Why is Belarus visa 5 Euro more expensive than a Schengen visa?
Poland recently lowered the cost of the national visa for Belarusians from Euro 35 to Euro 20. Are other European nations set to follow the trend?
“We don’t have this information. At the moment, visa costs Euro 60 as before”, a staff at the German Embassy in Minsk was surprised with the question from the European Radio for Belarus.
We received similar responses at the embassies of Italy, France and Lithuania. There is no even a talk about reducing visa costs for Belarusians.
But, even our country sticks to a firm stance in this issue: no reduction of visa costs for Europeans yet. Moreover, our one-entry visa is Euro 5 more expensive than a Schengen or other national visas.
“These are just rumors about the lower visa costs. Moreover, the holiday season is approaching”, the Belarus Embassy in Germany told our radio. “If a German citizen is interested in a one-entry visa, its cost remains the same: Euro 65. The urgent visa costs Euro 115. The double-entry visa for Germans costs Euro 115. A similar urgent visa costs Euro 215”.
Belarus Foreign Ministry: “The costs will not drop in the near future. This is not a momentous procedure”.
When our compatriots complain about exorbitant visa costs, Europeans should not feel hurt: Euro 65 mean peanuts for an Italian. In addition, no invitation to apply for a Belarus visa is required for a month-long trip.
Belarusian visas are processed quickly, too.
“Three, seven, ten days. Everything depends on the workload of the consular department. But, usually, visas are processed within three days”, Anatol Hlaz, the second secretary of the Belarusian Embassy in Rome told the European Radio for Belarus.
For comparison, a Schengen visa can normally be issued to Belarusians not earlier than after two weeks.
It is a common knowledge that Belarusian visas have always been more expensive than Schengen visas. But in December 2007, Belarus reduced visa costs for Poles. Today, visa costs Euro 25. Perhaps, other European nations should also make the first step forward and reduce visa costs for Belarusians.
Belarus will not get poorer if it halves visa costs, either. Then, Europe will be left with no choice. Hopefully, diplomats will find a solution in this sensitive issue for the sake of ordinary people.
