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Belarus dual citizenship with Russia: can you hold both passports in 2026

9 min read ·

The Union State does not mean shared citizenship: there is no dual citizenship treaty between Belarus and Russia. Both directions explained: a Belarusian getting a Russian passport and a Russian getting a Belarusian one.

In short

With conditions: a Belarusian can get Russian citizenship without giving up Belarusian, but Belarus will treat them only as its own citizen; a Russian admitted to Belarusian citizenship must apply to leave Russian citizenship.

Previous passport on naturalisationRenunciation on naturalisation
Country ruleTo become a citizen you must apply to your own state to give up its citizenship, where this is possible
Legal basisArticle 14 of Belarus Law No. 136-Z on Citizenship
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

Russian citizens already live and work in Belarus almost on equal terms with Belarusians, so they rarely need a Belarusian passport.

What Belarus requires on naturalisation

Belarus's citizenship law requires applicants to apply to their own state to give up its citizenship where this is possible. Russian law has a release procedure, so a Russian citizen naturalising in Belarus will have to go through it. The residence requirement is 5 years with permanent residence, plus knowledge of Belarusian or Russian and a lawful source of income.

Belarus does not recognise foreign citizenship of its own citizens: a person with two passports is treated in Belarus only as Belarusian, and acquiring Russian citizenship does not by itself end Belarusian citizenship.

The reverse direction is easier: since 2020 Russia has not required applicants to leave their previous citizenship, and Belarusian citizens obtain Russian citizenship through a simplified procedure.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. A Belarusian getting Russian citizenship: file with the Russian Interior Ministry; giving up Belarusian citizenship is not required.
  2. Use the passport of the country you are in: in Belarus you are Belarusian, in Russia Russian.
  3. A Russian getting Belarusian citizenship: first decide whether you need it, since your rights to live and work in Belarus are already almost equal.
  4. If you still need it, apply to leave Russian citizenship through a consulate only once the Belarusian decision is clear.
  5. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

What happens to children

A child with one Belarusian and one Russian parent usually gets both citizenships by birth if registered in both countries. Belarus treats the child as Belarusian and Russia as Russian. School, healthcare and benefits are available in the country where the family lives, and it is best to arrange documents in both countries right away, while it is simpler.

Taxes and military service

Taxes depend on residence, not the passport: you become resident after 183 days a year in a country. The double tax treaty between Russia and Belarus is in force. In Belarus income tax is 13% on income up to 350,000 Belarusian roubles a year and higher above that, and a Russian citizen with an employment contract of at least 183 days pays resident rates from day one.

Both countries treat a person with two passports as their own citizen, including for military service: Belarus conscripts men aged 18 to 27, and Russian obligations also remain. Military registration is worth checking in both countries in advance.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the Union State gives dual citizenship. There is no shared citizenship and no dual citizenship treaty.
  • Leaving Russian citizenship for a Belarusian one when it is not needed. Russian citizens can live and work in Belarus without it.
  • Missing the notification to the Russian Interior Ministry about Belarusian citizenship: the deadline is 60 days, and failing to notify is a criminal offence.
  • Using a Russian passport as your main document in Belarus. For Belarus you are its citizen, and paperwork is done on the Belarusian passport.
  • Not checking military registration. Obligations exist in both countries.

How to get Belarusian citizenship

Belarusian citizenship is granted after 5 years of permanent residence with knowledge of Belarusian or Russian and an application to leave your previous citizenship. For Russian citizens a permanent residence permit is usually enough: more on moving on the page moving to Belarus.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

Do not lose a passport where you need it

The law does not prevent arranging citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than fees: leaving Russian citizenship when it was not needed, an unfiled notification to the Interior Ministry, a child's documents arranged in only one country and forgotten military registration. Murblz support removes these risks: we check which status you actually need, prepare documents for both countries and track notification deadlines. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process.

The support fee depends on the direction and family size; a manager will calculate it in the chat.

Talk to a manager now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Belarusian and Russian citizenship at the same time?
With conditions: a Belarusian can get Russian citizenship without giving up Belarusian, but Belarus will treat them only as its own citizen; a Russian admitted to Belarusian citizenship must apply to leave Russian citizenship.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Belarusian citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Is there a dual citizenship treaty between Belarus and Russia?
No. The Union State gives citizens almost equal rights to live and work, but dual citizenship is not set by treaty.
Does a Belarusian have to give up citizenship to get Russian citizenship?
No, Russia has not required this since 2020, and Belarusian citizenship does not end by itself.
Does a Russian have to leave Russian citizenship to become Belarusian?
Belarusian law requires applying to leave where possible, and Russia has a release procedure.
How does Belarus treat its citizens who hold a Russian passport?
It treats them only as Belarusian citizens and does not recognise the second citizenship on its territory.
Will a child have Belarusian and Russian dual citizenship?
Yes, if the parents are citizens of different countries and the child is registered in both.
How many years until Belarusian citizenship?
After 5 years of permanent residence with knowledge of Belarusian or Russian.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

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