What do you need to move to Belarus?

Belarus

Belarus is an amazing country with a high standard of living for its citizens and comfortable working conditions. The country's rich past and interesting history have left their mark on the mentality of the state's residents. Belarusians are hospitable people. The country is especially friendly with Russia and Ukraine, as well as other countries of the post-Soviet space. Many Russians decide to move to the Republic of Belarus for permanent residence. For Russians, this will not be difficult, because the states have long been in close economic and social cooperation.

The main reason for moving is a stable economic situation, security and broad prospects. Food prices in the country practically do not differ from Russian indicators, but it is worth noting that the cost of housing in Belarus is significantly lower. You can purchase an apartment or house in the Republic of Belarus on the basis of a purchase and sale agreement. Real estate prices are higher in big cities and lower in regional centers.

The country has a low crime rate, life here is measured and calm. You can stay in the republic both in the city and in the countryside. Agriculture is a promising direction for the development of the country's economy. The government is maximally stimulating the “revival of the countryside” and the influx of qualified specialists there.

Possible routes of immigration to Belarus

Citizens of the Russian Federation who wish to live permanently in the Republic of Belarus can do this in three ways:

registration;
temporary residence permit;
resident card.

Registration makes it possible to stay in the territory of the Republic of Belarus for an unlimited time without the need to travel outside the republic, subject to its renewal every 90 days. The main disadvantage is that it does not provide permission to work.

A temporary residence permit is a kind of work visa that allows you to work legally. It is issued for a relatively short period of time - 1 year.

A residence permit is granted for a longer period – 2 years. Its main advantages are a long validity period, the possibility of legal employment, access to free medical services, and also the fact that in the future the residence permit may become the basis for obtaining Belarusian citizenship. A residence permit gives a foreigner almost all the rights of a citizen, with the exception of participation in voting.

What does RVP status mean?

Three regimes of stay for foreigners have been introduced in the Republic of Belarus:

Temporary stay – stay of a foreigner in the Republic of Belarus for a period not exceeding 90 days per year from the date of entry;
Temporary residence – stay of a foreigner in the Republic of Belarus for a period of 90 days per year to one year from the date of receipt of a temporary residence permit;
Permanent residence – residence of a foreigner in the Republic of Belarus on the basis of obtaining a permanent residence permit.

Officially, a temporary residence permit for a foreigner in Belarus is a status under which he receives the right to stay in the country without leaving the country,, if necessary, leave it and return an unlimited number of times, get a job or register as an individual entrepreneur (if such plans are available, the Belarusian needs to register residence permit, more on this below) for the entire period of validity of the document.

Documentary confirmation of the presence of a temporary residence permit is a special stamp in the international passport of its holder.

Types of residence permits in Belarus

To obtain any type of residence permit, you must legally enter the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Entry into Belarus for citizens of the Russian Federation is as simple as possible. To cross the border, it is enough to present a foreign or internal all-Russian passport. Filling out a migration card is not required.

Registration

The first way to stay in Belarus for a long time is registration. The nice thing is that the migration authorities put forward very modest conditions for receiving it. By and large, a Russian does not need to provide any reasons for being in Belarus. It is enough only to confirm that he is renting housing or has the right to live in it with the official consent of the owners.

Registration allows a foreign guest to stay in the country for 90 days. Another positive point is that it can be extended an infinite number of times, since the legislation does not limit this in any way. But it is important to note that the holder of the registration is not considered a permanent resident of the country. This means that he can receive free medical care only in the most emergency situations; in other cases he will have to pay for it.

Temporary residence permit

The second option is a temporary residence permit. It compares favorably with registration in that it is valid for 12 months and allows you to officially get a job, but it is more difficult to obtain.

It is required to indicate and document the reason for issuing such permission. This could be an employment contract concluded with a Belarusian employer, the presence of a close relative in the Republic of Belarus who agrees to accept a Russian citizen, or ownership of real estate on the territory of the republic. As in the case of registration, the law does not prohibit multiple extensions of a temporary residence permit.

It is worth taking into account that this document still does not give the owner the rights of a permanent resident and does not make free medical care available to a foreign citizen. The temporary residence permit appears as an insert containing personal data. It is not a prerequisite for subsequent application for a residence permit.

