Belarus extends visa-free regime to 10 days in western regions

From 1 January 2018, foreign citizens will be able to visit parts of Brest and Hrodna regions in western Belarus visa-free for up to ten days, under the President's Decree No 462 signed by Alexander Lukashenka on 26 December, says the press service of the Belarusian president. To facilitate the influx of visitors, authorities will set uo new border entrance points at the railway stations and the local airports in the cities of Brest and Hrodna. In addition to extending the visa-free stay from five to ten days, the government has also moved to expand the territory of the visa-free zones. 

New rules will be apply to those who wish to visit the Polish-Belarusian shared tourist attractions: Augustow Canal and the Bielavieza Forest.

Tourists from 77 countries visiting the Augustow Canal will be allowed to travel to the regional centre Hrodna and all other towns in the Hrodna region. Tourists who come to visit the Bielavieza Forest will be able to go sightseeing in the whole 'tourist-recreational zone Brest' that includes the regional centre Brest and several towns in the area. 

To be eligible for this ten-day visa-free regime, tourists are expected to bear valid foreign travel documents (passports) and an individual or group tourism voucher.

The measure aims to boost the influx of tourists and tourism services exports by 30 percent.

Currently, tourists can stay visa-free for up to three days in the Bielawieza Forest and up to five days in the area of the Augustow Canal.