According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country, the "Big 4" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the ten highest placed finishers in the 2004contest are required to qualify from the semi-final in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from the semi-final progress to the final. A special allocation draw was held which determined the running order for the semi-final on 19 May 2005. Belarus was drawn to perform in position 8, following the entry from Israel and before the entry from Netherlands.