Eastern Europe · UN member
Belarus: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Belarus · Рэспубліка Беларусь · Республика Беларусь
Belarus is a country in Eastern Europe with its capital in Minsk. It has a population of 9.1 million (#99 in the world) and covers 207,600 km². The official languages are Belarusian and Russian. The currency is the Belarusian ruble (BYN, Br).
Where is Belarus? Map of Belarus
Eastern Europe, east of Poland.
- Region
- Eastern Europe
- Coordinates
- 53° N, 28° E
- Neighbours
- 5 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Belarus
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Belarus showing Minsk (capital) and the largest cities: Homyel', Hrodna, Vitebsk, Mahilyow, Brest, Bobruysk, Baranovichi and Barysaw.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Belarus
- Passport
Belarus's State Border Committee says a foreigner may be refused entry if the validity of their travel document does not exceed ninety days before their anticipated departure from Belarus.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 95 need no visa, 3 need an eVisa, 100 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Belarus entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement. Belarus's Foreign Ministry lists vehicle or travel tickets to the state of citizenship, permanent residence or a third country among the ways to show the funds needed for the stay.
- Proof of funds
Belarus's Foreign Ministry says foreigners must have funds equivalent to at least 50 base values, set on the day of entry, for each month of stay, or at least 2 base values for each day of a stay shorter than a month.
- Travel insurance
Belarus's Foreign Ministry says that when crossing the border foreigners must have a medical insurance document issued by a Belarusian or foreign insurance company, except categories of persons not obliged to possess on…
- Customs allowance
Belarus's State Customs Committee says that, under the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union, cash and/or traveller's cheques must be declared in writing when their total, brought in or taken out at one time, exce…
- Travel advice
Avoid travel — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Belarus
- Safety: Governments advise against travel to Belarus: the US State Department rates Belarus Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country.
- Best time to go: June to August — when daytime highs in Minsk are around 21–23°C.
- Money: the Belarusian ruble (BYN) — 1 US dollar is about 2.9296 BYN.
- Plugs: type C and F, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 102, Ambulance 103, Fire 101.
- Language: Belarusian and Russian are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas and 110 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+3 in Minsk.
- Capital: Minsk. About 9.1 million people live in Belarus.
- Outdoors: 4 national parks and 4 ski areas.
Key facts
Belarus at a glance
Languages spoken: Russian (official) 71.4%, Belarusian (official) 26%, other 0.3% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 2.3% (2019 est.)
Geography & history
About Belarus
After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. In 1999, Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union, envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place and negotiations on further integration have been contentious. Since taking office in 1994 as the country's first and only directly elected president, Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means and a centralized eco…
Read the full history
After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. In 1999, Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union, envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place and negotiations on further integration have been contentious. Since taking office in 1994 as the country's first and only directly elected president, Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means and a centralized economic system. Government restrictions on political and civil freedoms, freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion have remained in place. Restrictions on political freedoms have tightened in the wake of the disputed presidential election in 2020. The election results sparked large-scale protests as members of the opposition and civil society criticized the election's validity. LUKASHENKA has remained in power as the disputed winner of the presidential election after quelling protests in 2020. Since 2022, Belarus has facilitated Russia's war in Ukraine, which was launched in part from Belarusian territory.
Location
Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Climate
cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
Terrain
generally flat with much marshland
Highest point
Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Natural resources
timber, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Natural hazards
large tracts of marshy land
National symbols
no official symbol; the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional symbol
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Belarus
The default speed limits in Belarus are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas and 110 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.3‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 2020 km/hResidential zonesLiving streets & residential areas
- 6060 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 9090 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 70 km/h
- 110110 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freewaysWith a trailer: 90 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 ViennaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.3‰ blood alcohol (0.03% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)7.4 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Belarus safe to visit?
Governments advise against travel to Belarus: the US State Department rates Belarus Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information on buying flight tickets if the journey is starting in, or within, Russia ('Safety and security’ page)
Updated 10 Sep 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Belarus
The best time to visit Belarus is June to August, when daytime highs in Minsk are around 21–23°C. September is also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (23°C by day), January the coldest (-11°C at night), and July the wettest with about 103 mm of rain.
- Jan-5°C-11°C
- Feb-3°C-10°C
- Mar2°C-5°C
- Apr11°C1°C
- May18°C8°C
- Jun21°C11°C
- Jul23°C14°C
- Aug22°C13°C
- Sep17°C8°C
- Oct9°C2°C
- Nov3°C-2°C
- Dec-2°C-7°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Belarus
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
4 ski resorts in Belarus
- 7 km of slopes
- 13 lifts
- up to 323 m
Biggest: Silichy · Logoisk · Solnechnaya Dolina
National parks
4 national parks in Belarus
- 5,004 km² protected
- oldest from 1991
Largest: Pripyatsky National Park · Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park · Narachanski National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Belarusian ruble exchange rates today
Belarus uses the Belarusian ruble (BYN, Br). One US dollar buys 2.9296 BYN; over the last 30 days the BYN has gained 3.0% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in BYN
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Belarus ranks
How Belarus compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Belarus
48 airports and airfields — 2 large, 8 medium and 34 small, plus 4 heliports. 4 have scheduled passenger flights.
Military
Belarusian armed forces
Belarus ranks #60 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $1.9 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Minsk (2.1 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines and other household appliances
Export partners
China 34%, Kazakhstan 10%, Uzbekistan 7%, Poland 6%, Brazil 5% (2023)
Top exports
fertilizers, rapeseed oil, wood, poultry, beef (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Belarus
Next public holiday
October Revolution Day — Saturday, 7 November 2026. Then Catholic Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Belarusian passport
Ranked #115: 43 countries visa-free, 38 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 30 with an eVisa.
Belarusian passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Belarus's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Belarus
Dial +375 before the local number. Internet domain .by.
Climate footprint
55.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 6.16 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Belarus: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Belarus
Belarusian Driver Drove Europe Routes Without a Valid Polish Permit
A Belarusian truck driver drove international routes for four months while his Polish residence permit was pending. Foreigners who break stay rules c…
Sweden mulls athlete entry curbs; no visa rules change for travellers yet
Sweden is examining whether it can refuse visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes competing on its territory under neutral status. No restrictions h…
Belarusian athletes may be refused Swedish visas for Falun ski championships
Sweden is examining legal grounds to deny visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes entering for international competitions, which could affect the No…
Frequently asked questions about Belarus
What do I need to travel to Belarus?
How long must my passport be valid for Belarus?
Where is Belarus?
What is Belarus known for?
What is the capital of Belarus?
What language is spoken in Belarus?
What currency does Belarus use?
What is the calling code of Belarus?
Which countries border Belarus?
How strong is the Belarusian passport?
What is the speed limit in Belarus?
Is Belarus safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Belarus?
What plug type does Belarus use?
How many airports does Belarus have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.