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|capital = [[Minsk]]
|map = <map lat='54' lng='28' zoom='5' view='0' country='Belarus' />
|pop = 9,500,000 504 700 (2017)
|BW = BY
|currency = Belarusian Ruble (BYRBYN)
|hitch = <rating country='by' />
}}
== General information ==
72% of the population live in towns and cities, and virtually all the population speaks Russian as their first language. In rural areas a mix of Russian and Belarusian may be spoken, but it is '''not''' a good idea to try to speak Belarusian (in the capital of the country you will especially be frowned upon by the police, as Belarusian is the language of governmental opposition). It is therefore better to make destination [[signs]] in Russian when hitchhiking.
Also, there are two versions of the Belarusian flag – the official one is the red-green flag (also jokingly known as “dusk over a swamp”), whereas the one used by the opposition is a three-striped white-red-white flag. For your own safety, it is not advised to demonstrate the latter one in public.
Freedom of speech is very restricted in Belarus, try not to ask too many questions about mr. Lukashenko, people might get in trouble when saying something bad about their politics.
== Language ==
The average waiting time is about 20 minutes. It’s better to travel using main roads as road traffic on local roads is pretty poor. In Belarus there are no roads with limitations for hitchhikers, you can start stopping a car wherever you like, the only exception is bridges. Roadsides are usually wide enough to stop even a truck. Main roads are in a good condition while roads in rural areas might unpleasantly surprise you.
[[File:IMG 20170717 154059.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Light-returning reflectinve band. This little thing can save you about 10€ when you meet the policy at the road]] '''Note''': In Belarus you have to wear a flicker (light-returning elementor reflective band) when you are on the road after sunset. The [[police]] have a plan to get some amount of violators each month, so the possibility of penalty (about € 10) is quite high. It's better to buy a flicker (it costs from € 1), and it's not a problem – now they are sold in any shop in Belarus. And it's [[hitchhiker's safety|a good idea]] to use them anyway when [[hitchhiking at night]].
== Maps ==
* 7 - Minsk (city)
See Wikipedia article on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Belarus Belarussian vehicle registration plates] for more info.
== Visa ==
Foreign citizens of 74 countries, who come to Belarus and leave the country by plane (through the State border checkpoint of the Republic of Belarus "Minsk National Airport"), can enter Belarus for up to 30 days '''without visa''' (since July 27, 2018). The given order of visa-free movement through the airport does not extend to persons coming to Belarus by plane from the Russian Federation, as well as to those who intend to fly to the airports of the Russian Federation (such flights are considered as internal ones and do not have border control).
Nevertheless you have to fulfil several requirements to be able to enter the country without visa. For more information check web-pages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
[http://mfa.gov.by/en/visa/visafreetravel/e0ced19bb1f9bf2c.html ''Information on visa-free travel via the checkpoint "Minsk National Airport"'']
[http://gpk.gov.by/en/informatsiya-dlya-peresekayushhih-granitsu/pravila-peresecheniya-granitsy-dlya-inostrantsev.php ''Rules of border crossing for foreign citizens'']
[[File:Belarus_regional_visa-free.png|220px|thumb|right|Parts of Belarus covered by Brest and Hrodna regional visa-free provisions]]
In addition there is a possibility to enter some parts of the country by car or by train without visa for 10 days. In order to visit Brest or Hrodna regions for ten days without visas you need:
- buy a holiday package from a travel agency (as per rules, travel agencies are the ones to take care of routes and sightseeing in the visa-free travel areas);
- fill in forms, send in your data (passport information, contact information) and sign a contract with the travel agency for a tour as an individual or as a group.
The travel agency will have to take care of the rest – registration, the necessary documents, other things.
For more details check the following links: [https://bezviz.by/en/brest/ ''Brest visa free region''], [https://bezviz.by/en/grodno/ ''Hrodna visa free region''].
If you are coming from a country which is not in the list of visa-free countries or for some other reason can't enter Belarus as a visa-free tourist then you need to apply for visa prior to visiting Belarus. In this case, try to find someone on Couchsurfing/BeWelcome/TrustRoots who'd be willing to "invite" you to Belarus (thus you could apply for a "private visit" visa), as this would save you money in the visa application process - the only way to get a regular tourist visa is through an overpriced agency, which would be eager to book hotels on your behalf. Some embassies may be satisfied with a confirmed hotel booking, without an agency letter, but that would be up to their discretion. However, most Belarusian embassies will issue a "private visit" visa without a letter of invitation or other supporting documents where only the personal info of the inviting person would suffice if the visa duration is less than 30 days. In some cases, they may however ask for a copy of the inviting person's passport but again that would be up to the discretion of the embassy personnel.
''[[user:uncle_sam01|uncle_sam01]] applied for a private visit visa at the embassy in Warsaw in July 2016 and was asked to provide a copy of the inviting person's passport. Other than that the process was a mere formality.''