Residence permit and categories of Russian citizens entitled to receive it

The third option is a residence permit (RP). It is the most difficult to formalize, but it also makes life in Belarus more fulfilling. In addition, a residence permit has the longest validity period compared to other permits. The first time it is issued for 2 years, the second time – for 5 years. To obtain a residence permit, the applicant must belong to one of the categories described below.

Qualified specialists

The Republic of Belarus requires specialists in the field of agriculture, information technology, construction, architecture, and technical industries. Additional documents: signed employment contract with a company located in Belarus.

Students

Depending on the length of study, you may need to extend your residence permit multiple times. Additional documents: a copy of the enrollment order and the corresponding agreement.

Relatives of citizens of Belarus

Russians who have blood ties or are married to a citizen of Belarus receive a residence permit faster than all other applicants. Additional documents: marriage certificate and copies of spouses’ passports with stamps. Children and parents confirm their relationship with a birth certificate.

Investors

It is necessary to invest at least 150 thousand euros (about 9 million rubles) in enterprises in the Republic of Belarus or open your own business. Due to the large number of legal formalities, this is the most difficult option. You should consult a lawyer about the list of additional documents.

Owners of real estate in Belarus or their heirs

Russians who have purchased real estate (including non-residential) on the territory of Belarus or inherited it from a citizen of the country have the right to receive a residence permit on this basis. Additional documents: real estate purchase agreement or death certificate + conclusion from a notary on inheritance.

Former citizens of the BSSR and their descendants

Those born on the territory of Belarus before November 12, 1991 and their descendants (children, grandchildren, etc.) are considered full applicants for a residence permit. Additional documents: birth certificate.

A temporary residence permit for Belarusians in Russia is not required!

Yes, the answer to the frequently asked question is precisely this: the permit, which most foreigners receive strictly according to quotas, is not needed by residents of the fraternal country at all. As well as visas, as well as migration cards in the process of crossing the border: in fact, such rules allow Belarusians in the Russian Federation to feel at home. Of course, some formalities will have to be observed - for example, registering for migration: this rule must be followed by any foreigner who intends to stay in Russia for more than a week.

Any Belarusian who has a foreign passport can freely enter the Russian Federation and stay here unhindered for about three months (90 days, to be more precise). Moreover, if a citizen of the Republic of Belarus plans to stay for a longer period, then he can collect and submit documents for a residence permit without any problems. Thus, a residence permit is granted almost immediately - if all the documents are in order and the forgiveness is formalized legally. But a temporary residence permit is not required for citizens of Belarus.

Registration

After 30 days of stay on the territory of the state, the foreigner is obliged to contact the Department of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus to obtain a temporary residence permit, providing a package of documents including:

application for registration at the place of residence;
the applicant's identity card;
residential lease agreement;
receipt for payment of state duty.

It should be noted that the candidate’s further presence within the borders of Belarus is possible only if he has a place of residence on the territory of the republic. Registration of the permit takes up to two weeks and gives the applicant the right to stay in the given territory for up to 60 days from the date of issue. The document can be extended any number of times, but it does not provide for employment opportunities.

Fast legalization with a minimum of formalities

This procedure is valid for about 10 years - from the moment the agreement on “equalization of rights” is signed. In practice, this means not only that there is no need for a temporary residence permit for Belarusians: citizens of a neighboring state have many advantages. For example, for obvious reasons, Belarusians do not need to confirm their knowledge of Russian. There is also no requirement to pass a test on knowledge of the basics of legislation and history.

In fact, a Belarusian applying for legal status in Russia - that is, a residence permit - only needs to prove the existence of means of subsistence. Naturally, a person must legally enter the Russian Federation and have registration at his place of residence. But, in general, citizens of the Republic of Belarus almost never have problems with legalization. Moreover, our practice shows that applications for residence permits from Belarusians are often processed in an expedited manner. And obtaining citizenship for this category of persons is much easier than for other foreigners.

We hope that we were able to provide comprehensive information on this topic. Still have questions? Need help resolving your legal status? Sign up for a free consultation with Migrant-Garant specialists. We will discuss your situation in detail and quickly find the optimal solution.

