Changes

|map = <map lat='54' lng='28' zoom='5' view='0' country='Belarus' />|pop = 9,500,000 504 700 (2017)

|currency = Belarusian Ruble (BYRBYN)

'''Belarus''' is an ex-USSR country in [[Eastern Europe]]. The European route [[E30]] passes through it entering at [[Brest (Belarus)|Brest]] on the border with [[Poland]] and leaving at the [[Russia]]n border between [[OrshaOrša]] and [[Smolensk]]. It is a fantastic and easy-going place for hitchhiking and the police or the political system generally will not bother you at all, so once you have your visa (if needed) you can just relax and go for it. You will enjoy!

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.

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 barrier can cause some troubles since many drivers speak almost exclusively only Russian or ''TrasiankeTrasianka'', the mishmash of Belarusian and Russian, therefore please learn some basic phrases in Russian before you go there. If you do understand some Russian but you are not familiar with Belorussian Belarusian culture don't get scared or disappointed hearing many swearing words when drivers talk to you – these words aren't directed to you but are rather a simple hearty expression that is very normal for everyone there.

Hitchhiking in Belarus is very easy and rarely your waiting time will extend exceed 15 Minutesminutes, at least on the main road M1 from [[Brest ]] via [[Minsk ]] to [[Moscow]]. As this it is very common in Belarus, often the driver will drivers may pick you up without being curious about you or what you are doing, sometimes no communication at all. Belarussian Belarusian people can seem gloomy at first sight, but in the end they are mostly very nice and helpful and drop you on a good spot. In rare cases a small number of older drivers might ask for some money when giving you a ride – to avoid that, tell the driver about your intention to travel for free before you sit into the car (''"Ja puteshestvuju avtostopom, bez deneg"'' [''"u"'' is pronounced as ''"oo"'' in English] – ''"I travel by hitch-hiking, not paying any money"''). Usually, just saying 'no money' works just fine too. It might be more difficult if you are more than 2 persons travelling together – in such case it would be smart to split up for some time.

When hitchhiking in Belarus, it is very likely you will to find some other people standing next to the road, waiting for a car to pick them up. Although most people do not speak English very well, it is nice to try and to make some contact. Most of them might look angry, but it's just on the outside and once you'll start talking to them they're just very friendly and warm people. Some Belarussian people Belarusians will even wait for an hour with you in a snowstorm, waiting for another car to stop :)

Russian and Baltic truck drivers are reluctant to stop for hitchhikers in Belarus while Belorussian Belarusian and Polish trucks are happy to have a company of some traveller(s). Hitchhiking at night is difficult but if you make yourself very visible you can get a ride even at two o'clock in the at night (some cars might stop just because the a driver thinks you are a police – light reflectors might give such an impression).

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 big wide enough to stop even a truck. Main roads are of in a very 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 element or 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]].

[[File:Ratmir_autostop_Minsk.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Ratmir]] hitching from [[Minsk]] to [[PolotskPolack]]]]There are only about fifteen main roads in Belarus, so if you are not staying in Belarus for long you can hitch through having just a print from any Internet source (for example, this [http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_belarus.htm]). More detailed maps can be bought in any kiosk of "BelsouzdrukBielsajuzdruk"("Белсаюздрук"), where newspapers are sold.

Belarusian number plates end with a number of the department region the car is registered in. For example, cars from * 1 - Brest* 2 - Viciebsk* 3 - Homiel* 4 - Hrodna* 5 - Minsk end with number (region)* 6 - Mahiliov* 7. - Minsk (city)See Wikipedia articles 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 '''both enter''' and '''leave''' via Minsk International Airport, can enter Belarus for up to 30 days '''without visa''' (since July 27, 2018). This does not extend to persons coming to Belarus by plane from Russia, as well as to those who would fly out via Russia (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 Belorussian MFA 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"'']<br>[https://gpk.gov.by/en/border-crossing/ ''Border crossing rules for foreign citizens''] [[File:Belarus_regional_visa-free_provisions_in_Grodno_and_Brest_regions.png|220px|thumb|right|Part of Belarus covered by Brest and Hrodna regional visa-free provision]]Additionally, you can also enter some parts of the country overland without a visa for up to 15 days. In order to visit Brest and Hrodna regions for 15 days without visas you need to get visa-free travel documents at least 72 hours before your journey to Belarus. For more details check the following link: [https://bezviz.by/en/ ''Belarus visa free'']. For an old-fashioned visa, follow this procedure: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.''

