Belarus is step close to visa relaxation with EU – Interior Ministry
The documents on mutual relaxation of visa rules with the European Union are almost ready for signing, Alyaksei Byahun, the head of the Citizenship and Migration Department at the Interior Ministry of Belarus, said on May, 30.
According to him, Belarus is now ‘at the final stage’ of the talks; the visa regime may be relaxed by the end of 2017. The cost of a Schengen visa is to be reduced to €35, the top official said.
Only a few issues remain unsolved, Alyaksei Byahun stated.
What does the EU demand from Belarus on the way to visa liberalisation? First of all, our country should introdice biometric passports and ID cards. The Interior Ministry announced their plans to start issuing the documents on January 1, 2019.
The issue of easing the visa regime may be finally settled during June’s visit of EU officials to Minsk. In addition to the lower cost, Belarusians will be able to get three-year and even five-year visas, Byahun added.
According to him, Belarus is now ‘at the final stage’ of the talks; the visa regime may be relaxed by the end of 2017. The cost of a Schengen visa is to be reduced to €35, the top official said.
Only a few issues remain unsolved, Alyaksei Byahun stated.
What does the EU demand from Belarus on the way to visa liberalisation? First of all, our country should introdice biometric passports and ID cards. The Interior Ministry announced their plans to start issuing the documents on January 1, 2019.
The issue of easing the visa regime may be finally settled during June’s visit of EU officials to Minsk. In addition to the lower cost, Belarusians will be able to get three-year and even five-year visas, Byahun added.