Obtaining permanent residence

An applicant can apply for permanent residence in Belarus 2 weeks before the end of the residence permit period. Initially, permanent residence is issued for 2 years, after which it is extended for another 5 years. Then the applicant can obtain Belarusian citizenship or extend permanent residence for another 5-year period.

To obtain resident status, you must submit a set of documents to the Department of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus:

an autobiography describing the most important life moments that directly affect the right of residence;
an application filled out personally by the applicant;
temporary residence permit;
certificate of no criminal record;
4 photographs of 3x4 cm format;
receipt of payment of the state fee of 24 euros;
military ID (if available);
certificates of marriage, divorce, birth of children.

In addition, it is obligatory to have registration in the territory of the republic. Submission of documents to the department is carried out personally by the applicant, undergoing a fingerprinting procedure.

Applications are considered within two months from the date of presentation of the full package of documents.

Acquiring the status of a resident of the Republic of Belarus gives rights equal to the indigenous population of the state, with the exception of participation in elections.

Obtaining citizenship

Applications from those wishing to become Belarusian citizens are accepted at the consular section of the embassy of the republic or at the police departments dealing with migrants. The statement is written in free form, addressing the President of Belarus.

A number of documents must be attached to it:

a form filled out in your own hand;
4 passport size photographs;
autobiography;
copies of passport pages containing personal data;
birth certificate;
documents on marriage/divorce;
income certificate;
document confirming absence or renunciation of citizenship of another country;
documents that prove your Belarusian origin or an application from any government organization;
certificate of absence or expungement of a criminal record;
other papers that may influence the decision.

Everything is presented in the originals with the addition of three copies. The consular fee is paid after accepting the full package of papers and amounts to 70 euros.

A simplified procedure for obtaining Belarusian citizenship for residents of some countries. Belarus, together with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, signed an agreement. It allows individual citizens of these states to acquire citizenship of another country using a simplified procedure.

According to this agreement, a Russian has the right to become a full Belarusian if:

was a citizen of the USSR, born or lived within the borders of the Belarusian SSR until December 21, 1991;
his closest relative is a citizen of Belarus permanently residing in the republic; Closely related ties include marital ties, between parents and children (including adoption), between half-sisters and brothers, between grandparents and grandchildren. Applications for change of citizenship are accepted at the police department at the place of residence in the Republic of Belarus.

The applicant must submit:

copies of pages of a Russian citizen’s passport containing personal information;
copies of the pages of the foreigner’s residence permit, which contain personal data and registration at the place of residence;
documents confirming that the applicant has close relatives who are citizens of the Republic of Belarus. These are copies of passports and birth certificates;
3 photos 3×4 cm;
a certificate from the Russian consulate proving acceptance of the application for renunciation of Russian citizenship.

When submitting an application for Belarusian citizenship for minor children, in addition to the documents listed above, you must add:

copies of the child’s birth certificate;
if the child is 14 years old or older - his notarized consent to become a citizen of the Republic of Belarus;
if one of the parents is a foreigner - his consent to the child’s adoption of citizenship, certified by a notary. Or copies of documents stating that the other parent has died, is incapacitated, abandoned the child, or has been deprived of parental rights.

Why do you need a temporary residence permit for foreign citizens in Belarus?

A temporary residence permit in the Republic of Belarus will allow a foreigner to legally stay in the country for more than 90 days, but not more than 1 year, and also enjoy all possible rights on an equal basis with citizens of Belarus. For example, medical care, education, expression of one's will, social rights, and so on.

An exception is employment in those organizations that require the provision of identification documents issued by the competent authorities of the Republic of Belarus. For example, some positions, such as service in government bodies, can only be provided to citizens of the Republic of Belarus. Foreigners temporarily residing in the country also do not have the right to take part in various state votes.

