Summary

The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly recommends that highly-comprehensive travel insurance, including personal medical insurance, is obtained before travelling to Belarus.  You should check any exclusions and that your policy covers you for the activities you wish to undertake.  If participating in extreme adventure sports (white water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping etc), you should ensure that these activities are also provided for in your insurance.  Travellers should be aware that many of these adventure sports operators are unregulated, and so care should be taken in selecting reputable tour operators.

Irish citizens in Belarus are strongly advised to avoid political demonstrations, rallies, marches or public gatherings, which increasingly have the potential to turn unpredictable and volatile. Citizens should be aware that being in the proximity of such demonstrations/rallies/etc. could be interpreted as actively participating in the event, and could result in detention by the authorities.

Irish Citizens should note that the Irish Government does not provide funds for emergency medical repatriation or for repatriation of remains.  

Under Belarusian law, you must have medical insurance cover for the period of your stay (see “Local Laws and Customs”).

For entry and exit requirements and immigration information for Belarus, please contact the Embassy of Belarus to Ireland. Contact details are as follows:

Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to the UK and Ireland

6 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL, United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 207 937 3288

Fax: +44 207 361 0005

E-Mail: uk.london@mfa.gov.by

Website: http://uk.mfa.gov.by/

It is advisable to take a number of photocopies of your passport with you. Foreigners are expected to carry their passports with them at all times. If you are stopped by the police for a registration (visa) spot check, and cannot prove your identity with an internationally-recognisable ID, you may be detained by the police until your identity is established.

Safety and Security

Irish citizens in Belarus are strongly advised to avoid political demonstrations, rallies, marches or public gatherings, which increasingly have the potential to turn unpredictable and volatile. Citizens should be aware that being in the proximity of such demonstrations/rallies/etc. could be interpreted as actively participating in the event, and could result in detention by the authorities.

A bomb exploded at Oktyabryskaya metro station in central Minsk during the evening rush hour on 11 April 2011, killing 15 people and injuring over 200. 

You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. Irish citizens should be vigilant and should follow the instructions and advice of local police at all times.

You should be alert at all times to the possibility of tourist crime, particularly muggings, pickpockets and theft from vehicles or hotel rooms. Ensure that your personal belongings and passport are secure at all times. You should take extra care when travelling by train, as there have been instances of theft from travellers, especially on overnight sleeper trains to Warsaw and Moscow.

When visiting night clubs, you should pay particular attention to your surroundings and drinks as the drugging of drinks is not uncommon.

Standards of health care are well below that of Ireland. You are advised to seek medical advice about inoculations before travelling.  You should bring essential personal medications, as the availability of local supplies cannot be guaranteed.

You should take care to avoid certain foodstuffs (primarily local dairy produce, forest mushrooms and fruits of the forest), which can carry high levels of radiation as a result of contamination from the Chernobyl disaster.

You should not drink village well water as it is usually heavily contaminated with impurities. In cities, you should first boil, then filter tap water before drinking. We recommend that you buy bottled water, which is widely available in shops.

The quality of driving in Belarus is erratic. Belarus' "A-class" highways are in average to good condition. The condition of "B-class" roads varies considerably and some are impassable for periods in winter. Drivers should note that road works and potholes are usually poorly marked. Pony and trap combinations are a specific hazard for drivers in rural, unlit areas. 

Local Laws and Customs

Under Belarusian law, you must have medical insurance cover for the period of your stay. If purchased outside Belarus, you must be able to demonstrate to the Belarusian authorities that your policy is valid in Belarus for the duration of your visit and that it provides emergency treatment cover of at least 5,000 US Dollars. Even with this, it can still be difficult to persuade local officials that a policy obtained abroad meets these criteria. In addition to medical insurance, foreign visitors must also pay a mandatory state insurance of 0.50 USD per day, at the port of entry.

If you arrive at a port of entry without insurance documentation, you will have to purchase medical insurance from a State vendor at a cost of approximately 1 US Dollar per day of stay. This insurance is designed only to compensate local medical institutions for the costs of treating visitors. It does not provide protection for you and should not be considered as an alternative to comprehensive travel insurance. You should note that some Belarusian hotels will not let you stay if you do not have State medical insurance.

