Agreement on visa recognition between Russia and Belarus enters into force

Representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry clarify that this rule applies when both Russia and Belarus, in accordance with international treaties, provide for a visa-free regime for the country from which the guest arrives. “If the specified persons have a visa-free regime in one country and a visa regime in another, to enter the latter and stay there, in addition to an identity document, a visa will be required.”

The duration of stay is calculated from the moment of crossing the border of one of the agreement states through all border control points, regardless of the guest’s mode of travel: sea, rail or air. Special requirements are imposed on road traffic: travel is only possible through six checkpoints specified in the annex to the agreement:

1. Yukhovichi – Dolostsy (Opochka – Novopolotsk),
2. Ezerische – Nevel (Kyiv – Saint Petersburg),
3. Liozno – Kruglovka (Vitebsk – Smolensk),
4. Radishes – Krasnaya Gorka (Minsk – Moscow),
5. Zvenchatka – Dubovichka (Bobruisk – Moscow),
6. Selishche – Novozybkov (Gomel – Bryansk).

“Each party reserves the right to deny entry or reduce the period of stay in its territory of any foreign citizen or stateless person, as well as to verify their compliance with the rules of entry, exit, transit or stay,” the agreement says.