Gizmo
Registered user
Ok Folks re my earlier post looking for advice, I am now in Belarus and can pass on some "How To" advice.
1. Make sure you have a valid visa to enter Belarus before leaving Poland. These are easy to obtain from the Belarus embassy in london before you depart.
You have two choices, you can pay a tourist agency for an invite to belarus and they will arrange your first night in a hotel for you. You must register your tourist visa in every location you stay and it must be done within 3 days of arrival. The hotel will do this for you and its convenient, especially if you are touring around.
The second choice is to apply for a visitor visa and you will have to go to the local police station to register the visa yourself. A bit more complicated as it requires going to the cop shop, getting a voucher, then going to the bank to pay the fee mentioned on the voucher and then returning to the cop shop with the receipt to confirm payment of the fee. Your visa will then be registered. Tiresome if you are changing location a lot as you must do it in each location.
2. Drive straight to the top of the queue. I did and there was no hassle.
3. When you cross the border from Poland you will cross a bridge and stop at the first Belarussian checkpoint. Hand in your vehicle docs and they will issue a "Talon"(voucher) with the vehicle details on it. Guard this with your life.
4.Proceed to the next checkpoint area. Here there are 2 checks. Green uniforms are border guards. You will need to fill out an immigration card in duplicate and give it with your passport to them. If you are not from the UK you will also need to buy compulsory health insurance in the portacabins located to the right of the checkpoint assembly area before submitting your passport for clearance. Passport+valid visa+ health Ins+ duplicated immigration card = cleared to enter Belarus
5. Now its time to clear your vehicle. The customs people wear a blue uniform.Join the Red Queue and have a look along the document holders located on the roof support girders at each portacabin clearance point. You will find customs declaration forms in russian, english, german and polish. Take two of your choice and fill both out with the same info. Proceed ever so slowly with the queue through the red channel and submit the customs forms+Talon+greencard+vehicle docs to a customs official. All going well you will collect the necessary stamps and receive your docs back.
5. Proceed to the motor vehicle clearance portacabin and submit your green card +talon+customs docs and your Talon will receive the all important stamp that lets you escape this torture.
6. Before you proceed to the last and final barrier check that you have
Passport
Immigration card
Original Vehicle Docs
Customs Form x 1. You will need this when leaving Belarus.The other is retained as proof of entry and customs declaration of the motor vehicle.
The All important "Talon"
7. Proceed to the last checkpoint and hand over the Talon and the barrier will magically rise and its welcome to Belarus.
8. If you do not want to complicate you life with the most tortuous procedures known to man, guard your immigration card and the customs form with your life. These are your keys to exit Belarus.
Other than that, enjoy your stay and watch your speed, like all post soviet areas they like to enforce the rules.
1. Make sure you have a valid visa to enter Belarus before leaving Poland. These are easy to obtain from the Belarus embassy in london before you depart.
You have two choices, you can pay a tourist agency for an invite to belarus and they will arrange your first night in a hotel for you. You must register your tourist visa in every location you stay and it must be done within 3 days of arrival. The hotel will do this for you and its convenient, especially if you are touring around.
The second choice is to apply for a visitor visa and you will have to go to the local police station to register the visa yourself. A bit more complicated as it requires going to the cop shop, getting a voucher, then going to the bank to pay the fee mentioned on the voucher and then returning to the cop shop with the receipt to confirm payment of the fee. Your visa will then be registered. Tiresome if you are changing location a lot as you must do it in each location.
2. Drive straight to the top of the queue. I did and there was no hassle.
3. When you cross the border from Poland you will cross a bridge and stop at the first Belarussian checkpoint. Hand in your vehicle docs and they will issue a "Talon"(voucher) with the vehicle details on it. Guard this with your life.
4.Proceed to the next checkpoint area. Here there are 2 checks. Green uniforms are border guards. You will need to fill out an immigration card in duplicate and give it with your passport to them. If you are not from the UK you will also need to buy compulsory health insurance in the portacabins located to the right of the checkpoint assembly area before submitting your passport for clearance. Passport+valid visa+ health Ins+ duplicated immigration card = cleared to enter Belarus
5. Now its time to clear your vehicle. The customs people wear a blue uniform.Join the Red Queue and have a look along the document holders located on the roof support girders at each portacabin clearance point. You will find customs declaration forms in russian, english, german and polish. Take two of your choice and fill both out with the same info. Proceed ever so slowly with the queue through the red channel and submit the customs forms+Talon+greencard+vehicle docs to a customs official. All going well you will collect the necessary stamps and receive your docs back.
5. Proceed to the motor vehicle clearance portacabin and submit your green card +talon+customs docs and your Talon will receive the all important stamp that lets you escape this torture.
6. Before you proceed to the last and final barrier check that you have
Passport
Immigration card
Original Vehicle Docs
Customs Form x 1. You will need this when leaving Belarus.The other is retained as proof of entry and customs declaration of the motor vehicle.
The All important "Talon"
7. Proceed to the last checkpoint and hand over the Talon and the barrier will magically rise and its welcome to Belarus.
8. If you do not want to complicate you life with the most tortuous procedures known to man, guard your immigration card and the customs form with your life. These are your keys to exit Belarus.
Other than that, enjoy your stay and watch your speed, like all post soviet areas they like to enforce the rules.
