Options For Becoming A Resident In Belarus

Belarus is a relatively unknown international residency destination with much to offer to expats who want to establish residency in Europe. Establishing residency in Belarus is beneficial, as even temporary residents can receive some of the same rights as citizens.

Furthermore, it is easy to gain permanent residency in Belarus by investing in real estate or other approved projects. The easiest way to become a permanent resident is to invest in real estate in Belarus. This option is attractive because of Belarus's higher convenience and low cost of real estate.

Minsk streets, Belarus

LIVING IN BELARUS

Living in Belarus can be a positive experience for many, especially as both temporary and permanent residents have access to education and healthcare. Belarus is an ideal location for long-term residency and an attractive and easy-to-obtain residency option relative to other European countries.

Low cost of living: The minimum wage in Belarus is less than €200 ($210 USD), while the average salary is below €500/month ($526 USD/month). It is very cheap to live in Belarus, especially if you go the investment route and do not have to pay rent.

Nature:  Belarus has many national attractions, including Braslav Lake, national parks, and the Minsk Sea. Belarus also borders countries with beaches and other natural attractions, including Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Minsk: Minsk, the country’s capital city, is a very comfortable and affordable city and the top place to live for most expats. Top attractions in the city include the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus, the Belarus State Museum, parks, markets, and monuments.

Language Considerations: Most people in Belarus only speak Belarusian and Russian, so it may be helpful to learn one of these languages.

Belarus, Nesvizh palace

TEMPORARY RESIDENCY IN BELARUS

Anyone who wants to stay in Belarus for more than 90 days needs to apply for a temporary residence permit. This permit is relatively unique, as anyone with this temporary residence permit can enjoy some of the same benefits as Belarus citizens. These benefits include healthcare, education, and other social rights. Anyone can apply for a temporary residence permit if they have family in Belarus, plan to study in Belarus, own a property in Belarus, or work for a local company. Applicants will need to provide more information about the purpose of their stay and proof of income to apply.

This option is less than ideal if you are interested in long-term residency, as you will need to live in Belarus for seven years on this permit before you can apply to be a permanent resident of Belarus. For this reason, many people invest in Belarus to expedite the process.

Related article: The Basics Of How To Get A Second Passport Or A Second Residency

Mir Castle in Belarus

WHO CAN APPLY FOR A BELARUS RESIDENCE PERMIT?

There are many ways to become a permanent resident of Belarus, but investing in Belarus is the most straightforward option for foreigners. However, other situations can allow you to gain residency, although most will not likely be relevant to most foreigners:

• Anyone who has had a temporary residence permit for seven years
• Someone who has been married to a citizen of Belarus for three years
• Previous citizen or someone who had family members that were citizens before
• Some Russian citizens
• People with unique skills and abilities that are in demand by the government

Becoming a permanent resident can be tricky unless you have family from Belarus or marry someone from Belarus. However, investing in Belarus is an easy way to gain residency, and this option is open to anyone. The minimum investment amount is on par with other European countries, like Lithuania or Hungary.

Permanent residents can also work without a work permit and don’t need to apply for renewal. Moreover, residents can also access the healthcare and education systems and have many of the same rights as citizens. Some of the main exceptions include the right to vote or buy land.

Brest fortress, Belarus

INVESTING IN BELARUS

If you are willing to invest €135,000 ($141,574 USD) or more in Belarus, then you are eligible to become a permanent resident of Belarus. The easiest option for most investors is to invest in real estate in Belarus instead of a business or other investment. Although other investments will allow you to qualify, this route is more complicated and less common than purchasing real estate.

However, it is crucial to note that real estate ownership alone does not qualify the applicant for residency in Belarus. If you purchase real estate, you must rent it out for a profit. If you plan to go this route, you will need to actively manage the property and rent it or pay a management company or employee to do this for you. The price of real estate in Belarus is low, so you can buy multiple properties and manage them. One of the best options may be to purchase several apartments or a larger apartment in Minsk. You can either rent them out long-term or create an Airbnb listing.

Republic Palace, Minsk, Belarus

DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO APPLY

The application process is relatively straightforward, but you may need legal and translation assistance to complete the application. For example, you may need legal aid to purchase real estate or form a Belarus company.

You must complete the following steps to complete this application:

• Completed application
• Passport copy
• Biography/letter of intent
• Criminal background check
• Medical certificate
• Proof of payment for application
• Confirmation of your legal stay in Belarus ( if applicable)
• Translate all documents that are not in Russian
  

Belarus ruins with snow

FINAL THOUGHTS ON BELARUS

Europe is an excellent destination for international residency, as many programs will allow you to be a permanent resident if you invest €150,000 ($157,305 USD) or less in the economy. Belarus is a great option if you want greater mobility in Europe and similar benefits as citizens. The only downfall of the Belarus option is that the route to citizenship is very complicated. You can’t apply for citizenship until you have been a resident for seven years. However, if your only goal is to gain residency in Europe, then Belarus is undoubtedly an appropriate choice.