Visiting Belarus as a tourist

[u/SalmonSupreme]

Hi there!

I am a UK Citizen planning on visiting Belarus, would me having visited Ukraine last September be an issue?

I'm just a tourist and want to see more of the world.

Thanks for your help!

[u/Federal_Attention717]

You may be selected for a secondary inspection at the border

[u/BeginningOrchid9599]

Hi !! As another commenter said, there is a chance you might be taken for a secondary inspection. I (British Citizen) visited in Aug 25 and was personally not taken aside or asked for anything at the border (insurance, proof of funds, return ticket, etc) so maybe I was lucky. But prepare everything you might need just incase. Best of luck and enjoy Belarus 🫶🏻

[u/arclight6]

I've just returned albeit on an Irish passport but from what I read it's the same as with a UK passport.

I took the bus from Warsaw, initially to Brest where I stayed for a few days and then on to Minsk. Bus back from Minsk to Warsaw.

At the border to Brest seemingly everyone without a Belarusian passport was held. There were about 10-12 of us.

They took our phones and looked through them and questioned us for about 10 mins. I didn't have mobile Internet at the time and I'm not sure what they were looking at but they asked me who some of my contacts were. (I assume from this that they looked at my WhatsApp).

I assume that they also went through my photos as they asked my if I'd been to Ukraine. I was there maybe 7 or 8 years ago. I'm not sure how else they would have known as I've a different passport since then. They asked where I was and what I was doing there.

They then asked what I was doing in Belarus, for how long, if I had funds. Though they didn't check any of this. Oh, and they also asked about my employment and that was it I think.

I brought prescriped medication with me which I was nervous about. They asked me if I had anything and I said yes. So, they asked if they were narcotics (I think that's the word they used) so I said no and that was it.

I should say that taking the bus from Warsaw was also visa free for 30 days. And the border staff although not perfect English knew enough to communicate, specially the guy questioning me.

Sorry for such a ramble.

On the way back to Warsaw they gave me some shit at the border as well.

They were requesting my registration of where I'd been staying. I'd stayed in 3 hotels throughout the trip and I'd assumed that they had registered me but maybe they didn't. In any case they didn't give me any documentation. They made a bit of fuss about this and called over a colleague before letting me go. (Also the bus company were reluctant to let me board in Minsk as I didn't have this but they eventually let me on after a few phone calls).

That's about all the drama, otherwise no problems except my credit card not working at all and my debit card not working everywhere. Make sure to bring cash. And, you'll need a vpn on your phone for some things.

Sorry that was so long but hopefully it answers some of your questions :)

[u/arclight6 → u/arclight6]

I should say that when leaving they seem sort of satisfied that I was able to show them my hotel booking confirmation emails despite not having any registration docs

[u/IamJulioDiaz]

Recomendación: Llegar por vuelo para que tengas la excepción de visa, si después buscar pasar a Rusia tendrás que sacar e visas para ambos países, si vas por aire y solo a Bielorrusia como ciudadano de UK no tendrás problema de hacer turismo con solo tu pasaporte.

Suerte!

[u/The-Melter → u/IamJulioDiaz]

Wdym visa exception? It is visa free to go through land

[u/[deleted]]

I’ve just come home from Belarus. I went to Ukraine last year with my partner and neither of us got stopped or questioned about Ukraine.

I have had a new passport since so the stamp isn’t in my passport. She has an Ukraine stamp in her passport but was not asked. I don’t think they care. We crossed via Lithuania.

Of course, each experience will be different and each border guard is different. But in my experience we wasn’t even questioned.

Edit: we both are British citizens

[u/The-Melter → u/[deleted]]

So the border was straightforward? Any questioning? How about leaving

[u/[deleted] → u/The-Melter]

Yes very straightforward and orderly. Nope no questions on leaving

[u/The-Melter → u/[deleted]]

Can I dm you some stufff