How to go to Belarus for permanent residence from Ukraine

Who can currently count on emigrating from Ukraine to Belarus? According to the first part of Article 53, which talks about the legal status of foreign citizens who are not residents of the Republic of Belarus, permission for permanent residence can be obtained by persons who:

They have close relatives in the territory of a neighboring state who are its citizens.
Persons entitled to family reunification. This right can be exercised by spouses, minor children, adopted children, unmarried adult children, disabled parents, and adoptive parents. If you have an invitation from one of the above relatives who is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, you can obtain permission for permanent residence in a neighboring friendly state.
Persons living in Belarus for 7 or more years.
In the past they were citizens of the Republic of Belarus.
Valuable employees and specialists.
Individuals who have exceptional talents or abilities.
Those who have any merit to the Republic of Belarus have achieved high results in the field of science and technology, as well as culture and sports.
Persons who have invested at least 150 thousand euros in investment projects in the country.
Ethnic Belarusians, as well as their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren born outside the state.
Refugees. Today, for Ukrainians who do not meet all of the above requirements, this method is the most acceptable.

List of required documents

Citizens of Ukraine who have grounds for moving to the Republic of Belarus are required to provide the following documents:

An invitation from a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, or from a person permanently residing on its territory. This document is drawn up in the form of an application and contains all the information about the inviting party. Persons who have the right to obtain citizenship of the Republic of Belarus through registration may not be provided with an invitation. In this case, it is enough to have living space for further registration.
Autobiography. Here it is necessary to indicate the applicant’s date and place of birth, education, current work activity, marital status, and information about family members.
Photocopies of passport pages.
Criminal record document. Available to persons over 14 years of age.
Medical certificates confirming that you are not sick with diseases that pose a threat to public health. Such diseases include sexually transmitted diseases and open form of tuberculosis.
8 color photographs 37x47 mm.
Originals and copies of documents that confirm your right to obtain permanent residence in accordance with Article 53.
Information about the size of the living space either owned or hosted by the host party.
Consent to your accommodation must be given by all adult members of the host party. All documents provided must be certified by a notary.

Which authorities should I contact in Belarus regarding issues of permanent residence?

After all the necessary documents have been collected, do not rush to pack your bags. You must first check out from your last place of residence. Men will have to go to the military registration and enlistment office and deregister, and then at the passport office they will receive a stamp in their passport and a certificate of departure. There is one caveat: you will not be discharged from the apartment if a minor child remains registered in it.

After completing all the papers and safely arriving in the Republic of Belarus, you must register with the Department of Citizenship and Migration (Citizenship and Migration Department) in the area of your future residence. At the department you will receive a list of documents, as well as questionnaires to fill out. Then you should visit the district clinic, where they will issue you a temporary medical card and tell you what examination you need to undergo, where to do fluorography and what certificates to collect. At this stage, you may need a lot of patience and money (after all, tests in Belarus are paid). The medical examination will take a maximum of two weeks.

After this, you will have to take tests for syphilis, gonorrhea and AIDS, the waiting time for results is approximately 10 days. If you want to somehow speed up this process, you can contact the HIV/AIDS prevention department located in Minsk on Ulyanovskaya street 3. Here you will receive the results on the third day.

To obtain registration, you must visit the passport office and register at your residence address. Temporary registration is attached to the required list of documents. To obtain a residence permit, you must pay a state fee amounting to two basic amounts and a passport form in the amount of one basic amount. The Citizenship and Migration Department will provide you with various forms, the first half of which must be completed in Belarusian.

When all the documents have been collected, you will need to provide the OGIM with:

application form;
autobiography;
form No. 1-IG, LBG (application for a residence permit);
Ukrainian passport with a note about the extract from the last place of registration and its photocopy;
birth certificate and its photocopy;
a certificate of no criminal record issued in format “A”;
registration from place of residence;
a document confirming your right to permanent residence;
conclusion of the head physician;
6 photos on one sheet of paper 40x50;
a receipt for payment of the state duty and a residence permit form.

You can receive a residence permit within 30 days. Then you should visit the passport office again, where the receiving party must again confirm consent to your residence in their living space. If you have your own real estate on the territory of Belarus, then no confirmation is required.

After you have paid two basic amounts, you will be given a registration mark in your residence permit. A residence permit is issued for 2 years, then it must be renewed for 5 years, after which you can already obtain the coveted citizenship.

