Belarusian visas at the National Airport “Minsk” (MSQ) are issued to the nationals of the countries with no consular offices of the Republic of Belarus. To the nationals of other countries (Austria, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brasilia, Canada, Czech Republic, China, Estonia, Egypt, France, Hungary, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Republic of South Africa, Slovak Republic, Serbia, Montenegro, Switzerland, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, Vietnam) visa may be issued upon arrival on an exceptional basis only.

The Lithuanian government approved the Belarusian-Lithuanian agreement on simplified procedures of border crossing for Belarusian and Lithuanian citizens, who live close to the border, at a session on 11 April, BelTA has learned.

Belarus plans to simplify the visa regulations for foreigners coming to Belarus for tourist purposes, Belarus’ Vice Premier Anatol Tozik told media on 6 April. Visa regulations might be facilitated with the countries which people visit Belarus the most.

The European visa regime should not depend on the internal political problems in Belarus. The new civil coalition VISA-FREE has taken the position. Political scientist Dzyanis Melyantsou, chief expert of the campaign “To Belarus and Europe – without a visa” has told it to Euroradio on air.

The European Commission will open negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement between the EU and Belarus on the facilitation of the issuance of short-stay visas, according to a press release from the EU Delegation to Belarus.

Adoption of a Council Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement between the European Union and Belarus on the facilitation of the issuance of short-stay visas

March 28, 2011, all Belarusian children under 12 years old are exempt from the Schengen visa fee. This was reported to Telegraf at the German Embassy in Belarus on April 5. Until that time, only children under 6 years old have received the Schengen visa without levy on consular fees.

Relations between the European Union and Belarus have been mostly absent for the period of 1996-2008. Basic legal documents that would regulate bilateral relations and ensure Belarus' full participation in the European Neighbouthood Policy (ENP) have not been ratified or adopted because of the authoritarian nature of the governing regime of President Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Ratification of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was frozen in 1997. Belarus does not enjoy full benefits of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), there is no ENP Action Plan is place.

Belarus Border Protection officials stated on March 30 that there is a possibility of lifting a visa free regime for Georgian citizens entering Belarus. This would be done to prevent crossing of the Belarus-Russian border by the Georgian citizens, who enter Belarus and then continue their way illegally further into Russia by crossing the Russian-Belarus border unofficially through different means by cars, on foot etc.

First Deputy Chairman of the State Border Committee of Belarus Andrei Harulka reported on March 30 that Belarus might introduce a visa regime with Georgia. Harulka explained that the issue was currently under consideration within the common customs area at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The representative of the State Border Committee noted that the availability of visa-free regime between Belarus and Georgia is becoming a problem, as some Georgian citizens freely enter the territory of Russia via Belarus without a Russian visa (visa regime between Georgia and Russia has been operating since 2000). Meanwhile, according to Harulka, this issue is of a political character, RIA "Novosti" news agency.