Near abroad countries: do I need a passport to Belarus?

The friendly and open neighbor of Russia arouses the interest of our compatriots: reasonable prices, numerous attractions, delicious food, high level of medicine - these are just some of the advantages of a trip to this country. Do I need a passport to Belarus in 2017?

Agreement between Russia and the Republic of Belarus

In the spring of 1997, the parliaments of both states initiated the formation of a community called the Union of Belarus and Russia. On the basis of the signed document, border control, and eventually transport control, was abolished. Customs services have ceased their activities, so tourists from Russia will not have to fill out a migration card at the border.

Before leaving the Russian Federation, you need to check for debt on loans, fines, alimony, housing and communal services, and more. You can estimate the probability of a ban on departure abroad using the proven service non-departure.rf.

The agreement allows citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus to move freely through the territory of the countries and even make any of them their permanent place of residence. In addition, it is generally not necessary to take a passport to Belarus from Russia with you, of course, if this is not a transit trip.

Children under 14 can cross the border with a birth certificate, teenagers over this age are required to have their own passport. If the child is traveling with a parent or guardian, they must show a power of attorney from the absent parent. This condition is put forward by the Russian authorities.

Important Reminders

The compulsory medical insurance policy issued by Russian organizations is not valid in Belarus. However, the country's authorities do not impose a requirement to buy medical insurance for staying in the state. In an emergency, Russians can count on free medical assistance.

By own car, the driver must be ready to present:

1. Driver's license.
2. Vehicle registration certificate.
3. Car insurance policy (green card).

In the absence of this insurance, the owner of the car faces a substantial fine (about $200). It is cheaper to issue it at home, although you can do this upon arrival in the country.

A simple entry procedure does not exempt from compliance with customs rules (duty-free import of a limited amount of goods and cash) and filling out a declaration, which must be kept throughout the visit to the country.

When importing more goods, you should remember to pay the duty (60% of its value). It is impossible not to take into account the presence of categorical prohibitions on the import / export of certain items, goods and substances.

Moving to Belarus

Some Russians are close to the idea of ​​obtaining a residence permit in Belarus. This country can offer attractive working conditions. For many, a fairly stable economic situation, personal security and affordable housing matter. Do I need a passport to travel to Belarus if the purpose of the visit is to obtain a residence permit?

To obtain a permit, you need to collect a number of documents back in Russia. These are criminal records and health records. The last document should contain detailed information on the presence / absence of dangerous diseases.

The local migration service must provide:

• statement;
• housing lease agreement;
• certificate of departure from the previous place of residence;
• copies of the documents that are the basis for issuing a permit (employment contract / petition from the employer, the presence of own real estate in the country or a copy of the passport of a close relative-citizen of the Republic of Belarus with a petition from him);
• 4 color photos 4x5 (on one sheet);
• receipts for payment of state duties.

As an identity document, you can present both a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and a foreign passport.