Belarus has added India to the list of countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for an electronic visa, easing entry procedures as the two countries look to strengthen tourism and business connectivity.
The change was approved by the Belarusian Council of Ministers on 14 September following an initiative by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The move is intended to reduce administrative procedures for Indian travellers, particularly those visiting for business meetings, investment projects and trade-related activities.
Belarus’s official visa information confirms that the country operates an e-visa system for eligible foreign nationals. The electronic visa is issued for individual, single-entry travel and can cover tourism, business trips and other specified purposes.
Direct flights planned from Minsk
The visa change comes alongside plans to establish direct air links between Belarus and India.
Belarus is working towards launching direct services from Minsk to Mumbai and Goa, which could provide a new air connection between the two markets and support both leisure and business travel.
The proposed routes would complement the easing of visa procedures and could improve access for Indian travellers seeking to visit Belarus, while creating additional opportunities for Belarusian tourism businesses to reach the Indian market.
Focus on business and tourism
The Belarusian authorities have highlighted business travel as an important benefit of the new e-visa arrangement. Moving the application process online is expected to make it easier to organise business visits, B2B negotiations and cooperation involving investment and trade projects.
The measure also has implications for leisure tourism as Belarus seeks to expand its international visitor base.
India’s inclusion in the e-visa programme represents a change in Belarus’s entry procedures for Indian nationals and comes as both countries work to develop closer travel and commercial links.
Wider visa rules updated
Alongside the addition of India to the e-visa eligible-country list, Belarus has revised other elements of its visa regulations.
The changes include updates to the supporting documents required for entry visas and the relevant document forms. Terminology and definitions have also been clarified, while other provisions have been amended to reflect changes in Belarusian legislation and visa enforcement procedures.
For Indian travellers, the combination of simplified electronic visa access and the proposed direct flights could make Belarus more accessible as a European destination, while providing new opportunities for tourism operators, travel companies and businesses in both markets.
