r/belarus•
Maxiusha

Need advice: Dual BY/PL citizen planning to visit family after 7 years. Expired BY passport & high-risk family background. What is the reality at the border?

Пытанне / Question

​Hey everyone, ​I haven't been back to Belarus since 2019, and my Belarusian passport expired back in 2023. I also hold Polish citizenship and a valid Polish passport. My grandparents are still in Belarus, and I really want to go back for the holidays to visit them, but I’m dealing with a pretty high-risk background and want to know exactly what might happen.

​Here are the main complicating factors:

​Family ties: My dad works for RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe). My mom wasn't at the 2020 protests in Belarus, but she helped refugees abroad.

​Digital footprint: I previously followed and commented on extremist content and my phone’s gallery/history has a some non-ideal images.

​Passport status: Because of Decree 278, my BY passport is expired, meaning I’d have to get a return certificate (свидетельство на возвращение) to cross, or figure out another route.

​I know that there are high risks involved in going but could I possibly visit and come back safely or will I get detained or deported. If there is a safer/less risky route to take please let me know and what are the possible outcomes that might happen.

Posted Jul 30, 2026, 2:12 PM UTC

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