How to renew a residence permit in Belarus in 2021

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.

Types of residence permits in Belarus

A residence permit in Belarus for citizens of the Russian Federation has two subtypes:

temporary;
constant.

Russians have the right to come to the Republic of Belarus without a visa and stay on its territory for no more than one calendar month. In addition, they will not even need to apply for a work permit if they intend to find a job.

After a month of stay, those who intend to live in Belarus further must contact the Department of Internal Affairs at their place of residence and apply for a special permit for temporary stay. This permit will be valid for two months.

Next, you can begin to obtain a temporary residence permit; its validity will be two years. At the end of this period, you can apply either for extension of status or for permanent residence, if the latter is necessary.

A permanent residence permit (PR) is issued for five years. It can then be extended if there are sufficient grounds for this. A permanent residence permit practically equates him to a citizen of the Republic. The only exceptions are voting rights and some aspects of social security.

Video: features of immigration to Belarus

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.

Registration and receipt of a residence permit in Belarus

Tatyana 10. 19. 2021

I, gr. Ukrainian, married to a Belarusian, I want to share information about how I collected documents for a residence permit in the Republic of Belarus. Maybe it will be useful for someone... First, we found information about what documents were needed, and I arrived in Belarus with a police clearance certificate, which can be obtained free of charge after a month of waiting or, depending on payment, within 3 working days. In Belarus, we had about a week, no more, to do everything. So, Monday (day one): the passport office (the starting and ending point for collecting documents) was closed - a day off. In order not to waste time, knowing that we needed to take tests and wait for their results, we went to the clinic at my husband’s place of residence, and, accordingly, in my future. Entering the clinic, the first thing I did was go to the information window. I asked what I needed to obtain certificates for a residence permit. I was sent to the office. No. 1. It turned out to be a cash register. I stood in line anyway, in the hope that they would clarify everything for me. I came in with the same question. They say to me: “Your fee is 37 rubles.” I ask: “For what?” What tests are included in the fee? - We don’t know, go to the reception desk... I was already indignant, I said: - They’ve already sent me to you, you’ve sent me to the reception desk, how long is it possible? As a result, one of the girls herself took me to the receptionist window and asked me to provide me with all the information on my question. Only after this did I receive an insert with a list of necessary tests, including donating blood for HIV at a blood transfusion station at one address, fluorography at a tuberculosis dispensary at another, a skin test at a third, and there only with the results of a blood test, and in the clinic itself: the conclusions of an infectious disease specialist and the signature of the chief therapist. Okay, we’re going to the blood transfusion station, the test can be done with a passport and a fee of 19 rubles. My husband decided that we needed a referral from the clinic in order for this test to be credited to us. We return to the clinic, to the registry office - another employee is already there, takes the insert from us and asks who gave it to us without a direction from the passport office? My husband was already boiling. He goes to the head physician, describes the situation, that the workers are incompetent, and we don’t have time. She sends her to a specialist “for various issues.” Please inform us. Is it possible to take tests without a referral and then attach them, and for what should we pay the clinic 37 rubles ($19) if all tests must be paid for at the place where they were taken? She leads us to the accounting department, we wait outside the doors for 5 minutes. The accounting department confirms that you need to pay 37 rubles just for the signatures of our doctors... Okay. Let's go donate blood. The time is already after lunch, which means the result will not be ready tomorrow, but the next day - on Wednesday. Then we decided to submit documents for translation from Ukrainian into Russian. We found a translation agency in the center. We ask how much the services cost? Translation of one document – 15 rubles. + notary certification 20 rub. Total for the document is 35 rubles! And I have three of them - a passport, a police clearance certificate and a marriage certificate (concluded in Ukraine). Total 105 rubles (53 dollars)! I have an impulse to agree immediately, just to make it faster. The husband, being a frugal person, refuses. Let's go look further. And we found a notary’s office, where certification of a document costs 12.8 rubles! Class! On the contrary, a translator worked at home, who charged us 18 rubles for 3 documents. Total 38.40, all together – 57 rubles. (saving 48 rubles). On the same day, we managed to get a fluorography done at the tuberculosis dispensary - 15 rubles, + a certificate stating that I am not registered with them - 5 rubles. (although how can I stand if I just arrived). That's it, the first day was hectic, but productive. It's good that we are by car. Tuesday (day two): in the morning we went to get the documents translated, then to the notary, then again to the translator (I didn’t put two dots over the letter e, because of which the last name would have been read differently, and there could have been problems with discrepancies between us with husband's last names). Well, and finally, to the passport office for TS (valuable instructions) on what to do next. There they handed me a list of necessary documents, directions to the clinic and to the police for fingerprints and palm prints, the list also included the