Belarus and Russia announce mutual recognition of visas

The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on mutual recognition of visas and other issues related to the rules of Entry/Exit of foreign citizens and stateless persons to/from the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation with Visas/residence permits of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation (procedure for checking electronic visas) has already entered into force from 11 January, 2025.

1. Foreign citizens and stateless persons may enter/exit, transit through the territory of the Republic of Belarus or the territory of the Russian Federation upon presentation of one of the following valid documents:

• a Visa (single-entry, multiple-entry) of the Republic of Belarus or a residence permit in the Republic of Belarus, valid at the time of entry.
• a Visa (single-entry, multiple-entry), including an electronic visa of the Russian Federation or a residence permit in the Russian Federation, valid at the time of entry.

Thus, a foreign citizen upon presentation of one of the valid documents (visa, residence permit) of the Republic of Belarus or the Russian federation will be able to:

1. enter the Russian federation and exit the Republic of Belarus;
2. enter the Republic of Belarus and exit the Russian Federation;
3. Travel between these countries.

2. The procedure of the checking the availability of an electronic visa of the Russian Federation:

• The visa shall be presented in printed form;
• The QR code on the visa shall be scanned. The barcode contains a link to the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs evisacheck.kdmid.ru to check the availability/ absence of an electronic visa for a foreign citizen.

3. Foreign citizens with a Diplomatic passport:

• foreign citizens accredited in accordance with the established procedure in the territory of the state of one of the Parties have the right to enter, travel or transit through the territory of the other Party’s state for no more than five days;
• foreign citizens accredited in accordance with the established procedure in the territories of the states of both Parties have the right to enter, leave, and transit through the territories of the States of the Parties for the entire period of their accreditation.