Since January 11, 2025, Russia and Belarus have mutually recognized each other’s visas, allowing foreign travelers to move freely between the two countries with a single visa.
On January 11, 2025, the agreement on mutual recognition of visas between Russia and Belarus entered into force. This text, negotiated at length and finalized in 2023, reflects increased cooperation between the two countries, members of the State of the Union, to simplify the travel of foreign nationals on their territory.
The Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Visas now allows foreign citizens and stateless persons with a valid visa of the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus to freely access the territory of both countries.
This measure is also valid for holders of residence permits issued by either of the two States.
“Foreign citizens and stateless persons who enter, leave, stay and/or transit the territory of Russia and Belarus within the framework of the visa regime and are in possession of a visa issued by one of the two countries, as well as an identity document recognized by both States, are authorized to enter, leave, stay or transit in the territory of both States during the validity period of their visa.explains the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since January 11, 2025, a French citizen, holder of a Belarusian tourist visa, can now include Russia in their travel itinerary without needing to apply for an additional visa. A Chinese businessman, holding a Russian business visa, can attend a conference in Russia and then travel to Belarus to meet business partners, all with one valid visa.
To benefit from this measure, travelers must meet the following conditions:
-- Possess a valid visa or residence permit issued by one of the two countries.
- Present an identity document (passport) recognized by the authorities of both States.
The duration of stay of foreign citizens and stateless persons in Belarus and Russia is calculated from the date of entry into one of the two countries from a third state.
As the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarifies, in the event that travelers benefit from a visa-free regime in one country but are subject to a visa regime in the other, a visa will be required to enter and stay in the latter country, in addition to the passport. It is therefore impossible for Europeans to enter Russia without a visa from Belarus where they benefit from a visa exemption.
Entry into the territories of Russia and Belarus is possible both through international checkpoints located on either side of the national border and directly through international railway, air and road routes listed in the annex to the agreement.
The agreement currently provides for six such sections:
- Yukhovichi – Dolostsy (Opochka – Novopolotsk),
- Yezeryshche – Nevel (Kiev – Saint-Petersburg),
- Liozno – Kruglovka (Vitebsk – Smolensk),
- Redki – Krasnaya Gorka (Minsk – Moscow),
- Zvenchatka – Dubovichka (Bobruisk – Moscou),
- Selishche – Novozybkov (Gomel – Bryansk).
Crossing the land section of the Russian-Belarusian border by other means is not allowed and will be considered a violation of the national border.
