022, in order to “maintain good-neighborly relations”, a similar visa-free regime was established under certain conditions for holders of passports of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, as well as persons with the status of a non-citizen of Latvia.In December 2023, Belarus extended the simplified visa regime for residents of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, introduced in 2022, until the end of 2024. To date, more than 916 thousand residents of these EU countries have used the right of visa-free entry to the republic.A stay in Belarus without a visa cannot exceed thirty days at a time and 90 days in a calendar year.
This regime will be in effect at least until December 31, 2024. Then it’s either an extension or not.
At the same time, foreigners who arrived in Belarus in this order are allowed to transit to third countries, including by air, with the exception of the Russian Federation.
Meanwhile, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have stopped allowing cars with Belarusian registration plates to enter their territories. The Estonian authorities have not yet officially announced the relevant decision, but there are already precedents.
