Permanent residency for Belarus

A “permanent residence permit” in Belarus is almost equivalent to a “Belarusian passport” because it provides foreign nationals with the same rights as Belarussian citizens (medical services in Belarus, free education in Belarus, social security, etc.), apart from the right to vote in Belarus.

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

• If you’re applying for permanent residency in Belarus, you must have previously been granted asylum or refugee status in Belarus.
• If you are a permanent resident of Belarus, have close relations with citizens of Belarus.
• If you are applying for permanent resident status for Belarus, if you have already obtained temporary resident status in Belarus, and if you have been living continuously in Belarus for the last 7 years.
• If you are a permanent resident of Belarus, used to be a citizen of Belarus or have lived in Belarus SSR, are descendants of Belarusians from the former Soviet Union, or one of your parents is a Belarussian citizen.
• If you are a permanent resident of Belarus, have outstanding accomplishments in the fields of science, technology, culture or sport, you are a worker and specialist needed by Belarusian organizations.
• For foreign investors in Belarus, with a minimum investment of EUR 150 000.
• For permanent residents of Belarus, some of the ancestors of Belarusians were born outside of what is now Belarus.
• For example, a Russian citizen has the right to obtain permanent residency in Belarus simply because he or she is a Russian citizen if he or she has certain special grounds that ensure that he or she will be able to easily obtain permanent residency.

Documents required for application for permanent residency of Belarus

To apply for a PRP in Belorussia, you must visit the Department of Citizenship and Migration of your district and request the list of documents.

If you need help with permanent residency documents for Belarus, get in touch with us.

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

• Standard application form
• A document stating whether or not you have been convicted.
• Passport and copy of the passport. The copy of the notarized passport must be translated into the Russian language or Belarusian language.
• Biodata of the candidate.
• Submit the reasons for obtaining PRP. For example, a marriage certificate.
• Colored ID and passport pictures 4х5 cm.
• Medical certificate and insurance.
• Fingerprint scanning procedure.
• This includes proof of payment of the state fee and payment of the completed form.
• Note: Depending on the candidate/s personal information and submitted documents other papers might also be asked.

Citizenship for Belarus:

The acquisition and termination of Belarussian citizenship are governed by the Belarussian Citizenship Act of 2002, as well as by international conventions and multilateral treaties, such as the Ukraine Convention of 1999, the Kazakhstan Convention of 1998, and the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Belarus Convention of 1999.

Acquisition of citizenship for Belarus

Belarusian citizenship can be granted:

• by birth
• by naturalization
• by registration
• The first one, citizenship by birth, can be obtained by a child as long as at least one parent is a Belarus national or both parents are permanent residents of Belarus.
• Citizenship by naturalization requires:
• Applicants must have resided in Belarus continuously for a minimum of seven consecutive years prior to submitting their application.
• Enough knowledge of one of state Belarusian or Russian
• Sources of legal financial income
• After obtaining citizenship of Belarus, you will not be able to acquire any other citizenship abroad, or else your citizenship will be revoked.
• Citizenship by registration can be granted to:
• U.S. citizens who were born in Belarus or resided in Belarus prior to November 12, 1991 (before the collapse of the Soviet Union) and their spouses who are USSR citizens and their descendants
• Children of Belarusian citizens
• Adopted children of Belarusian citizens

No matter the reasons, the qualifications for Citizenship of Belarus are the same for all residents of the country.

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:

Belarus does not recognize dual citizenship. This means that a citizen of Belarus cannot be recognized as a citizen of another country. Only certain international treaties can be considered as exceptions to this rule. Only children under the age of 18 living in Belarus with a parent or other nationalities can have dual citizenship in Belarus. Otherwise, such a person can only be recognized by the authorities as a citizen 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.