Visas and Immigration

Belarusians are required to obtain a visa before traveling to the United Kingdom.

The commonest categories of visa applied for in Belarus are for short visits or for periods of study. The British Government, with EU partners, is rolling out a global programme requiring all visa applicants to register their biometric details by giving their fingerprints and a digital image. This was launched in Belarus in September 2007. Although this necessarily requires applicants to travel to our office in Minsk, appointments are made through the internet at the traveller's convenience.

Special arrangements ("mobile biometrics") have been made for charity-sponsored Chernobyl children (read more on this in section on "Charitable and Humanitarian").

Visa application forms are also completed online and are tailored to the individual's personal circumstances.

For details of how to apply for a visa, see the website section on Visas.