Who and how will be able to get from Belarus to the Russian Federation after the border is closed?

Life outside of Russia

According to the legislation of Belarus, its citizens can have only one citizenship, so it will not be possible to have both Russian and Belarusian citizenship at the same time. Russians can stay in Belarus continuously for a month, without documentation. For permanent stay for a period exceeding a month, it is necessary to obtain a Belarusian temporary residence permit. This is a document that allows you to stay on Belarusian territory continuously for up to a year. The validity of the document can be extended. Temporary permission is granted for the following purposes:

1. For the period of training, advanced training;
2. Spouses or close relatives of persons who reside in Belarus;
3. For the period of validity of the employment contract.

The full list is established in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Belarus”.

Long-term residence in Belarus for Russian citizens can be ensured through a residence permit. The document is issued after receiving a permanent residence permit. The issuance is carried out by the internal affairs bodies of the districts where the applicant is registered. Along with the application you must provide:

• An autobiography compiled in any form (all information must be provided honestly, since government agencies check information through international databases and requests. False information is the reason for refusal);
• Valid passport or foreign passport, refugee certificate;
• Certificate of no criminal record;
• Document confirming your place of residence. Foreigners are required to notify the migration service of a change of address within five days from the date of move;
• An up-to-date standard health certificate;
• Four photographs (of a certain size, matteness and percentage of the face in the photo);
• A document guaranteeing the availability of a place of residence (apartment purchase and sale agreement, deed of gift, inheritance documents, rental agreement, long-term paid hotel reservation);
• State duty payment receipt (original with blue bank seal).

List of documents

For tourist visa

1. A valid foreign passport of a foreign citizen or a travel document of a stateless person (original and 2 copies);
2. Document confirming your stay on the territory of the Republic of Belarus (visa, or residence permit and its 2 copies)
3. Completed visa application form;
4. One photo (3.5 by 4.5);
5. Medical insurance*
6. Confirmation of acceptance of a foreign tourist by an organization engaged in tour operator activities registered on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Tourist visas can be single or double entry valid for up to 30 days. Based on the principle of reciprocity, they can be issued for up to six months (for citizens of Austria, Hungary, Greece, India and Spain).

For a transit visa:

1. Valid foreign passport or travel document of a stateless person (original and 2 copies);
2. Document confirming your stay on the territory of the Republic of Belarus (visa, or residence permit and its 2 copies)
3. Completed visa application form;
4. One photo (3.5 by 4.5);
5. tickets valid for leaving Russia ;
6. Medical insurance*
7. A visa to enter a state adjacent to the Russian Federation along the route, or a visa of the destination country, or a passport of this country.

A transit visa to a foreigner or stateless person traveling through the territory of Russia to the country of destination by air is issued for a period of no more than three days. For persons traveling in transit by personal vehicle, the visa validity period is determined at the rate of 500 km. in one day's journey.

For business or humanitarian visas:

1. A valid foreign passport or travel document of a stateless person (original and copy);
2. Completed visa application form;
3. One photo;
4. Medical insurance*
5. Original invitation issued by the Main Directorate for Migration Issues (GUVM) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, short or full form of electronic invitation of the Main Directorate for Migration Issues (GUVM) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, invitation (telex instruction) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

*

1. Based on the principle of reciprocity, the provision of a health insurance policy is mandatory for all citizens of the Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland , Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland and Estonia), as well as Israel and Ireland. The policy must cover the entire period of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation in the case of a single or double entry visa, or for the duration of the first trip in the case of a multiple-entry visa.

II. The procedure for issuing invitations, as well as making decisions on issuing visas to foreign citizens and stateless persons

8. To receive an invitation, as well as make a decision on issuing a visa, the applicant submits to the Consular Department of the Ministry on paper:

- a petition drawn up in Russian;

- a copy of the identity document of the invited foreign citizen or stateless person and recognized by the Russian Federation in this capacity, the validity of which, as a rule, should not expire earlier than 6 months from the expiration date of the visa;

— a letter of guarantee from the inviting party regarding the assumption of obligations for material, medical and housing support for the invited foreign citizen or stateless person for the period of his stay in the Russian Federation.

9. To receive an invitation, as well as make a decision on issuing a visa electronically, the applicant submits the following documents electronically:

- a petition drawn up in Russian;

- a copy of the identity document of the invited foreign citizen or stateless person and recognized by the Russian Federation in this capacity, the validity of which, as a rule, should not expire earlier than 6 months from the expiration date of the visa;

— a letter of guarantee from the inviting party regarding the assumption of obligations for material, medical and housing support for the invited foreign citizen or stateless person for the period of his stay in the Russian Federation.

20. If there are no grounds for refusing to accept documents, the official responsible for accepting and registering documents creates a case, registers the case in the database, assigning it an individual registration number, determines the category, frequency, type, validity period of the visa being issued and enters such information in the formed case, draws up and issues to the applicant a certificate of acceptance of documents indicating the case number, date of receipt of documents, date of readiness of the invitation or the date of sending to the foreign institution an electronic instruction to issue a visa to a foreign citizen or stateless person.