== Registration ==
When travelling to Belarus, you have to be registered with the authorities as a "temporary resident" if you stay in the country for longer than 5 business days ('''including Saturday!'''). Registration consists of a Soviet-style blue stamp on the back of your "Migration Card" (you'll get this at the border).How this is done will vary depending on where you stay:
'''1. Hotels only'''
'''2. Couchsurfing/squatting/camping'''
You'll have to visit the local "Migration Department" within 5 business days('''including Saturday!''') '''with your and as well as your host's passport'''(they don't have to be there in person, but if you don't speak Russian, it's best that they are). They'll ask you to fill out a form and pay a fee at a local bank branch(the fee is around EUR 10). It might sound scary, but it's relatively straightforward. It is advisable that you register with your first host upon arrival to Belarus for the entire duration of your stay(until your visa expires) - you won't have to worry about/pay for registration again. Legally, you should re-register if you stay somewhere else for more than 5 days, but no one will bother you about this and you can always say "I got here yesterday" :)
'''3. Couchsurfing+hotels'''
This is the most complicated option. Hotels will only register you for the duration of your staybooking. Once you check out, you're no longer considered registered and the 5 day period does not apply any more. Therefore, if you then stayed with someone through couchsurfing, you'd need to register immediately, in person, as is described in option 2. If you register with a host first (regardless for how long) and '''then''' stay at a hotel, your previous registration becomes void and the hotel registration applies, so the moment you check out you need to re-register somewhere else (either stay in another hotel or register with a host - again the 5 day period won't apply). You could ask the hotel to not stamp your card, so that your previous registration is still valid during and after your hotel stay but this is technically illegal and up to the receptionist's discretion. ([[user:uncle_sam01|uncle_sam01]] got his hotel stamp on a sticky note with a "you-naughty-boy" gesture from the receptionist...)
'''Lack of and/or incorrect registration will lead to fines for you and your host, sometimes even deportation!!! (if your host had a previous guest who also screwed up their registration, they'd be considered a repeat offender and would face a higher fine)'''
== Border crossing ==
Belarus is neither in the [[European Union]] nor in the [[Schengen Agreement|Schengen]] Common Travel Area, and most non-[[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] nationals would require a visa to enter the country. However, since July 2018 there is a possibility to enter the country without visa for citizens of about 80 foreign countries. See "Visa" section.
You can check [http://gpk.gov.by/en/maps/ochered.php border crossing queues] and find more [http://gpk.gov.by/en/maps/ detailed info about border crossings] at the web-site of State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus. === With [[Latvia]] (from east to west)===* [https://www.google.com/maps/place/55%C2%B043'06.5%22N+26%C2%B052'27.4%22E/@55.718463,26.8721013,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d55.7184603!4d26.8742901?hl=en Urbany (BLR) / Silene (LV)] (bel. Урбаны, rus. Урбаны) – located on [[P3]] some 20 km to the north-west from [[Braslaŭ|Braslaŭ]] on the way to [[Daugavpils|Daugavpils]].* [https://www.google.com/maps/place/55%C2%B049'14.4%22N+27%C2%B037'32.0%22E/@55.820655,27.6233543,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d55.8206521!4d27.6255431?hl=en Ryhoraŭščyna (BLR) / Paternieki (LV)] (bel. Рыгораўшчына, rus. Григоровщина) – located on [[P20]] some 25 km to the west from [[Vierchniadzvinsk|Vierchniadzvinsk]] or 95 km to the north-west from [[Polack|Polack]] on the way to [[Krāslava|Krāslava]] - [[Daugavpils|Daugavpils]].
=== With [[Lithuania]] ===
It is not allowded to cross the border on foot anymore!!!
=== With [[Poland]] (from south to north)===* [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13433892993726185330,51.771666,23.569832%3B8225709824099370420,51.760479,23.611216&saddr=63+%4051.771666,+23.569832&daddr=Unknown+road+%4051.760479,+23.611216&sll=51.766075,23.590525&sspn=0.017263,0.04549&ie=UTF8&ll=52.722986,25.378418&spn=4.325896,11.645508&z=7 Damačava (BLR) / Sławatycze (PL)] (bel. Дамачава, rus. Домачево) – vehicular crossing located some 40 kilometres south of Brest.* "[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13034915224636727578,52.069786,23.642091&saddr=2%2FE30+%4052.069786,+23.642091&daddr=52.073732,23.673027&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=16&sll=52.074073,23.666546&sspn=0.008573,0.022745&ie=UTF8&ll=52.070116,23.646183&spn=0.068588,0.181961&z=13 Brest (Varšaŭski most (Warsaw Bridge)) (BLR) / Terespol (PL)]" (bel. Брэст (Варшаўскі мост), rus. Брест (Варшавский мост)) – the biggest crossing point located on [[E30]] near [[Brest (Belarus)|Brest]]. Crossing is possible only in a vehicle. Opposite to what you could guess, the crossing is hassle free and the police not more unfriendly than elsewhere. Prepare yourself Be prepared for a long waiting time, if . If there is a lot of traffic, even very long waiting time. Even when there are just two or three cars in front of you, you can find yourself waiting for several hours.