Belarus sees over 67,000 visa-waiver visitors from Europe in 2025

Key Takeaways

• Belarus hosted 67,514 European visa-waiver visitors between January 1 and May 5, 2025.
• Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland account for most visa-waiver entries, enjoying a 90-day stay per trip.
• Belarus’ program, valid through December 31, 2025, covers citizens from 38 European countries with varying stay periods.

Belarus 🇧🇾 has gained attention in 2025 as it continues to offer a visa-waiver program to travelers from Europe 🇪🇺. This program allows many people from nearby and across the continent to visit the country without needing a visa for certain periods. Breaking down the available data and trends shows not only the numbers, but also the broader impact and reasons behind these visitor flows. As reported by VisaVerge.com, understanding the movement of visa-waiver visitors and the rules guiding their travel reveals important points for travelers, policymakers, and anyone interested in the movement of people across borders.

Introduction: Understanding Belarus’ Visa-Waiver Visitor Trends

Since early 2025, Belarus 🇧🇾 has documented the movement of travelers from Europe 🇪🇺 under its visa-waiver program. The program is part of Belarus’ efforts to open up to visitors from 38 European countries. According to the most recent official report from May 5, 2025, Belarus had hosted 67,514 visa-waiver visitors from Europe since the start of the year (January 1, 2025). This program allows most visitors up to 30 days per entry, but for people from Latvia 🇱🇻, Lithuania 🇱🇹, and Poland 🇵🇱, the limit is up to 90 days per entry.

Most of these visitors came from Belarus’ nearest neighbors—Lithuania 🇱🇹, Latvia 🇱🇻, and Poland 🇵🇱—countries that have slightly different rules, as explained further below.

Summary of Key Findings

• Belarus 🇧🇾 hosted 67,514 visa-waiver visitors from Europe 🇪🇺 from January 1 to May 5, 2025.
• The majority came from Lithuania 🇱🇹, Latvia 🇱🇻, and Poland 🇵🇱.
• The visa-waiver program covers citizens from 38 European countries.
• There are higher visit numbers during the summer and holiday seasons (20,000–25,000 per month).
• Monthly average: about 18,000 European visitors.
• Since April 15, 2022, the total number of European visa-waiver visitors to Belarus reached 1,099,249 by May 2025.
• The “over 71,000 visa-waiver visitors” claim is not supported by official reports; the most recent data gives a figure of 67,514 as of May 5, 2025.

Sources: All data is drawn from Belarusian State Border Committee releases, as reproduced in public news sources and the official Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa information page.

Structure of the Visa-Waiver Program in Belarus

Eligibility and Stay Periods

The Belarusian visa-waiver program, now set to run until December 31, 2025, allows people from 38 European countries to enter the country without needing a traditional visa.

• Most travelers can stay in Belarus 🇧🇾 for up to 30 consecutive days per visit, with a limit of 90 days total in a calendar year.
• Citizens of Latvia 🇱🇻, Lithuania 🇱🇹, and Poland 🇵🇱 get special privileges: they can stay up to 90 days per entry, possibly reflecting close geographic, cultural, and historical ties.

Table: Number of Visitors by Citizenship (From April 15, 2022, to May 5, 2025)

*Estimate based on total reported number minus the sum for Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland.

Who Uses the Visa-Waiver Most?

The largest groups visiting Belarus 🇧🇾 using the visa-waiver come from neighboring countries:

• Lithuania 🇱🇹 leads by a wide margin with over 600,000 visitors since the program’s 2022 start.
• Latvia 🇱🇻 follows, and
• Poland 🇵🇱 rounds out the top three.

These numbers show that easier border crossing matters most for those who live nearby. Reasons likely include family visits, cross-border shopping, tourism, and business.

Monthly and Seasonal Visitor Flows

Belarus 🇧🇾 sees about 18,000 visa-waiver visitors from Europe 🇪🇺 every month. However, in peak times—such as summer months or during major holidays—monthly numbers rise to between 20,000 and 25,000. This pattern matches common travel trends seen in other parts of Europe as well.

Graph Description: If we were to chart these numbers, you’d see a steady upward curve from January into May, with jumps during the warmer months and drops in the winter.

Yearly Progression of Visitor Numbers

Starting from 15,238 visitors by February 5, 2025, to 67,514 by May 5, 2025, the total number climbed rapidly. Nearly 20,000 visas were granted in just two months from early March to early May. This suggests that interest in travel to Belarus is rising, and that more people are taking advantage of the easier entry rules.

Program Timeline: Extension and Background

The visa-waiver program began on April 15, 2022. Belarus 🇧🇾 decided to extend the visa-waiver until at least December 31, 2025. This drew more visitors, especially as other destinations in Europe 🇪🇺 have made crossing borders harder or have stricter checks in place for certain travelers.

The extension was announced partly to keep travel and business trips easy for people between Belarus and European neighbors. The program’s rules are kept clear and published online, for instance on the Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, making it easier for people to plan trips.

Why Are So Many Europeans Visiting Belarus Without a Visa?

There are several possible reasons for the continued rise in visa-waiver visitors:

1. Border Shopping and Everyday Travel: For many people from Lithuania 🇱🇹, Latvia 🇱🇻, and Poland 🇵🇱, crossing into Belarus 🇧🇾 can be a normal part of life, whether for shopping, visiting family, or working.
2. Simple Rules: The visa-waiver process removes the paperwork and wait time involved in applying for a regular visa.
3. Economic Factors: People may find it cheaper to buy goods, access services, or enjoy tourism in Belarus compared with prices in their own countries.
4. Political Considerations: Some travelers might view Belarus as a less busy or less expensive alternative to other European tourist destinations.

