Permanent residency for Belarus

A permanent residency permit in Belarus is almost equal to Belarusian passport, cause it grants foreigners the same rights that Belarusian citizens have (medical service in Belarus, free education in Belarus, welfare, etc.), except the right to vote in Belarus.

Foreign citizens may obtain a Permanent residency of Belarus (PR of Belarus) if they:

• For permanent residency for Belarus, before have been granted refugee status or asylum in Belarus.
• For permanent residency of Belarus, has close relatives who are citizens of Belarus
• For permanent residency for Belarus, have already obtained a temporary residence in Belarus and has been continuously living in the Republic of Belarus for the past 7 years.
• For permanent residency in Belarus, Used to be citizens of the Republic of Belarus or lived in the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, are the descendants of the former USSR or one of the parents of whom is a Belarusian citizen.
• For permanent residency of Belarus, Have high achievements in scientific, technical, cultural or sports spheres, are workers and specialists that Belarusian organizations are in need of.
• For foreign investors in Belarus, who have invested at least 150 000 euro.
• For permanent residency for Belarus, Ancestors of Belarusians even born outside the territory of modern Belarus.
• Have some special grounds that guarantee them the right to easily obtain permanent residency of Belarus, for instance, Russian citizens have the right to obtain it simply on the ground of them being Russian citizens.

Documents required for application for permanent residency of Belarus

In order to get a PRP in Belarus, you must go to the Citizenship and Migration Department for your respective district and ask for the list of required documents.

Contact us for permanent residency of Belarus required documents, if you need support.

Generally, the list of documents for permanent residency of Belarus:

• Standard application form
• Document on the presence or absence of convictions brought against you.
• Passport and its copy. The notarized version of passport has to be translated into Russian or Belarusian
• Biodata of the candidate.
• Present the grounds of obtaining the PRP. For instance, a marriage certificate.
• Colored ID and passport pictures 4х5 cm.
• Medical certificate and insurance.
• Fingerprint scanning procedure.
• Proof receipts for payment of state fee and payment for the completed form.
• Note: Depending on the candidate/s personal information and submitted documents other papers might also be asked.

Citizenship for Belarus:

Belarusian citizenship is obtained and terminated in accordance with the Citizenship Act of the Republic of Belarus (2002), as well as international bilateral and multilateral, for example, a treaty with Ukraine (1999), a treaty with Kazakhstan (1998), treaty between Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus (1999).

Acquisition of citizenship for Belarus

Belarusian citizenship can be granted:

• by birth
• by naturalization
• by registration
• The first one that is citizenship by birth can be acquired by a child if at least one of the parents is a Belarusian citizen or both of them are permanent citizens of Belarus.
• Citizenship by naturalization requires:
• Permanent residency in Belarus for 7 uninterrupted years at the time preceding the application
• Enough knowledge of one of state Belarusian or Russian
• Sources of legal financial income
• No other foreign citizenship, or else it will be lost after the acquisition of Belarusian citizenship
• Citizenship by registration can be granted to:
• people who hold USSR citizenship and were born in Belarus, or had a place of residence in Belarus before November 12, 1991(before the collapse of USSR) as well as their spouses who hold citizenship of USSR, and their descendants
• Children of Belarusian citizens
• Adopted children of Belarusian citizens

Regardless of the grounds required Citizenship of the Republic of Belarus shall be equal for all citizens of the Republic of Belarus

The following documents are required in order to apply for Belarusian citizenship through registration:

Four recently taken photographs 3×4.

A document confirming renunciation or loss of citizenship of another state (if applicable).

Copies of a passport (or ID) particularly the pages featuring information such as surname, name, patronymic, date, and place of birth.

