Belarus Visa Free June 10 to July 10 in 2019

[steven]

Just bought a ticket, that was pain-free. I am going to the archery!

The press releases still leave some room for debate. I haven't been able to find that Russia starts letting travelers through from June 10, only that it ends on July 10.

Secondly, I haven't been able to find a press release that says you can travel to Russia, only from Russia to Belarus. I think both of these things are true, but I haven't been able to confirm them.

[thl989]

I hope we can get some clarity re: when and how Russia will allow visitors, as that prevents me from actually buying plane tickets and whatnot. I got a $10 ticket to a 3x3 basketball game, hope to fly in to Minsk and then have a trip through Russia after that. So far I have only seen confirmation from the Belarusian side that Russia will allow me in.

If I read this correctly I can take a train into and out of Belarus? https://vetliva.com/visa/visa-free/pose ... -belarusi/

edit: this source says June 10th start date applies to Russia as well, and that land crossings may be used. https://my.realrussia.co.uk/index.php?/ ... s-in-minsk

edit2: Olympic Committee of Russia confirms http://olympic.ru/news/minsk-2019/v-ros ... yj-rezhim/

I wonder how this works at the airport, information about this is still buried deep enough I don't know that airport staff will let you board the plane.

[steven]

I had a look on Timatic but no mention of it there yet http://cms.olympicair.com/timatic/webdo ... yinfo.html

[Elms]

The airlines are super wary in my experience, if it's not on Timatic don't count on it...

Crossposting Thorn Tree thread, they're also researching the details of this deal.

[Milad]

The official agreement in Russian language, translate it with Google if you don't speak Russian: http://docs.cntd.ru/document/542624686

[thl989]

Timatic confirmed

"BELARUS AND RUSSIAN FED., 15 May
2nd European Games:
- From 20 May to 10 July 2019, participants and organizers of

the 2nd European Games with an accreditation card will not

require a visa to enter Belarus or the Russian Fed. They must
depart no later than 10 July 2019.
- From 10 June to 10 July 2019, nationals of Albania, Andorra,

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados,

Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile,
China (People's Rep.), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Denmark,

Dominica, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia,
Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,

Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Kuwait, Latvia,
Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia
(FYROM), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated
States), Monaco, Namibia , Netherlands, New Zealand,
Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Uruguay, Vanuatu,
Vatican City (Holy See), Viet Nam and passengers with a

British passport and a ticket for the 2nd European Games will

not require a visa to enter Belarus or the Russian Fed. They
must enter no later than the day of the event mentioned on

their ticket and must depart no later than 10 July 2019.
"

EDIT: beware a few nationalities (check the Games' website) have additional requirements that Timatic has not listed, e.g. holding a used Schengen visa.

[Elms]

All the info on visiting Russia and Belarus visa-free is very neatly compiled here!

Official EG website also updated the page with more detailed info, but it left out the VERY IMPORTANT info that you need to register your ticket and passport for visa-free entry to Russia. Do it here.

At least one Russian border officer also claimed that you can enter Russia with the ticket but you need an onward ticket to Belarus.

[steven]

Greetings from Minsk!

Got in yesterday with the train from Vilnius. Border guards were very professional. Checked the ticket, insurance, asked which event i was visiting and what date, and then I was in.

One more important detail: if you are exiting to Russia, you need to ask for a migration card at the Belarusian border.

I asked, they gave me one and stamped it. No questions asked, they understood.

[steven]

Forgot to mention: if you are not staying in hotels the first 5 days, you need to register yourself.

Was easy to do online. Instructions here https://34travel.me/gotobelarus/en/post/register-en

[Milad]

Taking the train from Kiev to Minsk was a breeze, the only ones who didn't know about the visa-free thing were the Ukrainian border guards, whom I had to convince that the Belarussians wouldn't send me back without a visa. Thumbs up!