If you are staying more than three days in Belarus, you must register with the local police office (OVIR) in the district in which you are staying.  If you are staying in a hotel, this will be organised by the hotel. If you are not staying in a hotel, this must be organised by your host. There are fines for not registering in time. For further information on registration procedures, please contact the Embassy of Belarus in London.

Irish citizens who also hold Belarusian citizenship (i.e. dual citizens) should be aware that they may only enter and leave Belarus on a valid Belarusian passport. A dual Irish-Belarusian citizen cannot enter or leave Belarus using an Irish passport (even if the appropriate visa has been secured). Dual Irish-Belarusian citizens should be aware that in the event that the dual citizen requires consular assistance in Belarus, the provision of any such consular assistance by the Irish Embassy will be at the discretion of the Belarusian authorities.

Homosexual relationships are permitted under Belarusian law. However, Belarus remains a conservative society and the gay/lesbian scene is very low profile. Few homosexuals openly declare themselves.

Belarus has severe penalties for drugs-related crimes. The penalties for drug possession range from fines to up to 5 years’ imprisonment. Large-scale drug-related offences can result in imprisonment for between seven and 15 years.

You should avoid taking photographs of any government building, military installations, state institutions and uniformed officials. You should also be aware that you could be fined for jaywalking.

Since January 2005, a new system of fees for drivers of foreign vehicles wishing to use Belarus' highways has been in operation. Payments are collected at border checkpoints and will vary according to the length of stay. 

Irish driving licence holders must possess a valid International Driver's Licence to drive legally in Belarus. When travelling by private vehicle, you must be able to produce ownership documents at Customs offices at border crossings. If you are not the owner of the car, you must produce a letter of "power of attorney". Only originals of these documents are accepted.

You must have third party car insurance or you may get an “on-the-spot” fine. You can only buy this when entering Belarus. Motorists should enquire at Belarusian Customs border offices for information. 

In Belarus, motorists drive on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit in built-up areas is 60km/h, unless specified otherwise. Outside built-up areas, the limit is 90km/h, and on motorways the speed limit is 100km/h. Most traffic signs are in Cyrillic script only (not Latin). Visiting motorists who have held a driving licence for less than two years must not exceed 70km/h (43mph).

The authorities operate a no-tolerance policy in respect of drink driving.

Vehicles should have lights on at all times from 1 November to 31 March inclusive.

There are police checkpoints on routes throughout the country. Drivers should stop at these when instructed, and have the vehicle documentation to hand, otherwise you risk a fine and delay. 

Motorists entering Belarus should ensure that they do not overstay the temporary import terms for their vehicles. Violation of the exit deadline may result in confiscation of your vehicle at the Belarusian border or if stopped at an in-country police checkpoint.

Natural Disasters and Climate

Belarus has a moderate continental climate, with cold, humid winters and warm summers.

Average temperatures vary across Belarus. In January, temperatures average from -4.5°C to -8°C, but extremes are possible. In July the average temperature is +17°C to +18.5°C. Heavy snowfall is typical during the winter season, with rain most frequent between April and October.

With parts of Belarus covered in dense forestry, forest fires frequently break out in periods of dry weather. Visitors are advised to avoid areas which may have fire warnings in place.

Damaging floods have occurred a number of times in living memory following the Spring thaw.

Additional Country Info

Motorists should be aware that there may be long queues at the border, and that customs and immigration can be lengthy and bureaucratic. You should ignore “private facilitators” who offer to help travellers pass through checkpoints and border crossings.

We advise that you carry a mix of US Dollars and Euros. Ensure you have enough money for the duration of your stay.  The number of ATMs is steadily increasing in major cities. Credit cards are not widely used but can be used to withdraw cash at major hotels and banks. Some large stores and restaurants will take them.

Only exchange foreign currency at Government licensed booths. These can be found in or near major stores, hotels, banks and all shopping centres. Non-compliance can result in fines and/or arrest.

ASSISTANCE FOR IRISH CITIZENS IN BELARUS 

Irish Diplomatic and Consular Relations with the Republic of Belarus are handled by the Embassy of Ireland in Vilnius, Lithuania.

We strongly advise all Irish citizens residing in or travelling to Belarus to register their details with the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Irish citizens requiring assistance in Belarus should make contact with the Irish Embassy in Vilnius on +370 5262 9460 (or +370 6551 5235 for out-of-hours emergency assistance). The Consular Assistance Unit at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin can also be reached on +353 1 408 2000 (24/7).