Belarus and Maldives eye visa-free travel with approval of draft agreement

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has approved a draft agreement for visa exemption between Belarus and the Maldives.

According to a statement issued by the Belarusian Presidency, the draft will form the basis for forthcoming negotiations between the two countries. Under the presidential decree signed by Lukashenko on Thursday, citizens of both nations would be able to enter, leave, and transit through each other's territories without obtaining a visa. The proposed arrangement would allow visa-exempted stays of up to 30 days per visit, provided the total duration of stay does not exceed 90 days within a calendar year.

The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been authorized to conduct negotiations and formally sign the agreement with the Maldivian government.

The proposed agreement represents a significant step towards strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries. On February 3 this year, senior officials from the Maldivian Foreign Ministry traveled to Minsk, where they met with Belarusian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Lukashevich. According to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, the meeting marked the first high-level official engagement of its kind between the two countries.

During the discussions, the two sides explored opportunities for cooperation in tourism, healthcare, education, as well as the supply of food products and machinery. They also agreed to pursue further measures to expand political and economic cooperation and strengthen the legal framework governing bilateral relations through greater coordination between their respective foreign ministries.

Belarus has been gradually expanding visa facilitation measures with various countries as part of efforts to promote tourism and trade. The country has already introduced visa-free entry for citizens of 38 European countries, with the arrangement to remain in effect until the end of 2026.

Belarus is also a popular destination for Maldivian students seeking higher education, particularly those pursuing medicine.