Hrodna and a part of the Hrodna region has a visa-free regime. If you are a foreigner, you can enter the territory of Belarus from Poland or Lithuania and return to Poland or Lithuania after spending in Belarus up to 5 days without obtaining a visa.
There are a few rules that you need to follow:
- Entry is possible only for maximum 10 days and on a strictly defined territory (see the map). The violation of the temporal and territorial limits is strongly prohibited.
- You need to get a tourist invitation via travel agencies.
- You must have appropriate insurance and cash at the rate of 2 basic amounts (about 25 euros per day, 42 BYN).
- You can use the following road border crossings on the Polish side: Bruzgi-Kuznitsa on the road M6, or special bicycle-pedestrian-kayak border crossing Lesnaya-Rudavka on Augustow channel (It works seasonally). On the Border with Lithuania it’s possible to use border crossing (Privalka-Raigardas) on the road P42/A4. Also you can use river kayak border crossing on the river Neman (Privalka-Swendube, it works seasonally). Since 01/01/2018 it became possible to cross Belarusian border without visas at the checkpoints of the railway station in Grodno and Grodno airport.
More detailed information you can found here: http://grodnovisafree.by/en/how-to-come.html
Some tips for cyclists:
It may be perfect opportunity to visit Belarus. The route through Hrodna can be a good alternative to the route EuroVelo-11 between the city of Augustow (Poland) and Druskininkai (Lithuania). There local bike trails were developed and marked. Find more information (guides and maps too) here: http://tourgrodno.by/gudes-and-maps.html
Technical nuances: From Poland we recommend you take advantage of recreational crossing Lesnaya-Rudavka on the Augustow Channel. M6 motorway can be occupied by motor traffic. From Lesnaya to Hrodna there is a marked cycle route.
photo credit: bezviz.by
