Belarus opens its boarders for citizens of Estonia, Brazil and Macau
A number of laws that have ratified international agreements in the field of migration was adopted on October 18, 2016:
- the Law of 18.11.2016, No. 426- З ratified the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China on mutual abolition of visas (hereinafter - the Agreement with Macao);
-the Law of 18.11.2016, No. 427- З ratified the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil on visa abolition for citizens of both countries (hereinafter - the Agreement with Brazil);
- the Law of 18.11.2016, No. 428- З ratified “Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Estonia on some aspects of entry, stay and departure of persons” (hereinafter - the Agreement with Estonia).
These Agreements are aimed at further development of bilateral relations between states and facilitate reciprocal travels of citizens.
The most important and preferential provisions are reviewed in this material.
Agreement with Estonia
The Agreement with Estonia covers some aspects of entry, stay and departure of citizens of both states from the territory of both countries.
The most significant change is about the temporary stay of citizens.
Now the citizens of Estonia, as well as stateless persons, documented with non-citizen passports of the Republic of Estonia have the right to stay without registration in the territory of Belarus within 30 days from the date of entry, providing they have a migration card, duly executed at the time of entry into Belarus.
Also, the citizens of Belarus and stateless persons residing in the territory of Belarus are no longer obliged to register their stay in the territory of Estonia in case of visiting Estonia with visa.
The Agreement with Estonia entered into force on November 4, 2016.
Agreement with Brazil
The Agreement with Brazil provides for mutual abolition of visas for citizens of Belarus and Brazil for short-term trips with regular passports. Visa abolition is provided for travels for specific purposes: transit, tourism and business trips.
Transit is an entry, going via a fixed route and departure from the territory of the state for going to a different destination.
Tourism is travel for recreational purposes, as well as for the cognitive, cultural and other purposes without carrying out income-producing activities.
Business trip is a trip of citizens who are not engaged in income-producing activities in the territory of Belarus/Brazil, respectively, in order to study economic and trade cooperation opportunities, to participate at meetings and sign contracts, as well as perform activities in the sphere of management or administration.
The Agreement on visa abolition for travels for the above mentioned purposes applies only to short-term travels- for a period not exceeding 90 days per calendar year from the date of the first entry. This period may be extended once for a period not exceeding 90 days.
If citizens of both countries intend to stay in the territory of Belarus / Brazil, respectively, more than 90 days, to carry out income-generating activities, including labor activities, to be involved in research, training, studies and social work, as well as to provide technical support, to be engaged in missionary, religious, artistic activities, they are required to obtain the necessary visa according to the procedure established by the laws of the countries.
The Agreement with Brazil will enter into force on November 25, 2016.
Agreement with the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
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The Agreement with Macaoon mutual abolition of visas exempts holders of valid travel documents from the requirement to obtain visas for entry, exit and transit in the territory of Belarus and of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, respectively.
The condition - continuous stay does not exceed 30 days from the date of entry. And the total duration of stay should not exceed 90 days within one calendar year.
The citizens are required to obtain a visa when staying in the territory of Belarus or the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China continuously for more than 30 days (the norm does not apply to members of crews of vehicles engaged in international transport of goods and passengers).
For residents of Belarus valid documents for travel are:
- regular, diplomatic, service passport of the citizen of the Republic of Belarus;
- certificate for return to the Republic of Belarus;
- national identity card of a seaman of the Republic of Belarus (in the presence of a muster roll or an extract from it);
- an aircraft crew member certificate (applies only in case of performance of his or her official duties).
For citizens of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China valid documents for travel are a passport of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, a travel document of this Special Region.
The Agreement with Macao has not come into force yet. According to the mechanism established in the agreement, it will occur in 30 days after performance of necessary domestic procedures by the parties.
How we can help you
REVERA specialists are ready to advise you on any issues of migration legislation, including issues arising in the field of business and labor migration, as well as to support administrative procedures connected with the receipt of necessary permits.
