Last updated: 13 June, 2022
Link to Embassy Minsk COVID-19 Alerts
(Note – NEW information is in bold)
*** As of 12:01 a.m. EDT June 12, 2022, the CDC order requiring all persons aged two and above to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States, is rescinded. Starting at 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 12, 2022, the CDC will no longer order air passengers to show a negative COVID-19 test result, or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19, prior to boarding a flight to the United States. Of note, CDC’s Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect. For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.
Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.
Country-Specific Information:
As of June 28, 2021, The Department of State has issued a Travel Advisory of “Level 4: Do Not Travel” for Belarus, advising U.S. citizens not to travel to Belarus due to the arbitrary enforcement of laws and risk of detention, and to reconsider travel due to COVID–19 and related entry restrictions.
On July 21, 2021, the Belarus Ministry of Health reported 436,595 registered cases of COVID-19 in Belarus; 430,287 patients have recovered, and 3,355 individuals have died. According to the Ministry of Health, Belarus has conducted more than 7,134,095 tests since January 23, 2020. Updated information is available on the Ministry’s COVID-19 website: stopcovid.belta.by.
As of April 7, 2020, the Government of Belarus has implemented social distancing measures in Minsk. Please check your local authorities for city-specific guidelines for your locality. This link contains the full list of measures (https://minsk.gov.by/ru/news/new/2020/04/08/704/).
COVID-19 Testing:
- Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in Belarus? Yes
- If so, are test results reliably available within 72 hours? Yes
- Tests can be obtained at the airport or health clinics in several cities. It can take several days to weeks to schedule a test, and payment must be made at the time of the test, by the recipient. Depending on the location, test results can be in either Russian, English, or both. Test results will typically be a paper copy.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
- Has the government of Belarus approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use? Yes
- Are vaccines available in Belarus for U.S. citizens to receive? Yes
- Which vaccines are available in Belarus? Sputnik V (Russian) and Vero Cell (Chinese)
- Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.
- The U.S. government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes. However, entry is only allowed through Minsk National Airport in most cases. With very few, limited exceptions, land borders are currently closed to U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens must comply with all normal entry guidelines.
Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and serology) required for entry? Yes, all travelers (other than Belarusian citizens and permanent residents) age 6 and above are required to present documentation of a negative PCR test performed within 3 days of entering.
Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes.
Due to global travel restrictions, the Government of Belarus allows visa-free travelers to request an extension of stay from 30 days to 90 days. Extension requests must be made in person at the local immigration office where the traveler is registered. Immigration officials evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis. Ministry of Interior Immigration offices will not approve online extension requests. Exit visas can be obtained at Minsk National Airport if a traveler’s flight has been unexpectedly canceled or changed.
On June 29, at the request of the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a show cause order to prohibit the sale of direct passenger air transportation, including air transportation on an interline basis (e.g. tickets booked through one airline that contain flights operated by multiple airlines), between the United States and Belarus. Once the DOT order becomes final, only direct air transportation deemed to be in the national interest of the United States, including on humanitarian or national security grounds, may be excepted. For more information, read the Department of Transportation Order.
Please check the travel requirements for each country you will be transiting. Some countries are now requiring negative COVID PCR tests to transit airports within their borders, and these requirements can change with little advance notice. We recommend you book your flight using a travel agency to ensure that you are ticketed through to your final destination in the United States.
Travel requirements and restrictions often change. Please view the U.S. Embassy COVID-19 page for any country you plan to travel through. U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, as well as their immediate family members (this includes spouses and parents of minor children, but does not include parents of adult American citizens or LPRs), may continue to travel from Europe to the United States, and should follow CDC guidelines to self-quarantine after returning to the U.S. Flights from the Schengen zone will be directed to 15 U.S. airports where arriving passengers will go through additional health screenings. More information on travel restrictions and arrival in the U.S. can be found on the Department of Homeland Security Website.
Temperature screening measures are in place at Minsk National Airport.
Neighboring countries (Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia) are beginning to reopen land borders with some neighboring countries; however, land borders with Belarus remain closed until further notice.
No plans for border closures in Belarus have been announced, but all travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. The website of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus will have current information about the status of Belarusian border controls.
Movement Restrictions
Is a curfew in place? No. There are no COVID-related curfews in place at this time.
Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No. There are no COVID-related restrictions on travel within Belarus.
Quarantine Information:
Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes, if they are not vaccinated. With its directive on July 15, 2021, Belarus’s Council of Ministers reduced the self-isolation period for those who have been in contact with people infected with the coronavirus and those arriving from countries on the government’s high-risk list from 10 to seven days.
The directive abolished the self-isolation requirement for travelers who were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus between one month and 12 months before arriving in Belarus. In addition, the cabinet lifted the self-isolation requirement for foreign citizens who arrive in Belarus to get inoculated against the coronavirus.
Unvaccinated travelers MUST complete the seven-day quarantine in Belarus. You must plan to remain in the country for the entire seven days and will not be allowed to depart Belarus until after the quarantine has ended.
Exceptions to self-isolation requirements include the following categories of travelers: diplomats and their families, heads and members of official delegations, drivers of international road transport vehicles, crew members of international transport vehicles, such as trains, boats, and aircraft, people transiting Belarus and remaining in the Belarus less than24 hours, and people transporting stem cells or organs for transplant.
The Government of Belarus provides guidelines for individuals self-isolating. During the seven days of quarantine, people may not leave their residence for any reason, including work or study, with the exception of visiting the nearest grocery store or pharmacy. If it is necessary to leave self-isolation, the use of a mask is required, as well as avoiding contact with other persons. Health officials may visit the self-identified quarantine location, to confirm individuals are abiding by the requirements, with potential legal ramifications for failure to comply.
As of April 10, close contacts of persons who test positive for the COVID-19 virus are required to self-quarantine for 14-days. Details of Belarus’ quarantine requirements can be found in Russian on the website of the Belarus Council of Ministers. The quarantine requirement does not apply to travelers transporting cargo, air crew, or diplomats. Visit the website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus for additional information on these measures.
Note that travelers arriving in Belarus with a transit visa are not subject to quarantine if they depart the country within 48 hours.
Transportation Options:
Are commercial flights operating? Yes, but air travel between the United States and Belarus is currently limited by the Department of Transportation Order described above. Please note, all airlines require passengers to wear masks in the boarding area, and onboard the plane, at all times.
Is public transportation operating? Yes. No requirements currently exist for passengers to wear masks or maintain social distancing while on board.
Consular Operations:
Currently, our Consular section offers all American Citizen Services, with limitations in the number and timing of appointments available each day. Our Consular section offers only Mission-critical and Emergency non-immigrant visa appointments on a limited basis. More information on non-immigrant visa services can be found here: https://by.usembassy.gov/consular-covid-faq/
Local Resources:
The Ministry of Health provides Russian language updates on its telegram channel at: https://web.telegram.org/#/im?p=@minzdravbelarus and via the Government of Belarus’ Covid-19 website: stopcovid.belta.by
Other links:
- COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
- CDC page on COVID-19
- State.gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page
- Please follow us on social media for additional COVID-19 information
