What documents do Belarusians need when entering Russia by rail?
When entering the territory of the Russian Federation, citizens of Belarus are required to have a certificate of examination for coronavirus infection COVID-19 with a negative result of a laboratory examination using the PCR method, issued no later than three days before the start date of the trip. The exceptions are children under the age of five (with a certificate from accompanying persons), members of government delegations of a member state of the EAEU upon returning to their country of citizenship, members of locomotive crews and persons associated with transportation activities on railway transport.
Is it possible for a Russian to cross the Russian-Belarusian border by car?
The border of Belarus and Russia in April-May 2021 is open for air travel and by rail. Unfortunately, the roads are still partially open. The following have the right to travel to Minsk from the Russian capital: persons with Belarusian citizenship; citizens with a residence permit; those persons who are traveling to visit close relatives; citizens crossing the border for funerals; for work; for treatment; for the purpose of caring for a sick family member; for education. Also, citizens who left the country by plane or train can return back in any way.
Traveling to Belarus through land borders
Since March 2021, the departure of Russians from Russia through land borders has been limited. Only certain categories of citizens can get to Belarus by bus, car, or on foot, and the purpose of the trip must be confirmed with documents. The full list of those who are allowed to leave Russia through land checkpoints is listed in Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1291-r.
Restrictions on travel from Russia to Belarus do not apply to railway traffic: you can travel by train without any reason.
The latest changes in border crossing rules were published by the Russian government on May 18, 2021. According to them, the list of relatives to whom you can travel abroad has been expanded, owners of foreign real estate are allowed to travel, and the limit on the number of trips for the purpose of study, work, and residence permit has been lifted.
| Grounds for leaving the Russian Federation | Supporting documents |
| Study abroad | Study agreement, invitation from an educational institution, referral to study from Russia |
| Work abroad | Employment contract with a foreign employer, work permit in another country |
| Citizenship or residence permit of another country | Passport of another state, residence permit certificate |
| Real estate in another country | Property document |
| Family member living abroad: parent, child, spouse, adoptive parent, adopted child, guardian, trustee, siblings, grandparent, grandchild | — a copy of the relative’s passport; - documents confirming relationship with him: birth certificate, marriage certificate; — a document confirming the right of a relative to live abroad: registration, residence permit certificate, foreign citizenship |
| Funeral of a close relative living abroad: spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, grandparent, adoptive parent, adopted child | Death certificate and document confirming relationship with a deceased relative |
| Caring for a sick relative living abroad: parent, child, spouse, adoptive parent, adopted child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild | — medical certificate about the health status of a relative; — a document confirming relationship with a sick relative; - a document confirming the right of a relative to live abroad. |
| Treatment abroad | documents from the receiving medical organization confirming treatment (indicating the duration of treatment), or documents issued by the Russian Ministry of Health |
You cannot cross the land border for reasons that are not specified in the order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1291-r: visiting the graves of relatives, air tickets or a trip to a third country, receiving an inheritance, etc. In this case, you need to choose a train or plane.
The law does not stipulate detailed requirements for supporting documents. We recommend that you contact the border departments of the FSB of Russia for clarification, depending on the locality in which you will cross the border. If you do not have supporting documents with you, you will not be allowed to cross the border.
Also, the regulatory document does not indicate the procedure for traveling with your spouse. We recommend that you contact the Border Service of the FSB of Russia for clarification.
Bus tickets to Belarus are sold on our website. A bus ride goes like this: passengers are taken to the border, then they go through passport and customs control on their own, after which another bus picks them up and takes them further. Sometimes the control is carried out right on the bus. You must wear a mask in the salon.
Moscow → Minsk from 1485 rub.
St. Petersburg → Minsk from 1550 rub.
Moscow → Vitebsk from 1300 rub.
Restrictions on entry into Belarus
Resolutions of the Council of Ministers of Belarus No. 624 and No. 705 restrict the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons into Belarus through land checkpoints (road, railway, river, land).
The entry ban does not apply to the following categories of foreigners:
— Russians arriving in Belarus by train;
— foreigners who have the right to permanent or temporary residence in Belarus;
— foreigners who are spouses, parents or children of foreigners who have a permanent residence permit on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, or citizens of the Republic of Belarus;
— foreigners, their spouses and other accompanying persons who come to the Republic of Belarus upon notification of a serious illness or death of a close relative;
— persons who have documents confirming the right to work in Belarus;
— citizens of the Russian Federation traveling to Russia in transit through Belarus;
— foreigners arriving in Belarus at the invitation of legal entities registered on the territory of the Republic of Belarus (but not from medical or tourism organizations);
— those arriving in Belarus to receive medical care, upon presentation of documents (copies of documents) from a health care organization of the Republic of Belarus (invitation, agreement on the provision of medical care, etc.) confirming the purpose of the trip, as well as persons accompanying them;
— arriving in Belarus on a hunting tour (confirmation - an agreement for the provision of tourist services for a hunting tour with their participation).
— drivers of international flights and some other categories of citizens.
