Decree on establishing visa-free entry to Belarus makes headlines

15 января 2017

By Veronika Buta: The decree on establishing visa-free entry to Belarus for the citizens of 80 countries has left no one indifferent, making headlines on major information websites.

According to statistics, in recent years foreigners have gradually started choosing Belarus for recreation tourism. Over the past five years the number of organised tourists has doubled. In 2015, the country was visited by a little over 276,000 tourists excluding individual travelers. The vast majority – 252,000 – are the citizens of CIS countries.

Visa-free regime is already operating for the citizens of some countries. For instance, the flow of tourists from Israel has doubled and the number of visitors from Turkey has seen a 1.5-fold increase. This year, increase in tourist activity after the visa-free regime introduction is expected to make up 20 %.  

So far, visa-free entry will be available for tourists arriving via Minsk National Airport only. 

Belarus started making its first steps towards opening its borders to foreign visitors two yeas ago, introducing visa-free regime for visiting the Bialowieza Forest National Park and the Augustow Canal and its vicinity. Following the example of the Ice Hockey World Championship, visas were canceled for attending about 60 sports events in 2015 and 80 events in 2016.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has pointed out foreigners’ interest in Belarus. To answer questions from the widest possible audience, the agency held a consular day in social networks. As a result, over a million people expressed interest in the new rules of entry to Belarus. The five-day visa-free entry does not apply to persons arriving in Belarus from Russia. An unlimited number of visits to Belarus are allowed provided that all established rules are followed.