On February 1,2023, came into force a law “On ratification of the agreement between the Governments of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on mutual recognition of visas of other issues related to the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons into the territory of states – participants of the Agreement on establishing of Union State” in Russia, reports the “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”.

The Intergovernmental Agreement was signed in Minsk on June 19, 2020.

Within 30 days, Belarus and Russia must complete all the necessary domestic procedures, and in March 2023, foreign citizens and stateless persons will be able to enter, leave, stay, transit through the territory of Belarus and Russia on the basis of a visa of one of the two states and identity documents.

It is also provided that foreign citizens and stateless persons who have a temporary residence permit, a residence permit or a document for attending an international sports event of one party and an identity document have the right to enter, leave, stay, transit through the territory of the State of the other party during the validity period of these documents.

Foreigners will be able to travel by air, rail, as well as by six highways, which are defined in the annex to the Agreement.

As part of the implementation of the Agreement, a system of information exchange will be created between the two countries on issued and cancelled entry and stay permits, as well as on crossing the borders of Russia and Belarus at checkpoints.

Citizens of Turkmenistan require a visa for visiting Belarus and Russia. Now, from March 2023, within the framework of the Agreement, the Turkmen citizens to travel to Belarus and Russia will not have to obtain two separate visas. Visas will be mutually recognized for a stay of up to 90 days, informs the Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in Turkmenistan.