Belarus' Dual Citizenship Policy: Open Or Closed?

Belarus has strict laws regarding citizenship and nationality. While dual citizenship is not illegal, it is also not recognised by the country. This means that while a Belarusian citizen can acquire the citizenship of another country, they will only be recognised as a Belarusian citizen by the authorities. Belarusian citizens must use their Belarusian passports when entering or exiting the country. This has caused issues for dual citizens, who have been unable to leave the country due to issues with their Belarusian passports.

Dual citizenship is not recognised in Belarus

If you are a dual citizen of Belarus and another country, you should be aware that you will be treated as a Belarusian citizen while in Belarus. This means that you may experience difficulties departing the country if, for example, you have not satisfied the country's military service requirements.

While it is not illegal to hold dual citizenship in Belarus, it is important to note that Belarusian authorities will only recognise you as a citizen of Belarus. This may impact your ability to access consular services from your other country of citizenship. For example, if local authorities consider you a citizen of Belarus, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services.

It is also worth noting that the process of obtaining a new Belarusian passport can take a significant amount of time, especially if you need to obtain an Apostille for any supporting documents issued in another country.

Belarusian citizens must use a Belarusian passport to enter and exit the country

Dual Citizenship in Belarus

Belarus does not recognise dual citizenship. This means that a person who is a citizen of Belarus and acquires citizenship of another country will still be considered solely a citizen of Belarus while in Belarus. However, this does not mean that dual citizenship is illegal. It is simply a concept that is not recognised by the Belarusian government.

Belarusian Law

According to Belarusian law, citizens must use a Belarusian passport when entering or exiting the country. This has caused issues for some dual citizens, who have entered the country on their Belarusian passport but have been unable to leave due to their passport expiring or being lost.

Obtaining Dual Citizenship

Minors under 18 can hold dual citizenship if they are residing in Belarus temporarily or permanently and have a parent who is a national of another state. Upon turning 18, they must decide which citizenship they wish to keep. If they decide to keep their Belarusian citizenship, they must renounce the citizenship of any other country.

Travel to Belarus

When travelling to Belarus, it is important to be aware of the entry and exit requirements. For example, when entering Belarus by private vehicle, you must fill out a customs card and show proof of ownership documents or a power of attorney letter. You must also present proof of valid medical insurance translated into Belarusian or Russian.

In summary, while dual citizenship is not illegal in Belarus, it is also not recognised. This means that Belarusian citizens must abide by Belarusian laws and use their Belarusian passport when entering and exiting the country. Failure to do so could result in difficulties exiting the country.

Minors under 18 can hold dual citizenship

In Belarus, minors under 18 years of age can hold dual citizenship. This is because minors under 18 who are temporarily or permanently residing in Belarus and have one or both parents as nationals of other states are entitled to dual citizenship. However, upon reaching the age of 18, these individuals must choose which citizenship they wish to keep. If they decide to retain their Belarusian citizenship, they must renounce the citizenship of any other countries.

The laws regarding dual citizenship in Belarus are complex and can be distinguished by the concepts of "dual nationality" and "two nationalities". Dual nationality means that both states recognise both nationalities. On the other hand, the concept of two nationalities occurs when an individual has two or more nationalities, but each state only recognises its own nationality.

It is important to note that while dual citizenship may be allowed for minors under 18, there are still travel advisories and restrictions in place. For example, individuals who are citizens of both the United States and Belarus must use their Belarusian passports to enter and exit Belarus. Failure to do so may result in difficulties when trying to depart the country, especially if their Belarusian passports have expired or been lost. Additionally, males of conscript age (18-27 years old) who are deemed Belarusian citizens may face challenges when departing if they have not fulfilled their military service requirement.

The process of obtaining Belarusian citizenship for minors typically involves one of the following procedures:

• Citizenship by birth: A child acquires Belarusian citizenship by birth if at least one parent is a Belarusian citizen, regardless of the child's place of birth.
• Citizenship by descent: A child with at least one parent who is a Belarusian citizen and was born within Belarus is granted citizenship.
• Citizenship by naturalisation: This involves obtaining a permit for temporary residence, then permanent residence. After 5-10 years, an individual has the right to request a Belarusian passport.
• Citizenship by registration: This method is available to people who held USSR citizenship and were born in Belarus or had a residence before November 12, 1991, as well as their spouses and descendants.

Dual citizens may face difficulties when trying to depart Belarus

Dual citizenship is not recognised in Belarus. However, the existence of a second citizenship is not punishable and does not contradict Belarusian laws. This means that a Belarusian citizen can have two citizenships if the second state does not require them to withdraw from their Belarusian citizenship. In such cases, the Belarusian authorities will only recognise the individual as a citizen of Belarus.

Despite this, dual citizens may face difficulties when trying to depart Belarus. For instance, males of conscript age (18-27 years old) who are deemed Belarusian citizens may experience difficulties leaving the country if they have not satisfied their military service requirements.

Moreover, there have been instances where dual citizens of the US and Belarus entered the country using their Belarusian passports but were unable to leave as planned because their passports had expired or were lost. In such cases, they must use a Belarusian passport to depart, and it may take weeks or even months to obtain a new one. Lengthy delays may occur because all US-issued documents submitted in support of a Belarusian passport application must carry an Apostille issued by the Secretary of State in the US state where the document was issued.

Therefore, dual citizens planning to enter Belarus using their Belarusian passport should ensure its validity for their entire stay and carry Apostilled copies of any necessary US-issued documents. They should also be aware of the current travel advisories and the potential risks of arbitrary enforcement of local laws and armed conflict.

Belarusian citizenship may be revoked in certain cases

According to the Citizenship Act of the Republic of Belarus (2002), Belarusian citizenship can be revoked in certain cases. While the existence of a second citizenship is not punishable and does not contradict Belarusian laws, there are specific scenarios that can lead to the loss of Belarusian citizenship.

One such scenario is military service in a foreign state. Joining the military of another country can result in the involuntary loss of Belarusian citizenship. This is applicable to other forms of service as well, such as government or police service in another country.

Additionally, acquiring foreign citizenship voluntarily can lead to the loss of Belarusian citizenship. If a Belarusian citizen chooses to obtain citizenship from another country, they may need to renounce their Belarusian citizenship, especially if the other country requires them to withdraw from previous citizenships.

Belarusian citizenship may also be revoked if it was acquired under false statements. Providing false information or misleading declarations during the citizenship application process can result in the involuntary loss of Belarusian citizenship.

It is important to note that the right to dual citizenship in Belarus is only granted to minors under 18 who have parents that are nationals of other states. Upon reaching the age of 18, individuals with dual citizenship must choose one citizenship and renounce the other.

In recent developments, the Belarusian government has proposed legislation to revoke the citizenship of emigre political opponents who are deemed to be involved in "extremist" activities or considered a threat to national interests. This measure has been criticised as a means to target and punish dissidents living abroad.

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