Visa free overland entry to Russia via Belarus

[grantw]

Russia have just announced that buying a ticket for the 2019 European games will give you visa free access to ticket holders.

I've just bought two tickets to the archery hoping they extend the visa free access like they did for the world cup. It was a hefty investment of £5 for two tickets for the archery.

More details (copied from the caravansstan face book page)

Visa-free overlanding? From June 10 to July 10 this year, travelers from 74 countries with a ticket to the European Games in Belarus will be able to travel visa-free overland to Belarus. Bonus: the ticket gives you visa-free access to Russia as well.

Ticket prices start from 3 euros. More info:
http://indonesia.mfa.gov.by/en/consular_issues/visas/euro2/
https://euroradio.fm/…/belarus-allow-visa-free-entry-one-mo…
https://eng.belta.by/…/russias-state-duma-ratifies-agreeme…/

The press releases still leave some room for debate. Your questions and reports are welcome on the forum: https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7034

 

[Chris]

Not to throw a spanner in the works there but does that include getting your vehicle over the border too? When we did Russia last year there were as many hoops for the vehicle as there were for ourselves and the many checks we had by the authorities at road blocks covered the trucks in detail including photographing them each time.

 

[grantw]

This post says so ...
https://euroradio.fm/en/belarus-all...5hZbqh7ByzYKD9WjKQ4l9muzLXmADeswzyfNPCl4Drmu8

"Foreign visitors holding tickets to 2019 European Games events will be able to enter Belarus without a visa via any border post by car, train or plane, Deputy Chair of the 2nd European Games 2019 Directorate Foundation Anatol Kotau said during the Minsk Forum on Friday, reports Radio Liberty."

There is more information in the carvanistan forum as it unfolds.

 

[Chris]

I agree that taken at face value, that's what it seems to say. But if you decided let's say to enter there and forget the games, travelling freely through Russia, don't bet on the fact that when you're stopped 10 miles up the road, the guards at the check point will smile and say sure, you're free to carry on, we've heard about this..

People we met still thought they lived in the USSR.

 

[grantw]

Quite possibly Chris and my intended use would definitely be pushing the limits of it.

But for anyone that was going to go by the book, actually go to the event they purchased the ticket for and then continue the journey this is a chance to enter Belarus (quite difficult to get a visa to in itself I believe) and continue on to explore Russia without the hassle and cost of the Russian visa system.

 

[Chris]

Absolutely. If it's as open as it sounds it would be daft not to take the experience.

 

[Higgy]

This post seems interesting... That was on a side note to your Original Grant..https://euroradio.fm/en/belarus-list-worlds-capital-punishment-leaders Take care Or should say Behave your self...

 

[grantw]

I don't think anywhere in that part of the world is where you want to end up on the wrong side of the law ... or you may just disappear. It's slightly better now that Boris Johnson isn't in charge of getting you out ... but only barely!

 

[moggy1968]

Russia have just announced that buying a ticket for the 2019 European games will give you visa free access to ticket holders.

I've just bought two tickets to the archery hoping they extend the visa free access like they did for the world cup. It was a hefty investment of £5 for two tickets for the archery.

More details (copied from the caravansstan face book page)

Visa-free overlanding? From June 10 to July 10 this year, travelers from 74 countries with a ticket to the European Games in Belarus will be able to travel visa-free overland to Belarus. Bonus: the ticket gives you visa-free access to Russia as well.

Ticket prices start from 3 euros. More info:
http://indonesia.mfa.gov.by/en/consular_issues/visas/euro2/
https://euroradio.fm/…/belarus-allow-visa-free-entry-one-mo…
https://eng.belta.by/…/russias-state-duma-ratifies-agreeme…/

The press releases still leave some room for debate. Your questions and reports are welcome on the forum: https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7034

I can see issues with that.
The borders from Belarus to Russia are currently effectively open borders as I understand it so your vehicle and you may not be stamped in, even if they are I can see it being problematic as border officials are not always the sharpest tools in the box and may not understand or know of any agreements in place. Even if they do there is a good chance they will tell you there isn’t just to try and get some money out of you (although the Belorussian border is mercifully bribe free, indeed offering bribes is a serious offence)
These borders are normally open only to Russian or Belorussian nationals so you may not be permitted to use them.
Once in the rozzers May equally be unaware or use it as a chance to nick you.
Then you have all the issues of language etc.
My best time crossing into Belarus overland is about 2 hours, worst 6 hours and that’s with a native Belorussian speaker!
There may also be tight time limits on the validity of visa free travel.
The guy in charge is indeed a nobber. Belarus is called the last dictatorship in Europe. When I got pulled by the rozzers there my wife was literally trembling with fear. People are routinely imprisoned without trial and rumours of torture and violence abound.
There isn’t a lot in Belarus that makes it worth the hassle tbh, Ukraine is more interesting and easier!