Crossing the Russia-Belarus border by car in 2021

Such close partnership relations have developed between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, mainly thanks to active negotiations between V. Putin and A. Lukashenko, that citizens of both powers often believe that the existence of a border between the countries is of a formal nature. In fact, this is not the case, although there are certain concessions on the part of both sides. We suggest you figure out how to cross the Russia-Belarus border by car in 2021, what you need to consider before stopping at the border checkpoint.

Rules for entry into Belarus for Russian citizens in 2021

Important!

At the Russia-Belarus border you can pay in Russian rubles, but it is better to exchange Russian rubles for Belarusian rubles in advance - Russian currency will not be accepted inside the country, and currency exchange at the border is unprofitable due to the exchange rate.

Russian citizens on the territory of the Republic of Belarus have the right to the following actions:

• transit travel (i.e. to travel to another country through the territory of Belarus);
• free movement throughout the territory of the Republic of Belarus, including by transport;
• stay in the country with relatives or for the purpose of tourism without registration for 30 days;
• stay and residence in the Republic of Belarus for an unlimited time if you have registration on the territory of Belarus (registration is handled by the migration service);
• registration of a residence permit without a period of residence, i.e. only by application.

Before traveling to the Republic of Belarus from Russia, it is recommended to pay attention to the following points:

1. If you have only an internal passport of the Russian Federation, the Belarusian authorities allow you to enter the country only for the purpose of tourism and visiting family members. However, you cannot stay in the country for more than 90 calendar days.
2. If you need to come to Belarus for a period of more than 90 days, you will have to obtain permission from the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus.
3. Without registration, citizens of the Russian Federation are allowed to stay in the country for no more than a month (30 days).

Transit through Belarus

To cross the border with the republic by plane or train, you will not need a transit visa. When heading to another state, citizens of the Russian Federation can freely stay on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. They will only need permits to enter the final point of the route.

If Russians travel through Belarus by train for the purpose of tourism, they are not required to go through border control.

Travel for children under 5 years of age when departing from Belarusian railway stations is free if only one minor is present with their parents on the trip. Otherwise, the ticket will cost 35% of the adult price. A child under 10 years old is prohibited from traveling alone by rail in the Republic of Belarus.

The cost of the trip depends on the carrier. For example, the price for a child under 2 years old on a Belarusian plane is 10% of the full ticket, and for minors under 12 years old there is a 25% discount. Children travel on public transport in the Republic of Belarus for free. The Russian health insurance policy is considered invalid in Belarus, but in emergency cases medical care is provided there.

List of border crossing points between Russia and Belarus

6 railways and 13 highways pass through the joint borders of the Russian Federation and Belarus. There are only three ways to leave the Russian Federation and enter Belarus:

1. Walk through the pedestrian border crossing.
2. By car through the border checkpoint (from the Russian side - through checkpoints in the Pskov, Smolensk, Bryansk regions).
3. By train by rail.

Passport and customs control on the Russia-Belarus border can be passed at border crossing points. Information about where they are located is presented in tabular form:

Checkpoints

Let's look at the main bypass travel options between countries:

1. Checkpoint Krasnoe - Radish. This route is the busiest, since the route from Brest to Moscow passes there. It is located between two villages – Radki and Krasnaya Gorka.

Many people arriving by car still have their documents checked, and sometimes border posts are set up near the railway tracks.

Other foreigners, primarily those who are going to work, are trying to get to Belarus along the bypass road.

1. GP Krasny - Lyady. Residents of the Smolensk region know that the easiest bypass route is this: driving past the settlement of Krasny and the village of Bolshaya Dobraya in the village. Lyady (Belarus). There is a branch of an insurance company in this area. According to the testimony of its employees, changes in the border zone have not yet affected the business, since the clients were mainly citizens of the Republic of Belarus.

According to experts, it is necessary to quickly resolve the issue of the Russian-Belarusian border, which will be beneficial for the residents of both countries. Workers at roadside service stations, gas stations and cafes share the same opinion, since there are fewer foreigners among their visitors, and this can reduce profits.

Crossing the Russia-Belarus border (the procedure regardless of the side of the border line)

When crossing a border checkpoint by car, you must adhere to the procedure established by the authorities:

1. Take a turn (if the place was reserved on the border committee portal, this stage will be completed faster).
2. Park the car at the stop line (at this stage the border guard’s dog will sniff the car).
3. Submit documents for verification (after removing any banknotes lying there from the papers): national passport, vehicle registration certificate, driver’s license, medical insurance worth 300-500 rubles, etc. (the full list will be given below).
4. Drive the car to the place of customs control.
5. Stop near the border guard booth (in front of the special line).
6. Enter into a neighboring state.

Documents for trouble-free crossing of the Russia-Belarus border by car in 2021

Border service officers ask citizens of the Russian Federation to present a set of documents when entering the Republic of Belarus, which includes:

To Belarus by car

If you choose a bus or car as transport for traveling across the border, you must comply with certain requirements. Residents of the Russian Federation will need to provide a document proving they have permission to drive this car.