purchase of a cardboard folder with a binder to open my case! Nowhere were they given a file or an A4 piece of paper for free, as I later found out that civil service employees almost buy it all themselves for work)! We decided to go to the clinic to pay their fee and get a card for me. I came straight to the cashier. The girls saw my last name, giggled and told me to pay the amount of 12.80 rubles. When I asked why it wasn’t 37, as it was yesterday, they said that if I had taken all the tests from them, it would have been 37, but it was 12.8! Yeah, that means the visits to the head doctor and the accounting department were not in vain - saving 24.20 rubles. ($12). I said that, in principle, no one offered me to take tests from them (initially, in the direction there were addresses written down, where to take what. Well, okay. We got a card, went to the police, got to lunch - an hour wasted. I gave my fingerprints on the first once in a lifetime. We went to the bank, paid a state fee of 42 rubles (another 40 minutes of time - there are always queues at the savings bank, it feels like Belarusians don’t work, but only pay for something all the time). We went to the housing service station, found out how works and what is needed in order to register me. It turned out that the owner of the apartment (mother) and the husband’s birth certificate are needed to prove that he is her son (good, not a DNA test). Okay, the next day they asked the mother to come to city (200 km). I'm starting to worry that my birth certificate will be needed (you never know), but it's at home. Just in case, I called my parents so that they could send it by fax, if anything happens. But, no, it wasn't needed. Wednesday (day three): in the morning for blood tests, then with them to the skin department. Again through the cash register - 23.80 rubles, the results will be ready only tomorrow after 15.00 - a day is lost. OK. At least my mother and I made it to the housing office in time. Thursday (day four): they took the tests and took me to the clinic. I go to the infectious disease doctor for a signature, they say it’s not an appointment day. There is no one to replace him. Again we threaten to go to the head physician; there is an infectious disease specialist who has agreed to sign and seal it. Another signature from the chief therapist and hooray! All documents are on hand! It’s a pity that I didn’t have time to get my passport before lunch. Friday (day five): got up at 6:30 in order to be the first at the passport office by 8 am. We arrive - first! We go into the office, and the passport officer is at a meeting until 11 o’clock... For now we decided to check the documents. They told me to rewrite my autobiography, but they didn’t move 3 cm from the edge. And the signature is placed only in the presence of the inspector. OK. I’ll rewrite it for the fifth time, the first times it didn’t work according to the template, I always missed something. You also need to go to the head of the passport office so that she registers a certificate from the Housing Office. Ok, the boss is also at the meeting. They ask you to make a photocopy of documents. Ok, let's go do it. We arrive - the inspector is there, the boss is not yet there. Time is moving towards lunch. We call the indicated numbers in case of absence of the boss. The bell rings in the next office. But they can't help us. After 15 minutes the boss appears (maybe they helped after all). Stamp, signature. Back to the inspector - busy. He comes out and says to come after lunch, he won’t have time to receive him. OK. We arrive again in 15 minutes. before opening to be the first. We walked in, proud of the documents we had collected, but a little tense, as if we weren’t going to be sent somewhere again. Everything is there - a cardboard folder, 4 photos, an autobiography, a medical certificate, a certificate from the police, from the housing department, a questionnaire. ALL! They give me 2 sheets of the questionnaire: information about me and my husband (checking that the marriage is not fictitious) This despite the fact that we got married a year and a half ago. What your parents look like, your apartment, what food you prefer, your style of clothing, hobbies, habits, gifts, etc. Imagine general photos! They are on the phone, I forgot the phone (it’s good that they didn’t send it). Reminded me of American films. Then I go out, accompanied by the inspector, and she takes her husband for the same procedure. Then we go in together again. He says that there will be more checks at the place of residence. He answers my smile: “What did you think?” There are cases of fictitious marriage! I think to myself: “Yeah, all my life I dreamed of going through all these procedures and living in Belarus!” But I’m silent, otherwise they won’t give me more. My case will be considered for up to 6 months. I can stay in Belarus for this period, but I must register. We leave and go to the registration office. Again you need to pay - 21 rubles. and fill out the form. Time moves towards the end of the working day. In order to finish everything and not leave it until tomorrow, I send my husband to the bank, while I stay to fill out the form and guard the line. I'm waiting for my husband, I'm nervous. I made it, hurray! We go in and give the receipt and application form. They are registering me for 3 months! - How? The case will be considered for up to six months! – No, according to the law, it is only possible for 3 months; if the documents are not ready, you will have to pay another 21 rubles for registration again! In total, a week of time was wasted, about $150 and nerves... A year ago, my husband applied for the same temporary residence permit in Ukraine in 2 days, and after 2 weeks the document was ready. It took: a translation and a photocopy of the passport, registration, payment for health insurance (not medical examinations!) AND EVERYTHING! You don't even need a police clearance certificate. I concluded that Belarus is a country with strict European laws, but, unfortunately, with a low standard of living. Everything is simpler in Ukraine!

