Visa-free travel to Belarus 2026: how many European tourists came over the summer and the rules of entry

Belarus is a hospitable country. The head of state decided to introduce and then repeatedly extend visa-free entry for citizens of 38 European countries. How often do foreign visitors enjoy this right? An ONT.by correspondent decided to investigate the matter.

Who can visit Belarus without a visa?

According to the State Border Committee, until December 31, 2026, citizens of Lithuania, Latvia (as well as persons with the status of non-citizen of Latvia), Poland, Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Vatican, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Hungary, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, France, Germany, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden and Estonia (including stateless persons permanently residing in Estonia).

Visa-free tourism statistics: how many foreigners visited Belarus in the summer of 2026

The list of countries for which Belarus has opened its doors is impressive. How many people from these countries visit blue-eyed summer?

According to the statistics of the Civil Procedure Committee of Belarus, for the entire full three-month summer period of last 2025 (from June 1 to September 1) 79,892 visa-free tourists came to Belarus.

As of June 1, 2026, from January 1, 81,580 foreign citizens from 38 countries came to us.

From January 1 to August 31, 164,682 foreign citizens from the same list of countries arrived in Belarus.

“The current pace of 2026 clearly demonstrates the preservation of high and stable demand for travel, as in just two months it was possible to reach more than 70% of the total volume of the previous summer season,” the company said.

To calculate the attendance of the republic this season, we took the latest statistics and put them in a table.

Comparative table of tourist flow

.ont-stat-container { font-family: 'Open Sans', Roboto, sans-serif; max-width: 850px; margin: 20px auto; border-radius: 16px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba(0,0,0.08); background-color: colorx; border: 1px #f0e6; text .ont-stat-stat-stater {: linear-stat-stat; background: FF5:1:00p2; FF:1; FF: 1p-color: 1px:1; left-color: 1p-color:2; FF: 1p-color: left-color: 1p-color:2; ft-color: left-color: 1p-color: 1p-colour: 1p-color:2; text: font-line: FF:p-line:1; ft; background: FF: 1p-

Dynamics of visa-free flow to Belarus (Summer)

Number of visa-free tourists Increase June 1 – September 1, 2025 79,892 people – June 1 – September 1, 2026 83,102 people +3,210 (+4%)

The table allows you to see that Belarus is only gaining popularity among tourists - in the summer season this year we were visited by more than 3 thousand more tourists than last summer season.

The total numbers of arrivals in order to admire the sights and just have a good rest are absolutely sky-high. Since April 15, 2022, 1,422,851 Europeans have come to Belarus.

We remind you that the Head of State made a decision to extend visa-free entry for citizens of 38 European countries until December 31, 2026 inclusive.

How to cross the border and what you need to know before leaving: a guide from the border guard

This was learned from the deputy head of the Grodno border group, Colonel Kirill Shuvaev.

“Nothing complicated: study the rules of crossing the state border, learn the rules of crossing, stay in the country to which you are going, so as not to violate the law. Check all your documents carefully, including your health insurance and car document, if you are crossing the border by car. Do not take with you prohibited things or things limited to transportation across the state border, and behave calmly when passing through border customs control. I would like to remind you that photo and video shooting on the territory of checkpoints while crossing the state border is prohibited, he said.

Checkpoints and permitted periods of stay for foreigners in Belarus

Citizens of all countries (including stateless persons permanently residing in Estonia and non-citizens of Latvia) who are subject to a visa-free entry procedure may enter Belarus through any international road and rail checkpoint.

At the same time, it is allowed to leave our country through any road and railway international checkpoint, as well as through all checkpoints at Belarusian airports.

It is possible to use the right of visa-free entry to Belarus an unlimited number of times during the entire period of this procedure until December 31, 2026 inclusive.

For citizens of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia (as well as persons with the status of non-citizen of Latvia), the period of temporary stay should not exceed 90 days from the date of entry.

For citizens of the remaining 35 countries, temporary stay in Belarus should not exceed 30 days from the date of entry.

In general, the number of days of stay in Belarus without a visa should not exceed 90 days in a calendar year.

What documents are required to cross the border without a visa?

- a valid document for traveling abroad

- health insurance

contract of compulsory insurance of civil liability of vehicle owners (when traveling by car),

Document on payment of local fee (only when leaving Belarus)

- electronic control mark confirming payment for disinfection services

Which European countries do tourists come from most often?

Most of the visa-free visitors to Belarus come from Lithuania. The checkpoint “Stone Log”, located on the border with the Republic of Lithuania, receives tourists who use the right of visa-free visit on a daily basis.

Deputy Head of the Border Control Branch "Stone Log" Senior Lieutenant Anna Bertosh: About 70 thousand citizens passed through our checkpoint for the year of extended visa-free travel to Belarus. Among them were representatives of Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Great Britain, Italy, Germany and other European countries.

Citizens of all states (including stateless persons permanently residing in Estonia, as well as non-citizens of Latvia) who are subject to a visa-free regime can enter Belarus through any international road or rail checkpoint. Departure from the country is allowed not only through the same points, but also through all airports of Belarus.

How often can I enter without a visa?

The right of visa-free entry can be used an unlimited number of times until December 31, 2026 inclusive. The duration of stay depends on citizenship: citizens of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia (and non-citizens of Latvia) can stay in Belarus up to 90 days from the date of entry; - citizens of the other 35 countries - no more than 30 days. General rule: the total number of days of stay without a visa should not exceed 90 days in a calendar year.

What documents are needed to cross the border?

To enter without a visa, you will need: - a valid foreign passport; - medical insurance; - a contract of compulsory civil liability insurance (for car owners); - a document on the payment of the local fee (when leaving Belarus); - an electronic control mark confirming the payment of disinfection services.

Read also:

1. 1.The project “Pulse of the country” in Kobrin: the Minister of information held a meeting with residents of the city
2. 2.VI Forum of the Media Community in Grodno: Journalism in the Era of Post-Truth and Challenges of the Digital Age

Photo: State Border Committee, BelTA (archive), pixabay