When an applicant applies electronically, if there are no grounds for refusing to accept documents, the official responsible for receiving and registering documents creates a case, registers the case in the database, assigning it an individual registration number, determines the category, frequency, type, and validity period of the document being drawn up. visa and enters such information into the generated file, sends to the applicant a certificate in electronic form about the acceptance of documents indicating the case number, the date of receipt of documents, the date of readiness of the invitation or the date of sending to a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Russian Federation an electronic instruction to issue a visa to a foreigner or stateless person , notifies the applicant of the need to submit a complete set of documents on paper within a period not exceeding 3 days from the date of sending the documents in electronic form.

Extract from Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of July 17, 2012 N 12077

5. Invitation on the letterhead of a legal entity (only for citizens of EU member countries, China, USA, Japan, Iran and India). Such an invitation is drawn up in any form, but must necessarily contain the following information:

• 1) for the invited person - first name, last name, date of birth, gender, citizenship, identification document number, duration and purpose of the trip, number of entries, names of minor children traveling with the invited person;
• 2) for the inviting organization - the full name of the legal entity, address, taxpayer identification number (TIN), as well as the name and position of the person who signed the appeal

Sample of filling out a legal entity's application

Please note that foreign citizens traveling by air in transit through the territory of the Russian Federation from the Republic of Belarus must apply for Russian transit visas, since these flights are not serviced in terminals with access to the transit zone.

February 3 this year Order No. 24320 of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs of December 17, 2018 “On approval of the Unified Methodology for calculating fee rates for reimbursement of actual expenses associated with consular actions” comes into force

The updated methodology establishes uniform rates of fees for reimbursement of actual costs for obtaining a visa, regardless of the citizenship of the applicant and the state of residence of the Russian foreign institution in which it is issued, in particular:

tourist/business single-entry visa – USD 30,

tourist/business double-entry visa – USD 48,

tourist/business multiple entry – USD 90,

single-entry transit visa - USD 30,

double-entry transit visa – USD 48

An exception to this rule remains visa applications from citizens of foreign countries with which the Russian Federation has concluded international treaties establishing fixed rates of visa fees.

Information provided from the official website of the Russian Embassy in the Republic of Belarus. Apply for a visa to the Russian Federation for a foreign citizen.

Collection and submission of documents

When collecting documents and during the application, it is necessary to take into account the duration of validity of certificates and extracts. Some are valid for six months, and a criminal record certificate is valid for 3 months. The Migration Department is required to consider an application for permanent residence within one, three or six months (the period depends on the reason for the move). The first residence permit is granted to foreign citizens for a period not exceeding two years . Subsequent permits are issued for five years.

However, if the permit was issued for four years, and there is one and a half years left until the passport expires, then the permit will be valid for only one and a half years. After receiving a new passport, you must apply for a residence permit again.

State protection is not provided to the extent that it is provided to citizens of the country. Russians are not given the right to free healthcare. Part of the benefits cannot be applied to them. A driver's license is valid in Belarus temporarily (within ninety days from the date of entry, the license must be exchanged for a national license and the theory must be passed).

Persons with a residence permit are exempt from compulsory military service.

After the expiration of the two-year and five-year residence permits, Russian citizens can apply to migration departments to obtain a Belarusian passport.

Documents are submitted by personal application.
In some cases, a seven-year residence period is not necessary: ​​the benefit is provided if the applicant indicates his Belarusian ancestors, outstanding services to the Republic of Belarus, and so on.
To acquire Belarusian citizenship, you need to collect a more complete package of documents. You will also have to provide a birth certificate (or a certified copy), civil status documents, and confirmation of your ability to support yourself. In addition, the documents must be accompanied by confirmation of the renunciation of Russian citizenship or a document guaranteeing the renunciation.

Is entry from Russia to Belarus allowed?

Let's figure out whether the border with Belarus is open as of the end of July. Officially, the Prime Minister of Belarus announced the full opening of borders in the “coming days.” Currently, crossing is possible for citizens traveling for the purpose of study, work or treatment.

That is, when asked whether it is now possible to travel to Minsk by car, they give a positive answer only if you have a work permit, documents for training or reserved rooms in a sanatorium.

Renunciation of citizenship

To formalize the renunciation of citizenship, you must contact the Russian diplomatic missions on the territory of Belarus. This type of application is reviewed by authorized bodies within a year. A permanent residence permit or a Belarusian passport may be refused if the following conditions are present:

1. The applicant was found guilty of a crime against peace and security;
2. The information provided by the applicant is false (in whole or in part);
3. If the applicant is a participant in a criminal proceeding, where he is an accused or suspect.
4. A Russian citizen who has committed a crime is subject to deportation from the country. Deportation revokes granted rights to stay in Belarus and imposes temporary bans on entry into the country. The maximum period of entry restriction is 5 years.

The process of preparing these documents is quite labor-intensive. You should pay attention to the working hours of departments, national holidays and take into account the work of the bureaucratic apparatus.

Number of Belarusians in Russia

Share of Belarusians by regions and cities of Russia (according to the 2010 census)

The share of Belarusians by region for 2010 according to the census (indicated where their share is more than 5%):