Diving

DIVING BELARUS PRACTICALITIES




PRACTICALITIES


Currency

Belarussian ruble (BYR)


Official languages

Belarussian, Russian


Time

GMT + 2


Calling code

+375


Area codes

Brest: 16, Hrodna: 15, Gomel: 23, Minsk: 17, Mahilyow: 22, Vitebsk: 21


Internet TLD

.by


Shopping

Generally shops are open Monday–Saturday from 9am to 8pm.


National holidays

New Year’s Day January 1
Orthodox Christmas January 7
Women’s Day March 8
Constitution Day March 15
Orthodox Easter movable feast
Labour Day May 1
Victory Day May 9
Independence Day July 3
Remembrance Day November 2
Catholic Christmas December 25 & 26


National dish

Khaladnik – cold soup
Borshch – traditional beetroot soup
Kapustnyak – soup made from pork and sauerkraut
Halubki – stuffed cabbage
Deruny – potato pancakes


Electricity

Ukraine’s electricity runs on 220V/50Hz.


Passport/Visa

Visas are required to enter Belarus. Only citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan), Cuba, Korea, Macedonia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Serbia and Montenegro. Citizens of other states have to apply for a vista at the consulate or the embassy of Belarus. Usually, visas are issued within 5 business days. Necessary documents for a Belarusian visa application: a valid passport, one passport-sized colour photograph, a copy of the ticket or a valid via of the country the applicant is travelling to/from (only for transit visa), a letter of invitation (only for short- and long- term visas). The standard visa fee is £63.


Useful numbers

Ambulance: 03
Fire Brigade: 01
Police: 02