MFA considers 180 euros for Belarusian visa normal price

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs doesn’t plan to reduce visa fees for foreigners.

The Special Part of the Tax Code, proposing a general approach to consular fees, took force on January 1, 2009. In accordance with amendments, cost of visas issued at the Minsk National Airport for citizens of the states, where Belarus has consulates, has increased from 60 to 180 euros. Cost Belarusian visas for citizens of the states where Belarus does not have its consulates has grown from 60 to 90 euros. US citizens have to pay 275 euros to obtain a visa. Belarusian consulates in EU countries issue visas at 60 euros, but a possibility to get a cheaper tourist visa has been annulled.

What concerns visa fees at the airport, minister of sport and tourism of Belarus Aleh Kachan told journalists on January 21: “I think it’s a misunderstanding. I think an appropriate regulation will be adopted and everything will be settled. We are working on the issue.”

On February 10, head of the MFA consular department Alyaksandr Astrouski told the portal TUT.BY: “The law is valid. The law can be amended in accordance with the established procedure. But amendments must be elaborate and grounded.”

Representatives of the Belarusian tour business had a sharp reaction to this innovation. In their view, the increased visa fees at the airport deprive them of the opportunity to work with western markets. However, will the incoming tourism suffer great loss due to increased visa fees, if about 6,500 visas were issued at the airport last year, while Estonia issues more than 2 million visas? Consular fees for obtaining tourist Belarusian visas remained the same for the last three years. Unfortunately, this didn’t prevent outflow of foreign tourists. It should be noticed that it is possible to get a group tourist visa, which will cost 10 euros for each tourist.