Answer

Elena 2.5.2021

Hello Tatiana. I am from Ukraine, Lugansk region. I’m going to Belarus in the fall to apply for a residence permit. There are battles in my area. I am currently working in Russia. I have read your comments. Since you are also a citizen of Ukraine, please tell me what to do correctly with the paperwork, and how much money do I need for all this? Thank you!

Answer

Alexandra 4. 16. 2021

I have exactly the same situation as you, with marriage and with filing documents. I applied for an urgent one, they said it would be ready in a month. I've been waiting for more than a month and a half. Since I am now in Ukraine, in order not to waste time, I am resolving issues with the departure of children from my first marriage. Therefore, tell me, after what period were you given a residence permit? I'm already worried.

Answer

Angelina 1. 16. 2021

Hello, can I discuss the topic of residence permit with you?

Answer

Angelina 1. 16. 2021

Hello! Can I contact you somehow? I have the same situation as you.

Answer

Inna 9. 22. 2021

Good day! I read your lines and laughed a lot. It seems funny, but in the end it makes your hair stand on end. The work schedule, irreplaceable specialists and bosses are bureaucratic gimmicks that will make you not want to live in this country. This will always be inevitable in everything... I wish you strong nerves and good luck!

Answer

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.

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.

How is life in Belarus?

Probably, in none of the post-Soviet republics are the echoes of the socialist past heard with such force as in the Republic of Belarus. This country stopped somewhere halfway from the Soviet Union to the world that we can observe today. In Belarus you can still meet pioneers, collective farms have been preserved here, and the state symbols of independent Belarus are almost the flag and coat of arms of the Belarusian SSR.

According to estimates as of January 1, 2021, Belarus has a population of 9,408,400 people. There is an annual population decline, which occurs primarily due to the fact that the number of Belarusians who die annually exceeds the number of births.

The average salary in Belarus is almost $504. The “minimum wage” from January 1, 2021 is set at $155. In Belarus, wages are paid stably and there are no particular problems with work. Although, as in Russia, there are some professions that are traditionally low paid. These include, for example, representatives of the public education and health care systems.

Housing in Belarus cannot be called expensive. The cost of one square meter in a new building in Minsk is about $1,327. But the Belarusian capital is also considered the most expensive city in the country. For example, the cost per square meter in Gomel or Mogilev will be no more than half a thousand dollars. And utilities for a two-room Soviet-built apartment generally cost an average of $30–40 a month.

