The border between Belarus and Russia holds a unique and somewhat ambiguous status, governed by the “Union State” agreement between the two nations. For their respective citizens, this frontier has traditionally functioned much like an internal border within the Schengen Area, with no formal checkpoints or controls. For decades, you could drive the main M1 highway from Minsk to Moscow without stopping, passing only a sign to mark the transition from one country to the other. This open border was a cornerstone of their deep political and economic integration, creating a seamless space for travel and trade between them.
However, the situation has become significantly more complex for other travelers. In recent years, Russia has established a policy that requires third-country nationals (anyone not a citizen of Belarus or Russia) to cross the border at a designated international checkpoint. The problem is that no such checkpoints exist on the land border between the two countries. This creates a legal anomaly: while the border is open, it is not legally crossable by foreigners. The only official way for a non-Russian/Belarusian citizen to travel between the two is by air. This peculiar situation reflects the evolving, and at times contradictory, nature of the Union State relationship.