After the parties complete the necessary intrastate procedures, the agreement the Belarusian government and the Russian one signed on 19 June 2020 on the mutual recognition of visas and other matters relating to the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons into the territory of the states parties to the Union State Foundation Treaty will come into force on 11 January, the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BelTA.
The agreement stipulates a procedure for foreign citizens and stateless persons to cross the joint border of the states parties to the Union State Foundation Treaty, including the land section, which has been previously open only to citizens of Belarus and Russia.
In line with the agreement the parties recognize each other’s visas, which grant the right to enter and stay in the territory of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, as well as records of crossing the external border of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.
Each party retains the right to refuse entry or reduce the period of stay in its territory for any foreign citizen or stateless person. Each party retains the right to verify the compliance of foreign citizen or stateless persons with the rules of entry, exit, transit or the regime of stay.
“The agreement is an important component of the unified migration space of the Union State,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.
