Travel within Russia or in the near abroad is gaining more and more popularity due to the economic situation in the country and the high foreign exchange rate. One of the favorite vacation spots of Russians is neighboring friendly Belarus, close to us in spirit and traditions. Those who are planning to visit this country for the first time are interested in the answer to the reasonable question of whether a foreign passport is needed for Belarus, what documents are needed to cross the state border, and how the procedure for entering the republic goes.
Features of crossing the border by Russians
After the dissolution of the USSR, Belarus became one of the initiators of the creation of a commonwealth of the former Soviet republics in the form of a confederation, thereby maintaining close ties between states and their peoples. However, the Russian Federation and Belarus did not stop there and negotiated the creation of a single state. So at present, legally, these two countries, along with Kazakhstan, are part of a single customs union of Russia and Belarus, although in fact they are controlled by different governments.
Thus, as well as within the Russian borders, Russian citizens can freely enter the territory of Belarus and freely stay within its borders. Although there is a border between countries, it is not felt in any way when citizens move from both sides.
Only recently, with the introduction by our neighbor of a visa-free stay for most foreigners arriving on a short visit, checkpoints appeared at the border. But even in 2017, such points do not apply to Russians, who do not need to present a passport or an inspection to cross.
The need for a passport
The answer to the question of whether a passport is needed to travel to Belarus depends on such factors as the purpose of arrival in the country and the territory from which the border is crossed. So, as a general rule, to enter Belarus, it is enough for our citizens to have a general identity card with them (which is a citizen’s passport for us), no crossing stamps are affixed in it.
At the same time, a passport proving the identity of a Russian outside the homeland may be required in the following situations:
- Belarus is an intermediate point from which it is planned to continue the journey to another state, for crossing the border with which a foreign passport is required (i.e. if Belarus has a controlled border with the country where the departure is made, then the Belarusian customs gives an affirmative answer to the question of whether a foreign passport to Belarus is needed).
- Arrival on the territory of this state is carried out from a country with which it does not have an agreement on the free movement of citizens between countries (in fact, from all countries, except for some republics of the former USSR).
- For some reason, a Russian does not have the opportunity to use an internal identity card, or it is simply more convenient for him to have a foreign passport with him, which he can use on an equal footing with a general civil document.
Therefore, if the Republic of Belarus is the final and only point of travel of our citizens made from the territory of our country (it does not matter, by land transport or by plane), then the presence of a passport is allowed, but not a prerequisite.
Do I need a visa, what documents are needed
Russians do not need an entry permit in the form of a visa or any other document. This is explained by the desire of the two countries to integrate and move towards real unification. However, this fact does not mean that no documents are needed for arrival and stay in the Republic of Belarus in principle.
So, depending on the specific situation, a Russian may need:
- Birth certificate if traveling with children under the age of 14.
- Compulsory third party liability insurance and a driver's license if he enters the republic by car or plans to drive a car on its territory.
- Declaration of imported things or valuables, which must be additionally declared, despite the customs union (and such a rule applies, for example, to the national heritage of both states, including in the field of culture).
- Identity card (it does not matter whether it is a passport, domestic or foreign, sailor's passport, diplomatic identity card or other document that allows identification and is recognized as such in the country).
Other documents, whether it be medical insurance or a certificate of vaccination for an animal traveling with the owner, may be present at the traveler's discretion.
Thus, the crossing of the Belarusian border should not necessarily be carried out on foreign passports, but can be freely made with the presentation of this document at the request of the traveler.
At the same time, arrival to the territory of Belarus, most likely, will not require any documents to be shown at all, because. our countries constitute a single territory under a bilateral agreement, and citizens of both countries are not required to go through any permits and border procedures.
