Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• Health screening at border checkpoints have been increased following an outbreak of the A(H1N1) virus in neighbouring Ukraine. This may cause delays at border crossings. Check swine flu for further information.
  
  
• The threat from terrorism is low. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
  
  
• Visas are required to enter, or travel through, Belarus. This includes anyone travelling by train on popular routes such as Warsaw-Moscow and St Petersburg-Kiev.  
  
  
• There are strong penalties for possession or use of drugs and you should avoid taking photographs of military or government installations. See the Local Laws and Customs section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Around 4,000 British nationals (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Belarus) visit Belarus every year. Most visits are trouble-free. Six British nationals required consular assistance in Belarus in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (0 cases); hospitalisations (1 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (5 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (1 cases).
  
  
• You must register your stay with the Belarus authorities if you intend to remain in the country for more than three days. See the Entry Requirements section of this travel advice for more details.
  
  
• We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and travel insurance for more details.