How to get permanent residence in Belarus in 2026
After 5 years on temporary residence, or immediately for relatives of citizens, ethnic Belarusians and citizens of Russia. Fees are about $60, and the residence permit lasts 10 years.
| Key facts | 2026 |
|---|---|
| How long | 5 years on temporary residence, 3 years for highly qualified workers |
| Immediately | relatives of Belarusian citizens, ethnic Belarusians, citizens of Russia |
| Investment | from ~$220,000 |
| Language and exam | not required for permanent residence |
| Fees | ~$60 per adult |
| Document | biometric residence permit for 10 years |
| To citizenship | 5 years with permanent residence |
Data checked: 07.10.2026
In Belarus permanent residence is a permanent residence permit, and the 10-year biometric residence permit is the document that confirms it. The Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners grants permanent residence after 5 years of continuous residence on a temporary residence permit, or after 3 years for highly qualified workers. Close relatives of Belarusian citizens, ethnic Belarusians and citizens of Russia do not have to wait.
With a permanent residence permit a foreigner enjoys almost all the rights of a citizen: working without permits, running a business, healthcare and education on equal terms with Belarusians. There is no language exam, and fees are about $60 per adult. Below: the grounds, documents, timelines, reasons for refusal and how it differs from citizenship.
We will work out online the investment or income your family needs and what the permit costs for each member.
How many years until permanent residence in Belarus
| Residence ground | Years to permanent residence | Special conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit | 5 years | continuous, no gaps between permits |
| Highly qualified worker | 3 years | employment contract while on temporary residence |
| Close relative of a Belarusian citizen, family reunification | immediately | the relative lives in Belarus permanently, housing available |
| Ethnic Belarusians and their descendants | immediately | documents proving origin |
| Citizenship of Russia | immediately | the Russian passport itself is the ground |
| Investor | after investing | from 15,000 base units, ~$220,000, on an agency's petition |
| Needed workers and specialists, exceptional talent | on petition | by an organisation or state body |
The law treats as close relatives a spouse, parents and children including adopted ones, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren. The relative who is a citizen must live in Belarus permanently.
The 5 years count only on a temporary residence permit: years on a visa or on short-stay registration do not count. The law sets the investor threshold in base units, so its dollar value moves with the exchange rate and the size of the base unit. Temporary residence is covered in our Belarus residence permit review.
Who can apply for permanent residence in Belarus
You can apply if you have a ground under the law. If you are already in Belarus you need short-stay registration or a temporary residence permit; from abroad the documents go through a Belarusian consulate.
Grounds for permanent residence:
- foreigners who have lived in Belarus continuously for 5 years on temporary residence, or 3 years for highly qualified workers;
- close relatives of Belarusian citizens who live in the country permanently, and family members under reunification;
- former Belarusian citizens and those with grounds for citizenship by registration;
- ethnic Belarusians and their descendants born outside the country;
- citizens of Russia, on the basis of their citizenship;
- investors with at least 15,000 base units invested, about $220,000;
- workers and specialists needed by Belarusian organisations, and people with exceptional abilities, on petition;
- refugees and people granted asylum.
The application is filed in person at the citizenship and migration department for your future permanent address. There is no online filing, and fingerprints are taken at submission.
For most grounds the decision is made by the local internal affairs body, while for investors and people with exceptional abilities it is made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the petition of state bodies.
If you applied through a consulate, after approval you enter Belarus, register at your place of residence and obtain the biometric residence permit.
How residence time and absences are counted
The five years are counted continuously on a temporary residence permit: it is renewed before it expires so there is no gap. Time before the permit, on a visa or short-stay registration, does not count.
For highly qualified workers the 3 years are counted the same way: on temporary residence and under an employment contract with a Belarusian organisation, with no gaps between permits.
After permanent residence is granted the key rule is not to leave for long: the permit is cancelled if more than a year has passed since your last departure. It is also withdrawn if the ground is lost, if there is no lawful income at least at the subsistence minimum, and for crimes and serious administrative offences.
Citizens of Russia do not need the 5 years, but the cancellation rules are the same for them: every permanent resident must live at the registered permanent address and have lawful income.
Documents for permanent residence in Belarus
- application and autobiography;
- passport and proof of lawful stay in Belarus;
- 4 colour photos, 40 by 50 mm;
- police certificate from your country of citizenship and your previous country of residence, no older than 6 months, from age 14;
- medical certificate showing no dangerous diseases, from age 14;
- marital status document from your country of citizenship, except for family reunification;
- proof of the right to use or own housing at your future address;
- documents for your ground: kinship, employment, investment or Russian citizenship;
- payment receipt.
Foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation and a translation into Belarusian or Russian. The police certificate is requested not only from your country of citizenship but also from the country where you lived before moving.
Language and exams
There is no language exam for permanent residence in Belarus. The country has two state languages, Belarusian and Russian, so documents are filed in Russian and Russian speakers need no translator.
Knowledge of one of the state languages is checked later, at the citizenship stage.
Language is not a barrier in daily life either: in Minsk and the regional centres public services, banks and clinics work in Russian.
How much permanent residence in Belarus costs and how long it takes
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Review of the permanent residence application | ~$30 |
| Biometric residence permit, standard processing | ~$30 |
| Residence permit, expedited or urgent | ~$45-60 |
| Certificates, translations, medical certificate | per document |
| Our support | a manager will calculate it in the chat |
Government fees in Belarus are tied to the base unit, which in 2026 is about $15. Reviewing the application costs 2 base units and the standard residence permit another 2, about $60 per adult in total. For children under 14 the application review is free.
The decision is made within a month of a complete file; for citizens of Russia the 1998 treaty sets a maximum of 3 months. The residence permit is issued in 15 working days, 10 if expedited, 5 if urgent.
Certificates from your country of citizenship, translations and the medical certificate are paid separately, at the rates of the organisations that issue them.
For a family of three, the whole route costs from $150. We will calculate the exact amount for your family in the chat.
Belarus wants police certificates from two countries
The law does not prevent you from applying for permanent residence on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: the police certificate is needed not only from your country of citizenship but also from where you lived before, a gap between temporary residence permits resets the five years, and there is no online filing, so the file is submitted in person. Murblz support removes these risks: we choose the ground, check the period and documents before filing, prepare translations, book the appointment and accompany you to the residence permit. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.
The support fee depends on your ground and family size; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Why permanent residence is refused in Belarus
- no ground under the law, or the ground is not documented;
- a criminal record that has not been expunged;
- five or more administrative offences within a year;
- false information or forged documents;
- a marriage entered into only for permanent residence;
- the immigration quota is exhausted, or the stay conflicts with security interests.
After a refusal the visa or registration period is shortened if there is no other ground to stay, and you must leave the country. That is why the ground and documents are checked before filing.
A refusal can be appealed to a higher internal affairs body or in court, but if you have no other ground, you must leave the country during that time.
What permanent residence in Belarus gives and how it differs from citizenship
| Question | Permanent residence | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | permanent, residence permit valid 10 years | for life |
| Work and business | no permits needed | no permits needed |
| Passport | you keep your own country's passport | Belarusian passport, previous citizenship ends |
| Elections | no vote | full vote |
| Military service | none | men aged 18 to 27 |
| Fees | ~$60 | ~$165 |
Belarus does not recognise dual citizenship: on naturalisation you apply to give up your previous citizenship. Permanent residence lets you live in the country and keep your own passport.
Permanent residents receive healthcare and education on the same terms as citizens, and work and run businesses without permits or quotas.
Citizenship is granted after 5 years of permanent residence with knowledge of one of the state languages. Details are on our Belarusian citizenship page.
Restrictions for specific nationalities
Citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia work in Belarus without permits under the Eurasian Economic Union treaty, but get permanent residence on general grounds. Citizens of other countries need a visa or visa-free entry under the rules for their country, and time on a visa does not count towards the 5 years of temporary residence.
Citizens of Russia have a special procedure: under the 2006 agreement on equal rights to freedom of movement, the Russian passport itself is a ground for permanent residence, without 5 years on temporary residence. They enter Belarus without border control and work without permits.
This topic in other countries
Permanent residence in other countries:
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- How to get permanent residence in Kazakhstan in 2026
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- How to get permanent residence in Thailand in 2026
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About this country:
- Belarus residence permit
- Belarusian citizenship
- Taxes in Belarus
- Minsk: districts and prices
- Personal bank account in Belarus
- Cost of living in Belarus
FAQ
How many years until permanent residence in Belarus?
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How much does permanent residence in Belarus cost?
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Does investment give permanent residence in Belarus?
How long does a permanent residence application in Belarus take?
When is Belarusian permanent residence cancelled?
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