Belarusian visa won’t cost EURO 60. Otherwise nobody will come here

Belarus doesn’t plan to increase the visa cost till EURO 60 in connection with the oncoming enlargement of the Schengen zone on 1 January 2008, head of the passport-visa office of the consular department of the Foreign Ministry Igar Sakreta said at a round table on acute issues of the tourism market at the exhibition “Turbiznes 2007” held in Minsk.

According to I.Sakreta, taking into account national concerns of Belarus, the country regards taking certain measures of increasing the cost of the Belarusian visa; nevertheless, it will not be raised till EURO 60. The country is interested in foreign tourists, Igar Sakreta emphasized.

The Schengen zone will include the following 9 countries from 1 January 2008: Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Estonia, Malta, and Slovenia. Switzerland that also was to join the Schengen agreement put off the decision presumingly till 1 November 2008.

According to the Foreign Ministry official, Belarusians will be to pay EURO 60 for entrance visa to the above mentioned countries, no matter what the purpose and frequency of trips are. The application order will also be restricted. Igar Sakreta pointed out that despite numerous talks with Belarus’ neighbouring partners on lower visa costs, “no motion can be observed.” The Schengen agreement implies no reductions in visa costs but for three group.