Implications for Belarus

The program’s popularity means Belarus 🇧🇾 gains more income from travel, shopping, and services that these visitors use. Nearby towns and border cities especially benefit from higher trade and travel.

For the Belarusian government, the traffic shows that its policy of relaxing entry rules works to pull people in, despite changes in broader political relations in Europe. It’s also possible that these visits help people from both Belarus and neighboring European countries keep personal and business ties strong even as higher-level politics remain tense.

How Does This Compare to Past Years?

Since the program’s introduction in April 2022, over 1,099,249 visa-waiver visitors from Europe have been logged up to May 2025. Comparisons to the latest numbers show a strong, steady growth in cross-border movement. For example:

• The first year likely saw fewer travelers as the program was new.
• By early 2025, word had spread about the easier border crossing. Numbers climbed quickly through spring, a time when both travel and tourism increase naturally.

Unexpected or Noteworthy Findings

One notable detail is the claim that “over 71,000 visa-waiver visitors” had entered Belarus in early 2025. This claim is not supported by official data. Instead, as of the last report (May 5), 67,514 is the precise figure.

Also, the fact that almost all of the visa-waiver visitors come from just three countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Poland) points to the program’s space for growth with other European countries. Factors like distance, available travel options, and personal ties likely explain the concentration.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that the lasting strength of these visitor numbers signals trust in the system and the appeal of Belarus for short and medium-term visits, especially for neighboring citizens.

Potential Factors Affecting Travel Trends

Several key points might shape these visitor patterns:

• Ease of Land Crossings: Land borders are easier to cross for nearby travelers, compared to flying from further away.
• Social Networks: Many families and businesses are spread across these borders.
• Changing Rules Elsewhere: Travel restrictions or changes in other European countries can push some people to choose Belarus for their trips.

However, further growth might depend on improving transportation from more distant European countries and building up reasons for those travelers to come, like events or business opportunities.

Limitations and Data Collection Notes

While the figures presented are official, all travelers must pass through checkpoints tracked by the State Border Committee to be counted as visa-waiver visitors. This could mean that some short or informal visits might not be captured if they don’t use standard border crossings.

Additionally, seasonal factors and outside events (such as public health rules or sudden political changes) could have quick, large effects on travel numbers, but these aren’t always easy to predict from monthly data alone.

Special Program Conditions

The visa-waiver program’s most important details include:

• Who Qualifies: Passport holders from 38 European countries.
• Stay Limits: Most get up to 30 days per trip, with a 90-day yearly maximum.
• Exceptions: Citizens of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland can stay up to 90 days per trip.
• Purpose of Visit: The program is for tourism, family, and short business trips, not for work or long-term stays.
• Entry Requirements: Travelers must enter and leave through official border checkpoints and have insurance.

Those interested in the full list of countries, eligible passport types, or special rules can check the Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-waiver page.

Broader Context: Visa-Free Travel in Europe

Many European countries offer different forms of visa-free or visa-waiver travel between them, especially those in the Schengen area. Belarus 🇧🇾 sits outside this zone, so its program works differently but shares some of the same goals: making travel easier, encouraging tourism and trade, and keeping cross-border ties strong.

Belarus’ approach is unique because it gives a longer stay period to people from three of its nearest neighbors. This helps keep important ties with these countries, even when political relationships might be more complicated.

Key Takeaways and Looking Ahead

• The visa-waiver program is a strong draw for people from Lithuania 🇱🇹, Latvia 🇱🇻, and Poland 🇵🇱, who make up the clear majority of visitors.
• The sharp rise in visits through spring 2025, and a total of over 1 million since 2022, signals the program’s broad use and trust.
• Future growth may depend on bringing in more travelers from elsewhere in Europe 🇪🇺, possibly by making travel options better or by boosting reasons to visit.

As Belarus 🇧🇾 continues its visa-waiver program at least through the end of 2025, regular updates from government sources will give a fuller picture of changing visitor patterns. Visitors and policymakers should stay informed of any updates by checking the official Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs listings.

For those considering a visit to Belarus via this program, checking the current rules, stay durations, and entry requirements is important for a smooth trip. As visa-waiver travel continues, Belarus remains a key example of how countries on the edge of Europe 🇪🇺 can encourage movement and contact by relaxing border rules.

Learn Today

Visa-Waiver Program → A policy allowing entry to citizens of specific countries without needing to apply for a traditional visa beforehand.
State Border Committee → The Belarusian agency responsible for monitoring and reporting cross-border movements, including visa-waiver travelers.
Schengen Area → A European zone with no internal border checks; Belarus is not a member but offers similar travel liberalization.
Stay Period → The maximum consecutive days a traveler can remain in Belarus under the visa-waiver program for each visit.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs → The Belarusian government body managing visa policies, international relations, and providing official information for travelers.

This Article in a Nutshell

Belarus’ visa-waiver program has attracted 67,514 European visitors in 2025, mainly from Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. The scheme, running until year-end 2025, allows up to 30 or 90-day stays. Rising numbers reflect border proximity, easier paperwork, and economic incentives, strengthening regional ties despite political complexities.
— By VisaVerge.com

Read more:

• Belarus Sees 27,000 European Visitors Through Visa-Waiver Program
• Belarus Visa-Waiver Program Welcomes 15,000 European Visitors in 2025
• NZeTA System: Visa-Waiver Travel Requirements Explained
• Belarus Welcomes 127,000 Visa-Waiver Travelers in 2024
• Cebu Pacific Grounds Planes After Pratt & Whitney Chaos