If you stay in the republic for more than 30 days, you do not need to register there. A Russian may also not apply for a Belarusian medical policy. By law, you can drive a car in this country from the age of 18, and a moped or scooter from the age of 16, of course, if you have a license.

Moving across the border by car assumes that the driver has with him:

• rights;
• vehicle registration document;
• car insurance policy.

Before crossing the line, you need to get a green card. This is a civil liability insurance policy for a car within other states, its analogue is our OSAGO. According to this document, the car owner will be compensated for property losses and medical expenses if an accident occurs.

A “green” card can be issued directly upon entering the territory of the Republic of Belarus or in advance.

If a foreigner ends up in the republic without this document, he will be fined $200.

The price of a green card for a car (passenger car) valid for two weeks is about 800 rubles, and insurance for a year will be approximately 5000. It is advisable to receive the mentioned card before crossing the border, you can save money on this.

The Green Card system operates in 40 countries, so this procedure is common for many modern citizens. The only difference: the price of insurance taking into account full coverage, valid only within the CIS, is 3 times cheaper.

Customs control at the Russia-Belarus border

Important!

If the number of things imported into Belarus from Russia turns out to be too much (above the established norm), you will have to pay a state duty in the amount of 60% of the cost of the “extra” items.

Let's study the list of things that can and cannot be transported across the Russia-Belarus border, and also pay attention to the restrictions on the quantity and weight of imported luggage:

Important!

Without filling out a customs declaration, a Russian can bring no more than $3,000 into Russia. If the amount exceeds 3 thousand dollars, it will have to be declared.

“The queue is usually only for trucks; passenger vehicles pass in the two left lanes. A Russian transport inspector is on duty, near whom you should slow down. No need to stop. No one will check or mark your passport, since passport and customs control at the border with Belarus has been abolished.”

Report on the TV channel “Moscow 24”

Fast crossing of the Russia-Belarus border by car (electronic queue)

Important!

Reserving a seat using an electronic queue is only possible when passing through the Grigorovshchina, Kotlovka, and Brest checkpoints.

Read also:  Hotline of the Russian Border Service: 24-hour telephone

If a Russian is traveling to the Republic of Belarus through the Brest, Grigorovshchina or Kotlovka checkpoints, he can book a place in the queue through the electronic queue service

. In order to speed up the border crossing process, you should visit the portal of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus:

1. Open the Internet resource of the Border Committee.
2. Register on the site.
3. Go to the “Service for reserving a place in the queue at the border” section.
4. Choose a free or paid reservation.
5. Make a reservation - without payment or by paying the amount indicated on the website ( from 560 to 700 rubles
   , depending on the day of the week). When booking, only the hour of expected arrival at the border is indicated.

Important!

You can reserve your place in the queue no later than 3 hours before crossing the border. Reservations can be made 90 calendar days before the date of passage through the checkpoint.

Rules for those who cross the Russia-Belarus border by car

To avoid problems at the border between Russia and the Republic of Belarus, be sure to pay attention to the rules below, failure to comply with which will result in trouble and denial of entry into the country

. When passing border and customs control it is strictly prohibited:

• load anything into a vehicle or, conversely, unload something from the body/trunk (following deportation and/or a fine in accordance with Law of April 21, 2003 No. 194-Z);
• generally park your personal car on the territory of the checkpoint if the driver does not intend to cross the Russia-Belarus border;
• leave the vehicle or allow passengers to exit;
• film what is happening at the checkpoint with a video camera (phone, tablet, laptop and other digital devices);
• offer checkpoint employees cash and material assets in payment for services (or for assistance in anything);
• submit documents, including banknotes, for verification.

Common mistakes on the topic “Crossing the Russia-Belarus border by car in 2021”

Error:

The Russian believes that nothing bad will happen if the procedure for entering Belarus and leaving the Republic of Belarus is not followed - he will be able to cross the border another time, knowing the intricacies of customs control.

In fact, if a citizen of the Russian Federation is denied entry into the Republic of Belarus by the border service, the Russian will automatically be blacklisted as travelers, and the next attempt to cross the border is unlikely to be successful.

Error:

A Russian man is trying to cross the border of Belarus with his dog, a mongrel without documents.

It is possible to transport a pet across the border with Belarus, but only if there is a veterinary certificate stating that it has no diseases.

Employment in Belarus

To work in the Republic of Belarus, it is not necessary to learn the national language, since Russian is also the state language there. It is important to obtain a temporary registration, which can be provided by relatives, friends or apartment landlords. Housing in the state is affordable, since the cost of real estate there is low.

Documents on higher and secondary education received in Russia are accepted in Belarus, and Russian work experience is calculated. You won’t have to expect high earnings in the Republic of Belarus; incomes there are lower than in Russia, but living costs are much lower.

People who have been in the republic for many years can count on obtaining citizenship. However, the laws of Belarus do not allow having a second citizenship, so it is impossible to use both Belarusian and Russian passports.