Five steps: how foreigners can apply for temporary online registration in Belarus

Registration of foreigners in electronic form is carried out on the unified portal of electronic services (portal.gov.by) free of charge.

This administrative procedure is available to foreigners who entered the Republic of Belarus at checkpoints across the state border of the Republic of Belarus (except Russia).

The Republic of Belarus has signed agreements with Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Kazakhstan, the UAE and Russia, whose citizens can stay in Belarus for up to 30 or 90 days without registration. If a foreigner intends to exceed this period, it is necessary to obtain a temporary or permanent residence permit, depending on the purpose of entry.

Electronic registration: 5 steps

Through any browser, you need to go to the website of the unified portal of electronic services portal.gov.by, select the language of work, create a personal account using your email address.
In your personal account, in the “Available Services” tab, select the “Citizenship and Migration” category.
Order a service (service code for registration of foreigners – 200.12.14.1.).
Fill out an application. It must indicate the surname and first name of the foreigner in Latin or Cyrillic, as written in the passport (one option is enough), information about the passport, insurance, date of entry into the country, address where the foreigner will temporarily stay. There is also a column with a visa, but if, for example, a foreigner comes to Belarus on a “visa-free” basis, there is no need to fill it out.
After checking all the data, click the “Submit Application” button. After a few seconds, you should receive a message about successful registration, or the system will recommend contacting the citizenship and migration department if the information does not match.

You will have to contact the citizenship and migration department at your place of residence in person in two cases: if a foreigner wants to renew registration at the same address, completed electronically, or if he arrived in Belarus across the border with Russia.

A foreigner does not need to have proof of electronic registration with him. It is enough to inform about this, for example, to a border guard when leaving the country. If technically possible, you can save a screenshot of the response about successful registration or print the registration insert, this will speed up the verification procedure.

– If you have questions, during business hours you can contact the technical support service of the National Center for Electronic Services by phone: (8-017) 311-30-00, additional 713, and the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: (8-017) 218- 55-08, 218-52-51,” reports the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Bobruisk City Executive Committee.

Recommendations for those moving to Belarus

You should not do this pleasant but troublesome task at the end of summer or early autumn due to the active “moving in” of students, due to which the number of places to live is greatly reduced and rents rise. Another such time is the New Year holidays. At this time, even a room with a shared apartment will cost from 200 dollars per month of rent, and a 1-room apartment of average disrepair will cost 400 or more.

If you contact housing agencies, we recommend paying a fee only upon check-in, and not before that. And you should keep in mind that almost all landlords charge six months in advance. That is, you must be prepared to part with a significant amount of money at once.

Food, drinks and clothing

Things are excellent with food - everything is always fresh and of high quality and at reasonable prices. But this only applies to local products. If you want something overseas, the prices are steep.

Things are worse with clothes and shoes. It is best to look for quality products in stores of well-known and trusted companies, for which you will have to pay tidy sums. Under no circumstances should you buy shoes and clothes from MegaTop chains and the like - everything is Chinese. As a last resort, use the Internet.

Alcoholic drinks are fine. The stores sell everything of high quality, you can buy it with confidence. Prices are approximately Russian, that is, you can find inexpensive local drinks and more expensive imported ones.

Behavior rules

The population of Belarus is distinguished by calmness and restraint. People here don’t like to express their emotions and feelings brightly and loudly. For a Russian with his emotionality, all this will be unusual. A Russian person can always be distinguished in a crowd by his gestures and volume. You will need to get out of the habit of these manners, as they may assume that the person is drunk.

There are a lot of police patrols on the streets, but they won’t stop anyone just like that. And if something happens, you shouldn’t resist. There are two ways out of the situation - calmly negotiate or proceed to the strong point, but also calmly. If you are detained by traffic controllers for unpaid travel, it is better to immediately pay a fine. Otherwise, you will be sent to the police with all the ensuing consequences.

In Belarus, it is not customary to meet people on the street or in transport, or indeed in any public place, except work, an educational institution or a nightclub. And don't start talking about politics. It is unlikely that anyone will support or approve. Always and everywhere you need to be calm, reasonable, polite and friendly. Then moving to the Republic of Belarus will bring pleasure to both you and those around you.