The Near Abroad: Do I Need a Passport to Belarus?

Russia's friendly and open neighbor arouses the interest of our compatriots: reasonable prices, numerous attractions, delicious food, a high level of medicine - these are just some of the advantages of a trip to this country. Does Belarus need a passport in 2017?

Agreement between Russia and the Republic of Belarus

In the spring of 1997, the parliaments of both states initiated the formation of a community called the Union of Belarus and Russia. On the basis of the signed document, border control and, eventually, transport control were abolished. The customs services have ceased their activities, so tourists from Russia will not have to fill out a migration card at the border.

Before leaving the Russian Federation, you need to check for debts on loans, fines, alimony, housing and communal services and other things. You can estimate the likelihood of a ban on flights abroad using the proven service nevylet.rf.

The agreement allows citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus to freely move around the territory of the countries and even make any of them their permanent place of residence. In addition, it is not at all necessary to take a passport to Belarus from Russia with you, of course, if it is not a transit trip.

Children under 14 years old can cross the border with a birth certificate, teenagers over this age are required to have their own passport. If a child is traveling with a parent or guardian, they must show a power of attorney from the absent parent. This condition is put forward by the Russian authorities.

Important reminders

The compulsory medical insurance policy issued by Russian organizations is not valid in Belarus. However, the country's authorities do not impose requirements on buying medical insurance for staying in the territory of the state. In an emergency, Russians can count on free medical assistance.

By car, the driver must be ready to present:

1. Driver's license.
2. Vehicle registration certificate.
3. Car insurance policy (green card).

In the absence of this insurance, the car owner faces a substantial fine (about $ 200). It is cheaper to arrange it while still at home, although you can do it upon arrival in the country.

A simple entry procedure does not exempt from compliance with customs regulations (duty-free import of a limited amount of goods and cash) and filling out a declaration, which must be kept throughout the entire visit to the country.

When importing a larger quantity of goods, you should remember to pay the duty (60% of its value). It is impossible not to take into account the presence of categorical prohibitions on the import / export of certain items, goods and substances.

Moving to Belarus

Some Russians are close to the idea of ​​obtaining a residence permit in Belarus. This country can offer attractive working conditions. For many, a fairly stable economic situation, personal safety and affordable housing are important. Do I need a passport to travel to Belarus if the purpose of the visit is to obtain a residence permit?

To obtain a permit, you need to collect a number of documents while still in Russia. These are certificates of conviction and health status. The last document should contain detailed information about the presence / absence of dangerous diseases.

The local migration service must be provided with:

• statement;
• rental agreement;
• certificate of departure from the previous place of residence;
• copies of documents that are the basis for issuing a permit (employment contract / application from the employer, the presence of your own real estate in the country or a copy of the passport of a close relative - citizen of the Republic of Belarus with a petition from him);
• 4 color photos 4x5 (on one sheet);
• receipts for payment of state fees.

As an identity document, you can present both a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and an international passport.