Immigration To Belarus: What Are Your Options?

Belarus is a country with a rich cultural history and picturesque natural beauty. It is a former Soviet republic that remains quite isolated from the international community due to the authoritarian nature of its government. The country has a unique charm, offering a way of life very different from that of Western Europe. Belarus has some fascinating World Heritage Sites, including the Struve Geodetic Arc and the Mir Castle Complex. The country's museums and galleries showcase the history and culture of the Belarusian people. The capital city, Minsk, is the location of the Belarus Opera and Ballet Theatre, with regular shows for music and dance lovers. The cost of living in Belarus is significantly cheaper than in Western European countries and the US. However, the private sector is tiny, and the economy is largely controlled by the state. Most foreign travellers need a visa to enter Belarus, although citizens of certain countries are exempt from this requirement.

Visa requirements

The visa requirements for entering Belarus vary depending on the traveller's nationality and the purpose and duration of their visit. Belarus issues transit (B), short-term (C), and long-term (D) visas. Here is a comprehensive overview of the visa requirements for Belarus:

Visa-Exempt Entry

Citizens of certain countries can enter Belarus without a visa for a specified period, thanks to intergovernmental agreements or participation in visa-free programs. Here are the countries whose citizens can enjoy visa-free entry to Belarus:

• Albania (up to 30 days per trip, not exceeding 90 days per year)
• Argentina (up to 90 days per trip per year)
• Brazil (up to 90 days)
• China (up to 30 days, not more than 90 days per year)
• Hong Kong (up to 30 days per trip)
• Macao (up to 30 days, not more than 90 days per year)
• Cuba (up to 30 days)
• Ecuador (up to 30 days)
• Israel (up to 90 days in each 180-day period)
• Macedonia (with a private invitation, tourist voucher, or for visiting burial sites)
• Mongolia (up to 90 days)
• Montenegro (up to 30 days)
• Nicaragua (up to 90 days)
• Qatar (up to 30 days)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis (up to 30 days)
• Serbia (up to 30 days)
• Türkiye (up to 30 days)
• United Arab Emirates (up to 90 days)
• Venezuela (up to 90 days)

Additionally, investors and individuals associated with the Hi-Tech Park and its resident companies can stay in Belarus for up to 180 days without a visa.

Short-Term Visa (C)

The short-term visa is the most commonly used type and is suitable for private travellers on family business or short-term stays. It is valid for up to 90 days and can be single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry. To obtain a short-term visa, applicants must submit the following documents:

• Completed and signed application form
• Recent passport-size photograph (made within the last 6 months)
• Valid passport (valid for at least 90 days after the intended stay with at least two blank pages)
• Supporting documents (e.g., formal request, invitation letter, proof of accommodation)
• Medical insurance valid in Belarus with coverage of at least €10,000
• Proof of visa fee payment

Long-Term Visa (D)

Long-term visas are typically valid from 90 days up to five years and allow multiple entries to Belarus. They are suitable for frequent business travellers or private travellers intending to stay for an extended period. The requirements for obtaining a long-term visa are similar to those for a short-term visa, including the submission of necessary documents and proof of visa fee payment.

Transit Visa (B)

Transit visas are valid for up to one year and allow travellers to stay in Belarus for a maximum of two days each time they pass through the country en route to another destination.

Visa Application Process

Visas for Belarus can be obtained from the following authorities:

• Embassies of Belarus
• Consulates of Belarus
• Consular Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Minsk National Airport

The standard processing time for visa applications is five working days, with an option for expedited processing within two working days for an additional fee. The visa fee for all types of visas is €60, with exemptions for certain nationalities and age groups.

Registration Requirements

Foreign citizens planning to stay in Belarus temporarily must register with a registration body within ten days of their arrival, unless international treaties or other legislative acts specify otherwise. This requirement is outlined in Article 41 of the Republic of Belarus Act of January 4, 2010, which pertains to the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the country.

Electronic registration is available for free through the Unified portal for electronic services. However, foreigners arriving from the state border with Russia must apply in person to the citizenship and migration unit of the internal affairs body at their place of residence in Belarus.

Dual Citizenship Considerations

Individuals with dual citizenship of Belarus and another country, such as the United States, should be aware of the passport requirements when entering and exiting Belarus. Belarusian law requires Belarusian citizens to use their Belarusian passports when entering or leaving the country. Failure to do so may result in difficulties departing Belarus, especially if the Belarusian passport has expired or been lost.

Registration

Foreign citizens and stateless persons who are temporarily staying in Belarus are required to register with the local office of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior (formerly OVIR) within five business days of arrival. Those who are staying in Belarus for no more than 5 business days (plus a weekend) are not required to register. The registration fee is approximately $6, regardless of the duration of the stay. Failure to register can result in fines and difficulties when departing.

Since 2 January 2019, foreign citizens and stateless persons can register online through a single portal of electronic services at portal.gov.by, without visiting the internal affairs agency in person. This administrative procedure is free and can be used by foreigners who entered Belarus at any checkpoint.

To extend the registration period, a foreigner must visit the Citizenship and Migration Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs responsible for the place of their stay in Belarus.

Foreigners who arrive in Belarus through the border with Russia should apply for registration in person at the Citizenship and Migration Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs responsible for the place of their stay in Belarus.

To register, one will need a computer, mobile phone, or tablet with internet access. Using any browser, go to the website of the unified portal for electronic services (portal.gov.by), choose the language, create a personal account using an email address, then select the "Citizenship and migration" category in the "Available services" tab. Next, order the service, and fill out the application (foreigner registration code 200.12.14.1.).

