Visas

Type C - Short-term (student) visa (up to 30 days) - an original letter of invitation from an educational institution in Belarus. If the applicant intends to study in Belarus for the period exceeding 30 days, he or she should apply on arrival for a temporary residence there.

Type C - Short-term (humanitarian) visa (up to 90 days) - a letter of invitation (fax message) from the Department of Humanitarian Aid, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Committee on the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe or Regional Executive Committees. If the letter of invitation is made up by another organization, the visa fee will not be waived.

Type D - Long-term (business) visa (valid 1 year with the right of stay in Belarus not more than 90 days) - applications for this type of visa should be forwarded by the inviting company or organization directly to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus in Minsk (example).

Type D - Long-term (visitor) visa (valid 1 year with the right of stay in Belarus not more than 90 days) - an original letter of invitation (not a copy) made up by the applicant's friends or relatives residing in Belarus at the local passport and visa office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

An invitation may also be submitted by a Belarusian citizen on a temporary visit to the United Kingdom, who is a husband, wife or a close relative of the applicant (father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild). The signature on this invitation must be notarized at the Consular and Visa Section of the Embassy of Belarus (the consular fee is 20 pounds sterling).

Type D - Long-term (humanitarian) visa (valid 1 year with the right of stay in Belarus not more than 90 days) - applications for this type of visa should be forwarded by the inviting organization directly to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus in Minsk. The application must be approved by the Department of Humanitarian Aid, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Committee on the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe or Regional Executive Committees, otherwise the visa fee will not be waived.

5. For a group visa (more than 5 people, entering and exiting Belarus together) - in addition to the above-mentioned visa support documents a list of the people in the group should be provided. The list must contain following information: name and surname (as in passport), date of birth, passport number, passport expiry date, citizenship. The leader of the group should be mentioned first.

The list should be signed by the director of the company or chairman of the organization and bear the corresponding corporate seal.

6. If the applicant previously had the USSR or Belarusian citizenship, he or she must submit the document proving the loss of the USSR or Belarusian citizenship.

7.   How you can pay for your visa?

You can pay by one of the methods specified below:

1)     Applications submitted in person - applicants should pay by debit card or debiting Embassy's account in HSBC bank;

2)     Applications made by Royal Mail or Courier – make the postal orders payable only;

3)     Applications made via visa Service Company – make the postal orders or corporate cheques of the relevant company;

4)     If application is made from a country other than the UK – payment should be made by Banker’s Drafts.

All other forms of payment (including personal cheques) are not acceptable.

Postal orders and Banker’s Drafts should be made payable to the "Embassy of Belarus".

Visa Fees

Fees are charged to cover the cost of processing of visa application. Visa fees are non-refundable.

If an application is made by Royal Mail, a prepaid and self-addressed return envelope should be enclosed. For the safety reasons the Consular and Visa Section recommends that all applicant use Special Delivery Service. However, your passport will be returned in any type of envelope provided. The Embassy is not responsible for the loss, damage, delay or mishandling of your passport and documents caused by the delivery services.

 Applicants from countries other than the UK should enclose a self-addressed return envelope and a Banker’s Draft. Payment can be accepted only in pounds sterling and Banker’s Draft must be payable to the Embassy of Belarus.

 The Consular and Visa Section of the Embassy reserves the right to require additional documents or to invite an applicant for a personal interview.

 After receiving the visa, please, check it for mistakes and, if any, document(s) must be returned to the Embassy for corrections. The Embassy will not be responsible for any mistakes in the visas, which were not brought to our attention prior to your departure from the country of residence.

 Please, note that visas cannot be extended. If your travel plans have been changed after the visa had been issued, you have to reapply for a new visa.

All foreign citizens travelling to the Republic of Belarus (excluding British citizens) are required to have a valid medical insurance. Insurance certificate can be bought at the Belarusian border. Applicants are not required to submit their insurance certificates to the Embassy. However, visitors are required to present their insurance certificates to the immigration officer point of entry into Belarus. Holders of Belarusian transit visas travelling to other countries via the territory of Belarus are not required to have medical insurance certificates.

Any foreign national entering into Belarus is required to fill in migration card at the border point and submit it to the immigration officer (rules).

Within 3 business days after arrival to Belarus visitors are required to visit the local police office and report information regarding their current address and duration of stay. Thereafter, local police authorities will issue a registration stamp, which will be attached to the visitor’s passport. If the visitor is staying in a hotel, then this will be arranged by the hotel services (reception bureau).

If you apply by mail, you should enclose a prepaid and self-addressed return envelope. For the reasons of safety the Consular and Visa Section recommends to enclose a Special Delivery envelope. However, your passport will be returned in any type of envelope provided. The Embassy will not be responsible for envelopes lost by the Royal Mail.

Applicants from countries other than the UK should enclose a self-addressed return envelope and a bank draft for 6 pounds sterling payable to the Embassy of Belarus.

The Consular and Visa Section of the Embassy reserves the right to ask for additional documents or to conduct a personal interview with the applicant.

After receiving the visa, please, check it for mistakes and, if any, return to the Embassy for corrections. The Embassy will not be responsible for any mistakes in the visas, which were not brought to our attention prior to your departure from the country of residence.

Please, note that visas cannot be extended. If your travel plans changed after the visa had been issued, you have to reapply for a new visa.

Medical insurance is required for all foreign citizens traveling to the Republic of Belarus (except British citizens). The insurance certificate can be bought at the Belarusian border. Applicants should not submit their insurance certificate to the Embassy. It should be presented to the immigration officer when entering Belarus. Medical insurance is not required for holders of Belarusian transit visas traveling to other countries via Belarus.

At the border point to Belarus any foreign national should fill out and submit to the immigration officer a migration card (rules).

Within 3 business days after arriving in Belarus you should report the information about the address and duration of stay to the local police station so that a registration stamp is put in your passport. If staying in a hotel, this will be arranged by the hotel services (reception bureau).