{"id":96117,"date":"2024-07-17T16:22:32","date_gmt":"2024-07-17T13:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/96117\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"minsk-expands-visa-free-program-to-include-land-checkpoints","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/96117\/","title":{"rendered":"Minsk expands visa-free program to include land checkpoints"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (State Border Committee)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

July 17, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Following Latvia\u2019s and Lithuania\u2019s decisions to ban the entry of vehicles with Belarusian license plates, Minsk has expanded its visa-free travel program to include Europeans entering the country through land checkpoints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizens and nationals of 35 European countries can benefit from visa-free travel to Belarus starting 8 a.m. July 19 for visits of up to 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement by the foreign ministry lists the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lichtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, San-Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, the UK and the Vatican<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program runs until the end of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A separate visa-free program, announced in 2022, remains in force for citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other countries who can enter Belarus via both land and airport checkpoints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new program is intended to create new logistical opportunities for visitors despite \u201cthe artificial barriers and restrictions by the neighboring Western countries,\u201d the foreign ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus has taken this step, supported by Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, to demonstrate its openness and peacefulness and commitment to the principles of good-neighborhood, as well as to simplify people-to-people contacts and improve freedom of movement, it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before July 19, citizens of these countries did not need a visa to travel to Belarus by plane only for a stay of up to 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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