Minsk Travel Forum

My wife and I are hoping to go to Belarus this spring. So, how much should I expece to pay total?

THANKS!
ACRijk

If you look up the Consulate of Belarus you will find the fees are between $50 and $180 Depending on when you apply. Most travelers in that area try to avoid the place for the fees and The rude Border Guards who have been known to make people wait for hours. But good luck anyway.....

Sorry to interfere, but I don't agree with your opinion about "rude border guards" and "the place" known for that and high prices. Maybe, you were just not lucky, if this is your personal experience. Sometimes we attract what we are waiting for. The border officers are strict (they should be), but polite, though somitemes lack English knowledge.
A tourist visa for a US citizen costs 180$. To get it, a traveler needs a voucher, invitation and hotel accommodation booked (everything can be obtained in a Belarusian travel agency).
Best regards,
Grivda

If you are going to get visa in the USA, cost of the visa at the embassy will be 50$ for the tourist visa plus you will have to pay something for the visa support documents necessary for getting visa (voucher and invitation) and for the service if you would like travel agency to apply for your visa and get it for you. You can find rates in the USA on gotorussia.com, visahq.com,
RussianVisaGuide.com TravelVisaPro.com
If you do not want to spend your time on getting visa at the embassy it's possible to get visa on arrivat at the airport Minsk-2. There is a Consular point there which issues visa. Cost of the visa for the USA citizens is quite high, it's express visa and it costs 180$ per person. To get more information on getting visa on arrival you can check allbelarus.com

It`s stated quite clearly on the Belarussian Embassy in US website (http://www.belarusembassy.org/) that TOURIST VISA costs $50 (single entry) or $100 (double entry). It has to be a money order or cashier`s check.
The requirements are: An original (not a copy) tourist voucher from a belarusian travel agency. Hosting organization should be registered as a tourist company by the Belarusian authorities.

If you apply by mail, you should enclose a completely-addressed stamped return envelope or prepaid waybill (for safety reasons the use of prepaid Express Mail, FedEx, UPS, Airborne Express or DHL is advised), bearing your account number and showing yourself as both shipper and recipient regardless of delivery address.

So, if you and your wife apply for 1 entry tourist visas, you`ll pay $100 + shipping expenses.

Retvi is quite right, you have to factor in visa support services (voucher) from a local travel agency. It`ll cost about $25 per person.

I'm assuming you've gone to Belarus by now. Nevertheless, I feel I should put my two cents in about my experience with Belarus customs officers. Contrary to jonellis' opinion on Belarus "border guards" I found them considerably more polite and professional than the Polish or Ukrainian officers during my trip through the aforementioned countries.