Residency in Belarus – Types, Requirements and Process (2025)
Belarus offers two main legal residency options for foreign nationals: temporary and permanent residence. A third, long-term goal is citizenship. Below is a full overview updated to 2025.
🕒 1. Temporary Residence (up to 1 year) — Временное проживание (до 1 года)
This permit allows foreign nationals to legally reside in Belarus for up to 365 consecutive days. It is issued as a sticker affixed in the passport.
✅ Eligible Reasons
- Employment (contracted or self-employed)
- Marriage to a Belarusian citizen
- Family ties (children, parents, close relatives)
- Economic investment (e.g. property purchase or business activity)
📋 Main Requirements
- Passport valid for more than one year
- Health insurance from a Belarusian provider with 1-year coverage
- Proof of sufficient funds (based on official minimum salary)
- Rental contract or property ownership certificate
- Supporting documents for the chosen reason (e.g. job contract, marriage certificate)
🛂 Operational Notes
- Does not grant full permanent resident status
- Access to public healthcare is limited to emergencies; insurance covers hospitalizations
- To leave and re-enter Belarus, a re-entry visa is required (can be obtained:
- from the immigration office (valid for the duration of the residence),
- or from a Belarusian Consult abroad).
- Validity depends on document expiration: if the passport or insurance expires in 6 months, so will the residence.
- Processing time: approximately 3 weeks
🕊️ 2. Permanent Residence (Residence Permit) — Постоянное проживание (вид на жительство)
This type of residence provides a stable legal status and full access to rights, including public healthcare under the same conditions as Belarusian citizens.
📋 Main Requirements
- Physical presence in Belarus during the application
- Meeting one of the legal grounds (family, marriage, work, investment, etc.)
- Medical examination in Belarus with fitness certificate from a local doctor
- Personal resume (life summary, reasons for applying, future plans)
- No financial proof required
- Russian language is not mandatory
🕓 Duration & Renewal
- First issue: 2 years
- Renewal: 10 years
🏥 Healthcare Access
- Full access to public healthcare (where free for citizens)
- Private clinics remain paid services
⏱ Processing Time
Generally completed within a few weeks.
🇧🇾 Belarusian Citizenship — Гражданство Республики Беларусь
After at least 7 consecutive years of permanent residence (2,555+ days), a foreign citizen may apply for Belarusian citizenship.
📋 Main Requirements
- Uninterrupted legal residence in Belarus for 7+ years
- Integration into Belarusian society
- Knowledge of Russian (required for the citizenship interview)
🗂 Notes
- If eligibility criteria are met, the process is generally straightforward
- Authorities may request additional documents on a case-by-case basis