Customs regulations for your trip to Belarus

Regulations and customs

There are severe penalties for drug-related crime. These include prison sentences of up to 5 years for drug possession and up to 25 years for serious drug-related offences.

Homosexual relationships are permitted under Belarusian law. However, Belarus remains a conservative society and the LGBT scene is very low profile. Very few LGBT people are open about their sexuality. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.

Belarus does not recognise dual nationality. If you have both Belarusian and British passports, the authorities will consider you as Belarusian, even if you enter the country on your British passport. This limits the UK government’s ability to provide consular assistance.

You should avoid taking photographs of all government buildings, military installations and uniformed officials. You could be fined for jaywalking.

If you wish to import goods or services for charitable purposes, consult the Belarus Embassy in London for advice about local procedures and tariffs. If you think your goods will be exempt from Belarusian taxation, you should get written confirmation from the Belarus Embassy in London, confirming this.

Dutiable Items

Import regulations:

Free import by persons of 16 years and older :

• 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco products;
• 3 liters of alcoholic beverages, including beer;
• a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use;
• personal effects, up to a value of EUR 1,500.-.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:

Import of all firearms and ammunition is allowed with a license obtained prior to arrival. They must be transported as check-in baggage.

Wild Fauna and Flora:

Live animals and agricultural materials require the appropriate health and veterinary certificates (report any material in baggage to the State Plant Quarantine Service). In addition, live animals require a special permit for import.

Additional Information on regulations:

A customs declaration must be handed over when leaving Belarus or any other CIS country on an international flight. When traveling to other CIS countries (except Turkmenistan and Ukraine) there will be no customs control at both points. This will take place when leaving the other CIS country on an international flight.

Prohibited Items

• Illegal drugs
• Guns, explosives and ammunition – unless granted permission to do so
• Knives and deadly weapons
• Radioactive or hazardous materials
• Plant and plant products – unless permission to do so
• Pets and animals – unless permission to do so
• Counterfeit money and goods
• Pornographic material.

• All weapons, explosives and ammunition being imported into the country will require a special permit from the Interior Ministry before being granted access.
• Wild plants and plant products will require permission from the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry before entering the country.
• Cats and dogs will need to be accompanied by a veterinarian health certificate from the country of origin and should be issued less than ten days prior to its arrival. All pigeons are denied access into the country.

Miscellaneous (Pets, Motors, and others.)

Pets :

Cats, dogs and birds (except pigeons) must be accompanied by Veterinarian Health Certificate with seal of local Board of Health and not be issued over ten days prior to arrival. Pets must have been vaccinated against rabies within 12 months and 30 days prior to entry. Pigeons are prohibited entry. Pets may enter as passenger’s checked baggage, in the cabin or as cargo. Generally pets are not permitted in hotels.

Motor :

The fee proposed for Belarus will also depend on factors including the age of the car and its engine size. In addition, one of the provisos is that the fee should be paid in Russian rubles (RUR) with the base rate for passenger vehicles set at RUR 20,000 ($603), and light commercial vehicles and trucks set at RUR 150,000 (see the complete table below).

Representatives from the Belarusian Automotive Association (BAA) said that the utilisation fee will probably result in a 50% drop in the volume of sales of all imported cars in the country. Its chairman, Sergei Mihnevich, also complained that the fee had been set in rubles.

Currency :

Currency Import regulations

Local currency (Belarus Ruble – BYN) and foreign currencies: no restrictions. Amounts over USD 10,000. – or equivalent must be declared.

Currency Export regulations

Foreign currencies: up to the amount imported and declared. Foreign banknotes and coins must be exported within 2 months after import.