The application should contain the foreigner's surname and name in Latin or Cyrillic as indicated in the passport (one option is sufficient), passport information, insurance, date of entry into the country, and address of temporal stay. There is also a column for visa information, but if, for example, a foreigner arrives in Belarus under the visa-free mode, there is no need to fill it out. It is also necessary to ensure the correct filling of all fields obligatory for completion.

After checking all the data entered, click the "Send application" button. After a few seconds, one should receive a message about the successful registration or the system will recommend contacting the citizenship and migration unit if the information does not match.

A foreigner does not have to carry proof of electronic registration. It is enough to report this, for example, to a border guard officer when leaving the country. However, one can save a screenshot of the answer about the successful registration or print the registration form to speed up the verification process.

Healthcare

If you are a foreign citizen, you must have a certificate of insurance from a foreign country or take out health insurance at border checkpoints to obtain a visa and enter Belarus. This insurance must meet the following requirements:

• Name of a foreign insurance company and its location, phone numbers, or international assistance services
• Surname, first name, and patronym (if applicable) of the foreign citizen
• Valid for the duration of the temporary stay or temporary residence in Belarus
• Provide a minimum insured amount of 10,000 euros
• Valid in the territory of the Republic of Belarus

If you do not have the appropriate insurance and refuse to take out compulsory health insurance at the border, you will be denied entry to Belarus.

For routine treatments or check-ups, expats will find healthcare in Belarus to be cheap and easily accessible. However, those needing significant medical treatment will likely need to seek this abroad.

There has been a recent focus on improving migrant health and access to healthcare in Belarus, with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) conducting a study on this topic between 2022 and 2023. The IOM is also supporting the Belarusian government in aligning its migration health policies and programs with international best practices, particularly regarding the prevention of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, and COVID-19.

In addition, Belarus has included migrants in the national vaccination plan, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides emergency and urgent medical, social, and psychological assistance to vulnerable migrants in difficult situations.

Cost of living

The cost of living in Belarus is significantly lower than in Western European countries and the US. According to the 2024 Mercer Cost of Living Survey, Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, ranked 212th out of 226 cities surveyed. The cost of living in Belarus is, on average, 61.8% lower than in the United States, and a single person's estimated monthly costs are around $460.70 without rent. The average salary after taxes in Belarus is $483, which is enough to cover living expenses for about 0.9 months.

Accommodation, public transport, and groceries are affordable in Belarus. A few specific prices include:

• A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs around $25.
• A domestic beer (0.5 litres) costs around $0.75.
• A litre of milk costs around $1.
• A loaf of fresh white bread (1 lb) costs around $0.75.
• One pound of chicken fillets costs around $2.50.

However, alcohol and clothing can be expensive. Healthcare in Belarus is not up to the standards of many other countries, so those needing significant medical treatment may need to seek it abroad. Nevertheless, for routine treatments or check-ups, healthcare is cheap and easily accessible.

Overall, Belarus offers an above-average standard of living at a well-below-average cost. The country has a unique culture and picturesque natural beauty, making it a charming destination for expats.

Language and culture

The official languages of Belarus are Belarusian and Russian. Belarusian is an East Slavic language, descended from Old East Slavic and Ruthenian. It shares many grammatical and lexical features with Russian and Ukrainian, with a degree of mutual intelligibility between the three languages. The Belarusian alphabet is a variant of the Cyrillic script, which was first used as an alphabet for the Old Church Slavonic language.

In the first Belarusian census in 1999, about 36.7% of the population declared Belarusian as a "language spoken at home". About 85.6% of Belarusians declared it their "mother tongue". However, in a 2009 census, this number dropped to 60.8% for those who declared Belarusian as their native language, and only 26.1% of Belarusians reported speaking it at home. In the most recent census, in 2019, around 60% of the population perceived Belarusian as their native language, but only about 25% used it in their daily lives.

The dominance of Russian in Belarus is a result of the country's history as part of the Russian Empire and, later, the Soviet Union. The Russification of Belarus has been a gradual process, with the Russian language, culture, and symbols being imposed during the Czarist and Soviet eras. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Belarusian was briefly the sole official language of the country. However, when Alexander Lukashenko came to power in 1994, he made Russian an official language alongside Belarusian and removed nationalist symbols.

Today, Russian dominates public life in Belarus. Official business is conducted in Russian, and the language is prevalent in the media. President Lukashenko himself speaks only Russian, and Russian is the primary language of education and administration. The use of Belarusian is largely confined to rural areas and certain spheres of education and culture. Even speaking Belarusian is seen as a show of opposition to Lukashenko and a declaration of national identity.

The decline in the use of Belarusian has been accompanied by a decline in the teaching of the language. There are few international schools in Belarus, and those that exist are mostly located in the capital, Minsk. While the standard of education is high, expat parents intending to stay in the country long-term may prefer local public schools for their children. As of 2016, there were no Belarusian-language universities in the country.

Despite the dominance of Russian, Belarus has a rich cultural history and offers a way of life very different from that of Western Europe. The country is home to several World Heritage Sites, including the Struve Geodetic Arc and the Mir Castle Complex. The Belarus Opera and Ballet Theater in Minsk host regular shows for music and dance lovers. The country's museums and galleries showcase the history and culture of the Belarusian people.

Frequently asked questions