Do France passport holders need a visa to visit BY?

French ordinary passport holders can visit Belarus visa-free for up to 30 days per stay (max 90 days per calendar year) under the program extended through December 31, 2026. Medical insurance covering at least EUR 10,000 valid in Belarus is required. Note: transit onward to Russia is not permitted under this regime. As of May 2026, France is one of 38 European countries covered by Belarus's unilateral visa-free entry program, which has been extended by presidential decree through December 31, 2026. French citizens holding an ordinary passport may enter without a visa for tourism or short visits for up to 30 days per entry, with the total visa-free stay not exceeding 90 days within a single calendar year. Entry is permitted via international road and rail border crossings and the eligible international airports (Minsk National, Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Mogilev, Vitebsk). Key conditions: a valid travel document, and a medical insurance policy with coverage of at least EUR 10,000 valid in Belarus for the entire stay. There is no government fee for visa-free entry. Important restrictions: the visa-free regime does NOT cover travel that transits onward to the Russian Federation (the Belarus-Russia border has no international checkpoints, so travelers must enter and exit through a recognized international border crossing), and visitors staying more than a short period must register their stay (hotels normally handle this automatically). Belarus is not in the Schengen area, so Schengen 90/180 and ETIAS rules do not apply. Travelers should still confirm current conditions before departure, as the program is reviewed annually and security/political conditions in the region can change.