A Russian who arrives in Belarus, for example, from Moscow or St. Petersburg, will feel like a very wealthy person in Belarus. It is precisely because of its relative low cost of living that Belarus is attractive to many Russians today. This especially applies to people of retirement age. By the way, in the Republic of Belarus men retire at 62 years and 6 months, women finish their career five years earlier - at 57 years and 6 months. It is planned to gradually increase the retirement age in 2022: to 63 and 58 years, respectively. The average Belarusian pension is close to 141 US dollars. To receive a labor pension, you must have more than 18 years of service. Some categories of Belarusians have the right to reduce the length of service required for a pension by an average of five years.

For an immigrant from any CIS country, Belarusians will seem very hospitable and friendly. Here it is almost impossible to encounter manifestations of hostility caused by belonging to a certain nationality or religion. Belarus is famous for its political stability, although most countries consider it an authoritarian state. Political stability automatically leads to economic stability. Belarusians are confident that they live quite well, so they never criticize the authorities.

Video: what is modern Belarus like?

I visited Belarus with friends, so I was able to form my own impression of this country. My friends live in Vitebsk, but as part of the trip there was also an excursion to Minsk. The territory of Belarus is not very large when compared with Russian expanses. I was struck by the high quality of the roads and the fact that almost all drivers comply with the traffic rules. In particular, this applies to compliance with the speed limit. And the reason for this is not only fines, but also the consciousness of the drivers themselves. My memory retains impressions of the Soviet Union, the last years of whose existence I remember well. In Belarus it seemed that I had returned many years ago. This is probably what the USSR could have been like if it had not collapsed. In the Belarusian outback, you sometimes forget that you are in another country - everything is so familiar and it seems that you understand that you are not at home only after hearing Belarusian speech. The attitude towards Russians here is more than positive. Many older generation Belarusians consider Belarusian or Russian passports to be some kind of misunderstanding, so to speak. They continue to see Russians and Belarusians as one people. But in fact, the real situation is not as rosy as the local media are trying to cover it. You understand this in the Belarusian outback, where there are meager wages, problems with work, and a lack of prospects for personal and professional development. But, characteristically, I have never heard any complaints from Belarusians about the authorities. And not because they are afraid to express their own opinions. They are simply sure that this is what a truly happy country should look like.

Immigrants, including from the Russian Federation, living in Belarus can count on significant social benefits. For example, their children can attend preschool institutions and receive secondary education free of charge. If necessary, an immigrant can apply to the Belarusian authorities for a subsidy to pay for housing and communal services or ask for financial assistance.

Russians today rarely travel to Belarus. As a rule, they move due to reunification with close relatives living in Belarus, or for work. There are also many Russian pensioners in this country, especially military ones, who previously served on Belarusian territory as part of the Soviet Army, and after being discharged to the reserve returned to their homes.

The quality of roads in Belarus is excellent

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.

Grounds for residence permit

It is believed that it is not difficult for migrants from Russia to obtain a Belarusian residence permit. There are a number of reasons for receiving it:

The birth of a migrant on the territory of Belarus (including if it happened during the USSR).
Family ties with Belarusian citizens (the relationship must be close, and this fact will need to be documented).
Registration of marriage with a Belarusian passport holder.
Investments in the Belarusian economy (from 150 thousand euros and more).
Participation in Belarusian programs to attract highly qualified foreign specialists to enterprises in the country.
Studying in Belarus.
Official employment in the country.
Moving to settled life. This means that a migrant who has been in the country legally for at least 7 years, but who previously had no other grounds for this, can obtain a residence permit.
Availability of refugee status (in this case, the application is considered for 6 months).

We also note that ethnic Belarusians, as well as their close relatives and descendants, have a preferential right. In addition, the Belarusian authorities provide conditions for simplified obtaining of a residence permit. In particular, this paragraph concerns international agreements, according to which residents of certain states have the right to such a bonus (such an agreement was concluded between the Russian Federation and Belarus).

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.

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.