When travelling '''UPDATE (2019): As from 2nd January 2019, foreigners can register online and for free. See [http://belarusfeed.com/belarus-allows-online-registration-tourists/] for more details on how to register online. Important caveat: online registration is NOT possible if you entered Belarus from Russia. In this case, you must register at a Department for Citizenship and Migration.''private' visa  The old-fashioned way: When travelling to Belarus, you have to register in be registered with the authorities as a 'милиция' (militia) - office "temporary resident" if you stay in Minsk when staying the country for longer than 5 working business days (weekends not included'''including Saturday!''') in . Registration consists of a Soviet-style blue stamp on the back of your "Migration Card" (you'll get this at the countryborder). You get a private visa when someone invites How this is done will vary depending on where you to stay with them in Belarus, e: '''1.gHotels only'''Easiest option - they'll do it for you automatically and you won't have to worry about it. friendsIn some rare instances, couchsurfers or other acquantaincesthey may charge extra for registration. When entering Belarus, you will get a so-called ''Migration-card'2. It is a little piece of paper which is very important if you want Couchsurfing/squatting/camping'''You'll have to stay out of trouble. Visit a militia-office in visit the first local "Migration Department" within 5 business days of your stay in Belarus with this card, and be sure to take your ('''including Saturday!''') '''and with your as well as your host's passport''' with you (your host does not they don't have to be there in person , but if you don't speak Russian, it could be a lot easier as the people in the office speak hardly any english's best that they are). They will require you to You'll fill out a form and to make pay a payment twicefee(!around EUR 10). It might sound scary, but it is not much's relatively straightforward. The total amount You should register with your first host upon arrival to Belarus for the entire duration of your stay(until your visa expires) - youwon'll t have to worry about/pay will (most probably) be less for registration again. Legally, you should re-register if you stay somewhere else for more than 5 Eurodays, but no one will bother you about this... After '''3. Couchsurfing+hotels'''This is the most complicated option. Hotels will only register you for the duration of your booking. Once you check out, you've done all thisre no longer considered registered. Therefore, if you then stay with someone working through couchsurfing, you'd need to register immediately, in person, as 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 office will hotel to not stamp your migration card. You need a migration card , so that your previous registration is still valid during and after your hotel stay but this is stamped technically illegal and show it up to the border police to be able to leave receptionist's discretion. ([[user:uncle_sam01|uncle_sam01]] got his hotel stamp on a sticky note with a "you-naughty-boy" gesture from the country so receptionist...)  '''be sure Lack of and/or incorrect registration will lead to have this card 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)'and have it stamped'' Basically, too'''plan your first night in Belarus with a CS host and register with them until your visa expires. If you did not do stay at a hotel afterwards, make sure they don't stamp your migration card any more. Registration sounds way scarier than it, is and shouldn't deter you and your host can get in serious troublefrom visiting Belarus.

== Customs and Borders 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.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 Belarussian migration card. The border is open, there is most likely no control and this means, that you will recieve no Immigration card or a Entry stamp from Russia. As there is this custom 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.

=== Customs Locations (Entry Points) ==='''With Belarus is neither in the [[PolandEuropean 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://mapsgpk.googlegov.co.ukby/en/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13034915224636727578,52/ochered.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 Warsaw Bridge]" (Варшавский мост) – the biggest php border crossing point located on [[E30]] near [[Brest (Belarus)|Brestqueues]]. Crossing is possible only in a vehicle. Opposite to what you could guess, the crossing is hassle free and the police not find more unfriendly than elsewhere. Prepare yourself for long waiting time, 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://mapsgpk.googlegov.co.ukby/en/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 Kozlovichi/ detailed info about border crossings]" (Козловичи) – for trucks only. Located at the northweb-western edge site of State Border Committee of Brest.* "[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 Domachevo]" (Домачево) – vehicular crossing located some 40 kilometres south the Republic of BrestBelarus.

'''=== 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]]:'''===

'''UPDATE (2015)'''It is not allowded to cross the border on foot anymore!!! === With [[RussiaPoland]] (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. Be prepared for a long waiting time. 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.*[https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/52%C2%B028'11.0%22N+23%C2%B021'30.1%22E/@52.4697112,23.3561643,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d52.4697082!4d23.3583531?hl=en Piasčatka (BLR) / Połowce (PL)] (bel. Пясчатка, rus. Песчатка) – located 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 (PL)](bel. 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 are likely to be the only person there. There aren't 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 Belarusian side, you can either try hitch-hiking towards the nearest village of 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 Belarusian side). From Kamianiuki, you can either hitch-hike, or if you don't have time, take 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]]. There are If you want to avoid long waiting times at the Brest (Varšaŭski most (Warsaw Bridge)) / Terespol border crossing you can take a train from Terespol to Brest. It goes 3 times a day and costs 17 złoty. You can pay in złotys only but there is an exchange office at the [https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/3456263616 train station]. (August 2018) === With [[Russia]] === Please note that while there is no official bordercrossings border control between Belarus and RussiaBelarusian 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. It The border is open, there is most likely no control and this means, that you will not recieve a good idea though 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 without even with a valid visa for both countries, due to reciprocity measures undertaken by the right visa! 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]]: ===

'''With [[Ukraine]]:'''When coming from [[Kyiv]] you'll probably cross the border *[[Skytok-Novaya Guta Novaja Huta border crossing]]. It is possible to walk across this border but it will take a while as they search all your stuff on the Ukrainian side. After the Ukrainian border police there is approx. 1 km of No Man's land after which you'll reach the Belarussian side. Make sure you have a visa if you need one! Very little English is spoken. The road after the border goes straight to , near [[Homiel|Gomel]]

* [[Brest (Belarus)|Brest]] (bel: Брэст, rus: Брест, belpl: БрэстBrześć, pollt: BrześćBrestas)* [[Homiel]] (bel: Гомель, rus: Гомель, pl: Homel, lt: Gomelis)* [[Hrodna]] (bel: Гродна, rus: Гродно, pl: Grodno, lt: Gardinas)* '''[[MinskMahilioŭ]]''' (bel: МiнскМагiлёў, rus: МинскМогилёв, pl: Mohylew, lt: Mogiliavas)* '''[[MahilioŭMinsk]] ''' (bel: МагiлёўМiнск, rus: МогилёвМинск, pl: Mińsk, lt: Minskas)* [[Viciebsk]] (bel: Вiцебск, rus: Витебск, pl: Witebsk, lt: Vitebskas)

__NOTOC__{{Template:Cities Belarus}}