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'''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.'''
The old-fashioned way:
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'''
Easiest option - they'll do it for you automatically and you won't have to worry about it. In some rare instances, they may charge extra for registration, so do ask if registration is included.
'''2. Couchsurfing/squatting/camping'''
You'll have to visit the local "Migration Department" within 5 business days('''including Saturday!''') '''with your 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). TheyYou'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 You should 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 booking. 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 stay 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)'''
