Belarus has become the latest Eastern-European country to court the Indian outbound market. In a decision approved by the Council of Ministers on 14 September and published on 17 September 2026, Minsk added India to its new electronic-visa platform, allowing Indian passport holders to complete the entire application online and receive authorisation by email. The e-visa covers tourism, business, medical and family visits and eliminates the embassy paperwork—including invitation letters—that previously deterred many travellers. The timing is strategic. Belarusian officials simultaneously confirmed that the national carrier Belavia is negotiating direct flights from Minsk to Mumbai and Goa. While launch dates are still pending bilateral air-services clearances, aviation analysts say a twice-weekly service could be commercially viable given rising student flows to Eastern-European medical universities and outbound leisure demand from India’s western seaboard. For Indians, the e-visa complements—but does not replace—the existing 30-day visa-free entry available only via Minsk National Airport to travellers who hold a valid Schengen or EU visa and proof of prior entry into Europe. The new system opens the door to travellers without Schengen history, widening the addressable market to Tier-2 Indian cities where first-time Europe aspirants often struggle to secure Schengen slots. Corporate mobility impact: Indian IT firms with delivery centres in Poland and Lithuania can now route staff through Minsk for regional meetings, taking advantage of typically lower hotel and conference costs. However, companies should note that the e-visa currently allows single entry only; repeat commuters may prefer Belarus’s business-multiple category processed through the embassy until a multi-entry e-visa is introduced. Next steps: Belarus’ Foreign Ministry is expected to publish the e-visa fee (rumoured to be around US $60) and go-live date for the visa portal by early October. Travel managers should monitor for system-testing glitches and ensure compliance with Belarus’ mandatory health-insurance requirement, which remains in force even for e-visa holders.
Source: Outlook Traveller
