Belarus Opens Its Borders: Tourism and Visa Policy Trends in 2025

As of Q1 2025, 75,579 citizens of European countries benefiting from Belarus’s visa waiver program have visited the country, according to BelTA. Despite continued political tensions, interest in cross-border and short-term trips to Belarus remains steady, particularly from neighboring countries.

Visa-Free Travel: Who’s Visiting and Why

Since the launch of the visa-free regime on April 15, 2022, over 1.1 million EU nationals have entered Belarus:

Lithuania: 618,576 visits

Latvia: 349,215 visits

Poland: 112,664 visits

These three countries account for over 97% of all visa-free trips. Most travelers visited Belarus for shopping, family, or tourism, often for short durations.

On July 19, 2024, the Belarusian government expanded the program to 35 more European nations. Since then, 26,859 citizens of these newly included states have visited visa-free. Although this is a small share, the move signals Minsk’s broader goal to present Belarus as an open and accessible destination, especially given its limited ties with Western governments.

President Alexander Lukashenko extended the program through December 31, 2025, for 38 European countries. Travelers can cross land borders multiple times without limits. Citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland may stay up to 90 days; citizens of other countries — up to 30 days.

The list includes Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, and others.

E-Visa System Launched for 67 Countries

On March 20, 2025, Belarus launched a new electronic visa system for citizens of 67 countries, allowing 30-day visits for tourism, private, business, cultural, and sports events.

The application portal is simple:

Register a personal account

Fill in the application form

Upload a photo and passport scan

Pay the visa and service fee

Fees:

€35 for most EU citizens

Free for Japanese citizens

€60 for others

€6 service fee applies to all

Required: passport valid for at least 6 months, proof of funds ($50 per day of stay). Processing takes up to 7 calendar days.

Countries covered: EU, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and others.

Tourism dаta: 2024 Sees 57% Growth

According to Belstat, Belarus welcomed 366,700 international tourists in 2024, up from 233,128 in 2023 — a 57% increase.

Top source countries:

Russia

Ukraine

Poland

Lithuania

Latvia

Hospitality sector highlights:

512 hotels and similar facilities served 2.2 million guests (1.7M domestic)

Average hotel occupancy: ~35%

Health resorts and sanatoriums served 1.1 million clients, 900,000 of them Belarusian citizens

Agrotourism is also growing, with 2,473 rural guesthouses serving over 300,000 visitors.

Strategic Focus on Tourism

Despite strained relations with Western countries, Belarus is clearly prioritizing tourism as an economic and image-building strategy. Simplified entry, expanded visa-free access, and modern digital systems are central to attracting both diaspora and curious travelers.