The full list of categories of foreigners who can enter Belarus through land checkpoints is listed in Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 705.
Current rules for crossing the border are published on the website of the Border Committee of Belarus.
What documents do Russians now need when entering Russia from Belarus?
On April 15, 2021, general rules for the entry of Russian citizens from the territory of foreign states into the territory of the Russian Federation came into force.
Before leaving Belarus for Russia, you must fill out a form for those arriving in the Russian Federation on the government services website, which indicates personal data and symptoms (cough, temperature, etc.). It must be filled out before crossing the border in order to be presented upon arrival at the control point. Upon returning to Russia, you must do a PCR test for coronavirus infection within three days and upload the result to government services. The test can be done in any laboratory recommended by Rospotrebnadzor. According to the new rules that came into force on April 20 this year, from May 1, all Russian citizens arriving in the territory of the Russian Federation, regardless of which country they came from, are required to take a repeat PCR test within five days after returning to Russia and also upload it to the public services portal. The difference between the first and second tests should be at least 24 hours.
We cross the border legally
The easiest way is to buy a plane ticket
. To pass customs control, the passenger must not have a temperature (37 degrees is considered a borderline value). In addition, you need a mask and gloves, and a current passport. Just in case, you can take a test for COVID-19 3 days before the flight to remove questions about your health status. The trip certainly cannot be called cheap: if you need a ticket urgently, it will cost 15 thousand rubles one way.
But the further the trip, the more pleasant the prices become.
. And for December you can buy a ticket for “only” 10 thousand rubles. Needless to say that before the pandemic prices were 2-3 times lower?
Crossing the border with the Republic of Belarus, a Russian will not encounter any difficulties
. Minsk-2 Airport is located 22 kilometers from the capital, with excellent transport links at any time of the year. According to the airport's website, thermal imagers are operational in all arrival sectors. If a passenger exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, he will be transferred to medical services.
You can take a coronavirus test on site, but it is not necessary
. It is worth adding that in the capital of Belarus, contrary to information from a number of telegram channels, the situation with medical care is normal. There is no need to wait for an ambulance for several days, and hospitals are not filled to capacity with patients. But this is for now - everything can change at any moment.
If a citizen has no contraindications for crossing the border either in Belarus or in Russia (for example, this applies to diplomats, employees with employment contracts, hospital patients), they can also travel by land.
How can a Russian who has purchased a tour to a Belarusian sanatorium cross the Russian-Belarusian border?
Crossing the border is possible upon presentation of the following documents. For Russian border guards: an agreement between the agent and the tourist plus confirmation of payment, a medical license of the sanatorium (sent after confirmation and payment of the tour), a certificate confirming the treatment of tourists in the sanatorium (sent after confirmation and payment of the tour).
For Belarusian border guards: passport, original negative PCR test for COVID-19 (in Russian, Belarusian or English). The test must be done no earlier than 72 hours before the date of crossing the state border.
Self-isolation and testing requirements
Upon entering Belarus
Foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Belarus, including Russians, must present a negative PCR test for COVID-19, taken no earlier than 72 hours before entering the country. The certificate must be in paper or electronic form, in Russian, Belarusian or English. More details in Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 705. Children under 6 years old do not need to take the test.
| A vaccination certificate does not replace the need to do a PCR test both when entering Belarus and upon returning to Russia. |
A PCR test is not required for foreigners (including Russians) who are transiting through Belarus within 24 hours. Self-isolation is also not necessary. You must have documents confirming transit within 24 hours (transport ticket). If the transit is more than 24 hours, you need to have a negative PCR test, without it you will not be allowed through the border.
Those arriving in Belarus from red zone countries, including Belarusians, must self-isolate for 10 days and also present a negative PCR test. The list of red zone countries is published on the website of the Ministry of Health of Belarus - it is called “List of countries in which cases of COVID-19 infection are registered.” All other countries belong to the green zone. Russia is now on the green list, but, for example, Turkey is on the red list. When transiting for up to 24 hours, foreigners do not need to self-isolate.
The following categories of citizens do not need to comply with quarantine or take a test upon arrival in Belarus:
- those who arrive upon notification of a serious illness or death of a close relative, and those accompanying them;
— foreigners arriving in Belarus on a hunting tour,
and some other categories of citizens. All exceptions are described in Decree No. 705.
Upon entering Russia
From May 1, 2021, according to Resolution No. 13 of the Chief Sanitary Doctor of Russia, Russians arriving in the Russian Federation by any means of transport must:
- before returning to the Russian Federation at State Services, fill out an online form;
- upon arrival in Russia from any country, including Belarus, take 2 PCR tests: the first within 3 days, the second within 5 days from the date of entry, at least 1 day must pass between tests. The results must be uploaded to State Services; until this point, self-isolate.
Russians of any age, including children, need to do PCR tests upon arrival in Russia, and not in Belarus. If you have a vaccination certificate, PCR tests still need to be done.
If you have questions about the tests or filling out the questionnaire, you can get clarification via the Rospotrebnadzor hotline: 8-800-555-49-43
.
