Belarusian visa has gone up to 180 Euro

• 5.01.2010, 16:38

Since the New Year Belarusian visa costs for foreigners have risen; in the first place, costs for those who receive visas in airports.

The consular department of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry explained to Radio Svaboda costs increase for Belarusian visas by coming into force of additions to the Tax Code of Belarus.

Besides, since the beginning of the year visa costs are to be paid in Euros, not in dollars. Types of visas have been changed too. There are three types of visas: transit, short-term and long-term. There is no division into tourist and business visas.

As the Consular department in the National airport Minsk explained, is a potential tourist from the European Union who wanted to come to Belarus earlier could receive a one-time short-term visa for 60 dollars there, now it costs 180 Euro. Long-term visas for citizens of the EU and the US cost more than 200 Euro.

“They have a choice – to take a visa in the Embassy of Belarus in their country for 60 Euro, or in the airport at 180 Euro,” the Consular department of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said. Costs of visa services have changed as well, but not so radically.

Travel companies representatives say that foreigners start to give up on trips to Belarus, as its visas are among the most expensive ones in the world.