Residence Permit for Foreign IT Specialists in Belarus

In the context of the intensive development of information technology, as well as considering the rapid growth in demand for qualified IT specialists, the issues of migration and obtaining residence permits are becoming increasingly relevant. As the owner of a powerful IT infrastructure, Belarus actively attracts foreign specialists and offers them favourable working and living conditions. In this article, we will look at what steps need to be taken to obtain a residence permit and the advantages this country provides for professionals seeking to develop and implement their ideas in the technology field.

What is a Residence Permit

A residence permit is a document issued by the state migration authorities to a foreign citizen. This document certifies the foreigner’s identity in the country and confirms that the foreigner has a permanent residence permit in Belarus.

A residence permit can be biometric or regular. Currently, only biometric residence permits are issued. A biometric residence permit is a plastic card with information printed on it.

A foreigner permanently residing in Belarus is a person who has a residence permit and a permanent residence permit. 

Residence Permit and Work 

Foreigners with residence permits have the right to work in Belarus, study, and receive medical services.

Knowing how to obtain a residence permit is useful for companies that want to hire foreign IT specialists.

What Should a Foreign IT Specialist Consider when Obtaining a Residence Permit in Belarus

Belarus attracts foreign IT specialists due to relatively low taxes, well-developed IT infrastructure, and opportunities for professional growth. However, obtaining a residence permit requires a careful approach. Let’s look at the key points that are worth considering.  

1. The Basis for Obtaining a Residence Permit

A foreign IT specialist must choose a suitable basis for obtaining a residence permit. Most often, it is:  

• An employment contract with a Belarusian IT company registered in the Hi-Tech Park (HTP).
• Opening IT-related business.
• Studying at a Belarusian university in an IT speciality (if you are continuing your studies).  
• Family circumstances (for example, if the spouse is a citizen of Belarus).  

In each case, confirmation of the basis will be required: an employment contract, a company registration certificate, or documents on family ties.  

2. Document Collection 

Prepare a complete set of documents before submitting your application. It usually includes:  

• Passport and its notarized translation into Russian or Belarusian;  
• Application for a residence permit;  
• Employment contract, business registration certificate;  
• Proof of income or availability of funds for living;  
• Medical certificate of health status;  
• A certificate of absence of a criminal record.  

Check the requirements with the migration service, as the list may vary depending on the reason.  

3. Migration Accounting and Registration  

After arrival in Belarus, it is necessary to be on a migration account within 10 days. This can be done online through the Ministry of Internal Affairs portal or at the Department of Immigration. Without this step, applying for a residence permit is impossible.  

4. Taxes and Insurance

IT specialists working in HTP companies can benefit from preferential taxation when paying social contributions. However, a foreigner needs to clarify their tax obligations on their own. You must also take out medical insurance to obtain a residence permit.  

5. Study of Legislation  

Please study Belarus’s migration legislation before submitting your documents. It will help you avoid mistakes and delays. For example, it is important to know that a residence permit must be extended in advance to avoid deportation.  

6. Language and Integration  

Although many IT companies work in English, knowledge of Russian or Belarusian will facilitate adaptation and interaction with government agencies.  

Preparation and strict observance of all procedures will help you obtain a residence permit in Belarus and focus on professional activities in this country.

How to Get a Residence Permit in Belarus

Obtaining a residence permit consists of several stages. The first is to obtain a permanent residence permit, and then, based on this permit, a residence permit is issued.

Permanent Residence Permit

A permanent residence permit can be obtained not only on the basis of an invitation from a Belarusian employer but also by close relatives of Belarusian citizens who live in Belarus permanently. Former citizens of Belarus, investors, descendants of Belarusians, and some other foreigners can also obtain permanent residence permits.

A permanent residence permit looks like the conclusion of the citizenship and migration authority.

An IT specialist abroad or in Belarus can obtain a permanent residence permit.

Foreigners who have been granted a permanent residence permit in Belarus have several responsibilities:

• You must register at your place of residence in Belarus no later than three months after receiving the permit.
• Permanently reside at this place of residence.