Copies of documents confirming birth or permanent citizenship within the territory of the Republic of Belarus before 12 November 1991 if there are any

A notarized copy of a birth certificate certified that is acceptable as a confirmation of birth within the territory of Belarus.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP of Belarus:

Dual citizenship in Belarus is not accepted, which means that a person who is Belarusian citizen cannot be recognized as belonging to any other foreign state. Only some international treaties can be an exception. Only children under 18 residing in Belarus who have a parent or other nationality are entitled to Belarus dual citizenship. Otherwise, Belarusian authorities recognize such a person only as a citizen of the Republic of Belarus.

Work Permit for Belarus

Belarus is becoming more and more attractive for foreign citizens as a working destination, due to the low level of unemployment in Belarus. In fact, the country in its turn is now opening its doors to welcome skilled workers from all around the world, even the procedure of obtaining a work permit has been simplified. The same process applies to citizens from all over the world, except for Russia. The application process for working permission includes several steps and has to be planned and done in detail.

Process of applying for a work permit in Belarus

To receive a work permit for labor activity in Belarus, the employer needs to submits the following documents:

– The completed application form for work permit of Belarus.

– Copy of the foreigner’s passport work permit for Belarus.

– A confirmation of the paid fee for work permit of Belarus.

Documents are acknowledged within 15 days. If approved, the work permit of Belarus is valid for one year from the approval date and can be prolonged when the end date draws near.

If a foreign expert plans to work for several Belorussian employers, they must receive a work permit for each of them.

Visa for Belarus

The Republic of Belarus provides the following types of visas for Belarus:

• Type B visa for Belarus) transit visa for Belarus, which valid for 2 days.
• Type C visa for Belarus) short-term visa for Belarus with validity up to 90 days.
• Type D visa for Belarus) long-term visa for Belarus with validity up to 1 year and stay of up to 90 days.

Entry visas for Belarus are divided into single, double and multiple.

In order to get an entry visa to Belarus, a foreigner has to provide to the bodies that issue entry visas of the Republic of Belarus the following documents:

• Copy of the visa application form for visa of Belarus.
• A recent photo (size 35 x 45 mm)
• Documents for travel abroad.
• Visa support documents.
• On demand of the consular office of Belarus more additional documents necessary for making a decision on issuance of entry visa for Belarus
• Health insurance.
• Payment of visa application for visa of Belarus, consular fees.

BUSINESS TRAVEL FOR BELARUS REQUIREMENTS:

• Passport
• The applicant’s actual passport, which has to:
• Contain at least two blank visa pages
• Be valid for six months beyond the exit date
• Photos for business travel to Belarus

You must provide a colored, passport-type photograph for, visa to Belarus, that meets the following criteria:

• Be taken within the last three months and printed on high-quality paper
• Be taken in an all-white background
• Be 35 mm by 45mm in size
• Provide the full-frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle and display a neutral expression
• You may wear neither spectacles nor headwear despite religious purposes
• Your photo should not be affixed to your application and it may not display a sign of adhesive or staples
• Business Introduction Letter for business visa of Belarus
• Proof of Health Insurance for business visa of Belarus
• Visa Application Form

INVESTMENT IN BELARUS

Why should you invest in Belarus?

Today’s Belarus is a country open to foreign investments and offers favorable business conditions.

Benefits for investors for Belarus:

• favorable strategic geographical location
• direct access to ЕЕU other markets (Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan)
• a well-developed infrastructure in Belarus: transport, logistics, and communications
• progressive investment legislation in Belarus
• guarantees of investors rights and investment protection in Belarus
• an attractive investment climate and favorable taxation policies
• government support for investors in the form of guarantees, benefits, and preferences
• 6 free economic zones
• highly skilled workforce
• good quality of life
• Investment sectors in Belarus

Foreign investors for Belarus may start company in Belarus with any amount of foreign investments in any legal form, as well as, their branches in Belarus and representative office in Belarus. Government-guaranteed preferences and privileges promote mutually beneficial cooperation. Special legal regimes are available to investors in free economic zones, small and medium-sized towns, rural areas, the Hi-tech Park, etc.