Temporary Registration of Foreigners in Belarus

There are several regimes for the stay of foreign nationals in Belarus. Each case requires its own migration permit document. For example, for permanent residence – a residence permit; for temporary residence – a temporary residence permit (TRP); and for temporary stay – temporary registration.

Who is required to register in Belarus

Registration is required for temporarily staying foreigners who enter Belarus either with a visa or under a visa‑free.

As a general rule, a foreigner has to register at their place of stay within 10 calendar days of entry. However, there are bilateral agreements with certain countries that provide for different periods. Unlike the general rule, citizens of Russia have the right to stay in Belarus without registration for longer – up to 90 calendar days.

Preferential treatment is also provided for citizens of the following countries:

• Armenia
• Kazakhstan
• Lithuania
• United Arab Emirates
• Ukraine
• Estonia

Citizens of the countries listed above may stay in Belarus for up to 30 calendar days without registration.

Duration of temporary registration

A foreign citizen is registered at their place of stay for a period not exceeding the validity of their visa and no more than 90 days in a calendar year. In the case of visa‑free entry – no more than 90 days in a calendar year.

Procedure for temporary registration in Belarus for foreigners

The procedure for registering a foreign citizen includes both additional and main steps.

Step 1. To choose a place of stay

Upon arrival in Belarus, the foreigner has to choose a place of residence. This may be a hotel or an apartment. The registration procedure depends on this choice:

• if staying at a hotel / inn: registration is carried out by the hotel administration.
• if staying in an apartment: it is possible to file an application either in person or online.

Please note that the online method is only possible if you entered Belarus through a state border checkpoint (not from Russia).

Step 2. Property owner notifies the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Currently, when providing residential premises to a foreigner under a paid agreement (for more than one day), the owner has to notify the competent authorities. Such notification may be submitted:

• online (via the «E‑Pasluga» service); or
• in person (to the Citizenship and Migration Department (OGIM) or to the local police department).

Step 3. To gather documents and choose the submission method

The following steps depend on the method of document submission and the foreigner’s citizenship. Below we outline the general procedure.

For registration at the migration authority, the personal presence of the applicant is required. An exception is made for entry into Belarus for business or work purposes, based on a petition from the company.

Extension of temporary registration

Under certain circumstances, temporary registration can be extended. These circumstances are set out in article 40 of the Law «On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Belarus». One such circumstance is, for example, the person’s illness. In practice, the need to extend registration also arises when submitting documents for temporary or permanent residence.

To extend registration, you have to provide:

• passport
• application
• medical insurance
• payment of the state fee (1 base unit, about 13 EURO)

Changing the place of living in Belarus

Foreign citizens are required to reside strictly at their registered place of stay. When moving to another address, the foreigner has to apply for registration to the migration authority at the new address. The deadline is 3 days from the date of the move.

How Green Legal can help

The lawyers of Green Legal have many years of experience in the field of migration support for businesses. Our experts will gladly assist your company with the complexities of the law, explain all the nuances of the temporary registration procedure, registration of residence, obtaining a residence permit, prepare the necessary documents, and, if required, provide full‑turnkey support for all migration procedures.