Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit BY?

UK ordinary passport holders can visit Belarus visa-free for up to 30 days per entry (maximum 90 days per calendar year), under an arrangement extended until 31 December 2026. You must show proof of medical insurance covering at least EUR 10,000 and funds of about EUR 25 per day. The visa-free rule does NOT apply if you travel directly to or from Russia. As of 31 May 2026, British nationals holding an ordinary passport may enter Belarus without a visa for short tourist or business visits of up to 30 days per entry, capped at 90 days total in a calendar year. Belarus introduced this unilateral visa-free regime for citizens of 35-38 European states (including the UK) and has repeatedly extended it; the current extension runs until 31 December 2026. Entry is permitted at any international border crossing point, including Minsk National Airport. Travelers must carry a passport valid at least 3 months from arrival, documentary proof of medical insurance worth at least EUR 10,000 valid in Belarus, and proof of funds (roughly EUR 25 per day). A critical exception applies: the visa-free arrangement does NOT cover entry to or exit from Belarus directly via Russia, because the Belarus-Russia border has no formal international checkpoints; such travel requires a visa. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Belarus, and the Ukraine border is closed; the Poland border reopened on 25 September 2025. Longer stays, work, study or residence require a national visa from the Belarusian Embassy in London.