How to Get a Permanent Residence Permit and Residence Permit in Belarus

Step 1. Registration at the place of temporary residence in Belarus

A foreigner employed in Belarus must obtain a temporary residence permit or temporary residence. A temporary residence permit is issued for a year or no more than 2 years if the foreigner is a highly qualified employee. When a foreign IT specialist gets a job at a resident company of the Hi-Tech Park of Belarus, the validity period of a temporary residence permit is defined as the duration of the employment contract + 2 months after its termination, as well as the duration of the extension of the employment contract and 2 months after its termination.

You must contact the Citizenship and Migration Department at your residence to obtain a temporary residence permit. You will need a passport, an employment contract, an insurance policy, and proof that the foreigner can live at the place he indicated.

A state fee of 3 basic units must be paid for a temporary residence permit. 

They consider documents on registration at the place of temporary residence for 15 days.

Step 2. Applying to the OGiM for a permanent residence permit

A foreigner in Belarus who has a temporary registration at the place of stay or residence may apply to the local Department of Internal Affairs for Citizenship and Migration.

An application is submitted to the  Department of Internal Affairs for Citizenship and Migration with a request to issue a permanent residence permit in Belarus and documents confirming that a foreigner has the right to permanently reside in Belarus. The application has a specific form, and application forms are usually issued at the Citizenship and Migration Department. A foreign IT employee undergoes fingerprinting in the migration department.

You will need a foreign citizen’s passport, an autobiography, four 40×50 photographs, a certificate of absence of a criminal record, a certificate of family composition, a medical certificate, and a document confirming the place of residence of a foreigner in Belarus. Documents issued abroad must be translated into Russian or Belarusian and notarized.

You must pay a state fee: 2 basic amounts (84 rubles or about 25 euros). If a foreigner is abroad and applies to a Belarusian foreign institution, they must pay a state fee of 105 euros.

Step 3. Review of documents in the Department of Citizenship and Migration

the Department of Citizenship and Migration reviews the documents of a foreign citizen for several months:

• For 1 month, they review the documents of IT specialists who are highly qualified employees, employees that companies need.
• Documents are reviewed for 4 months when a foreigner receives a permanent residence permit due to marriage with a citizen of Belarus.
• Documents are reviewed for 2 months in other cases.
• A permanent residence permit is sent within 5 days to the place of temporary stay or temporary residence of the foreigner or the person who invited him.
• Foreign institutions of Belarus in other countries consider documents for permanent residence for 6 months.
• A permanent residence permit in Belarus has no validity period—it is valid indefinitely. If necessary, a foreigner can obtain a visa based on the permit.

Step 4. Obtaining a biometric residence permit

After obtaining a permanent residence permit, you need to apply for one from the Department of Citizenship and Migration.

You will need a birth certificate, a passport from a foreign country, and documents that confirm a foreigner’s right to reside in a certain place.

You will also need to pay a state fee of 2 basic units. 

A biometric residence permit is issued within 15 working days after applying. This process can be accelerated:

• If you pay one more basic unit, the residence permit will be issued promptly – within 10 working days.
• If you pay two more basic units, the residence permit will be issued urgently within five working days.

What is Important for a Belarusian Employer to Know about the Residence Permit of a Foreign IT Specialist

A foreign IT specialist must present a residence permit and other documents when applying for a job. The same rules of the Labor Code apply to foreign IT specialists as to Belarusian employees.

When hiring foreign IT specialists to work as software engineers, you need to notify the Department of Citizenship and Migration, and you do not need to obtain a special permit to hire foreign employees. 

It is also necessary to notify the internal affairs bodies about the dismissal of foreign specialists.

Conclusion

It is important for foreign IT specialists to properly apply for employment in Belarusian IT companies. Belarusian IT companies’ recruiters usually have the competence to register foreign employees. Foreign IT specialists should also avoid violations of the order of residence in Belarus and extend their documents on time that give them the right to permanent residence: passport, residence permit, permanent residence permit. It will provide an opportunity to work stably in an IT company and live safely in Belarus.