* "[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=18391996812509845743,52.106891,23.558036%3B5287091177967822326,52.110654,23.561225&saddr=68+%4052.106891,+23.558036&daddr=52.116665,23.564816&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&sll=52.114886,23.566296&sspn=0.008565,0.022745&ie=UTF8&ll=52.516221,24.483032&spn=2.172906,5.822754&z=8 Kazlovičy(BLR) / Kukuryki (PL)]" (bel. Казловічы, rus. Козловичи) – for trucks only. Located at the north-western edge of Brest.* "[httphttps://mapswww.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13433892993726185330,51.771666,23.569832/place/52%C2%3B8225709824099370420,51B028'11.760479,23.611216&saddr=63+0%4051.771666,22N+23%C2%B021'30.569832&daddr=Unknown+road+1%405122E/@52.7604794697112,+23.611216&sll=51.7660753561643,23.590525&sspn17z/data=0!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d52.017263,04697082!4d23.04549&ie3583531?hl=UTF8&ll=52.722986,25.378418&spn=4.325896,11.645508&z=7 Damačavaen Piasčatka (BLR) / Połowce (PL)]" (bel. ДамачаваПясчатка, rus. ДомачевоПесчатка) – vehicular crossing located some 40 kilometres south of on [[P16]] 60 km to the north-west from [[Brest (Belarus)|Brest]] on the way to [[Bielsk Podlaski|Bielsk Podlaski]] - [[Białystok|Białystok]].*"[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Przejście+graniczne+Białowieża+-+Piererow/@52.6693897,23.8421252,13.25z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x47205d08a089cf39:0x7d8b7f4d91f4e07!8m2!3d52.6686046!4d23.8582331?hl=en Pieraroŭ (BLR) / Białowieża/Puszcza Białowieska(PL)]" (Беловежская пущаbel. Перароў, rus. Переров) - – small, pedestrian-only crossing in the middle of the beautiful Bialowieza Forest. EU citizens can visit (for 72 hours) the Belorussian part of the forest, as well as the village of Kamianiuki '''without a visa'''(check [http://www.belarus.by/en/travel/belarus-life/belovezhskaya-pushcha requirements for visa-free entrance]). Since the crossing is for pedestrians/cyclists only, you'll are likely to be the only person there. There aren't too many parked cars, but just enough to get you picked up to the nearest village on the Polish side (it's not very far, so you can walk, as well). On the Belorussian Belarusian side, you can either try hitching hitch-hiking towards the nearest village of Bely Lesok Biely Liasok (bel. Белы Лясок) (there'll be plenty of tourists and only a single road for cars) or you can walk through the forest to Kamianiuki(about 16 km, it's the official "entry" village to the forest on the Belarussian Belarusian side). From Kamianiuki, you can either hitch-hike, or if you don't have time, take a marshrutka maršrutka (mini-bus) to the bus terminal in Brest. If you're lucky, you can also hitch a ride with one of the park's employees.*[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/53%C2%B007'22.0%22N+23%C2%B053'54.6%22E/@53.1227709,23.8964963,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d53.1227684!4d23.8985041?hl=en Bierastavica (BLR) / Bobrowniki (PL)] (bel. Бераставіца, rus. Берестовица) – located on [[P99]] 80 km to the south from [[Hrodna|Hrodna]] or 40 km to the west from [[Vaŭkavysk|Vaŭkavysk]] on the way to [[Białystok|Białystok]].*[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/53%C2%B031'29.9%22N+23%C2%B040'06.3%22E/@53.5249652,23.6662313,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x0:0x0!2zNTPCsDA3JzIyLjAiTiAyM8KwNTMnNTQuNiJF!3b1!7e2!8m2!3d53.1227684!4d23.8985041!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d53.5249617!4d23.66842?hl=en Bruzhi (BLR) / Kuźnica (PL)] (bel. Брузгі, rus. Брузги) – 20 km to the south-west from [[Hrodna|Hrodna]] on the way to [[Białystok|Białystok]].
If you want to avoid the long waiting times at the Brest (Varšaŭski most (Warsaw Bridge )) / Terespol border crossing is to you can take a train from Terespol to Brest. It goes 3 times a day and costs 17 Zlotyzłoty. You can only pay in zlotys złotys only but there is an exchange office in at the train station. (July 2016) [https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/3456263616train station]. (August 2018)
=== With [[Russia]] ===
Please note that while there is no border control between Belarus and Russia Belarusian transit visa is still required for foreigners when transiting through the country from Russia to Poland, or vice versa. You can't get a visa at the border. If you go from Belarus to Russia make sure that you always keep your Belarusian migration card. The border is open, there is most likely no control and this means, that you will not recieve a Immigration card or an Entry stamp from Russia. Due to the Customs union between the countries, your card from Belarus also counts in Russia and in case you lose it you will find yourself in unfriendly situation.
'''UPDATE''' (2017): Third country nationals (ie. not [[CIS]]) are no longer allowed to cross the Belarus/Russia border even with a valid visa for both countries, due to reciprocity measures undertaken by the Russian Government because of EU sanctions. Non-CIS travelers are redirected to cross from Lithuania or Ukraine. There are checks at all major transit points. "Sneaking in" at a random village is not advised.
=== With [[Ukraine]]: ===
