Work permit in Belarus

Hiring remote employees in the European country of Belarus may be a part of your company's global expansion plan. Whether your employees are Belarusian citizens residing in Belarus or citizens of other countries living and working there temporarily, permanently, or as digital nomads, they need to have the appropriate Belarus work permit and visa. 

In this article, you’ll learn how your employees can legally work in Belarus. And if you already have employees there, you must ensure that they have legal permission to work in the country. This is accomplished by following their immigration laws and assuring your workers have the proper entry visa as well as the required Belarus work permit.

This article will outline:

• The types of Belarus work visas and requirements
• The basics of Belarus immigration laws
• How to apply for a Belarus work visa
• How to apply for a Belarus work permit required of all foreign employees

If your company is planning to hire employees in Belarus or anywhere in Europe, get help from an employer of record (EOR) such as Skuad to hire and manage international employees with ease. We make expansion into new markets easy by hiring and onboarding talent on your behalf without your company needing to establish local legal entities in each place you hire. That way, you can concentrate on your company’s core functions that guarantee success.

Types of work visas and permits in Belarus

Several types of entry visas are available to visit and stay in Belarus, each with a different duration. These include:

• Transit single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa (Type B)
• Short-stay single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa (Type C)
• Long-stay multiple-entry visa (Type D)

The transit visa (Type B) allows travelers to pass through Belarus with a single entry, double entry, or multiple entries. This visa is valid for one year and allows entry into the country for two days for transit through the country, including the day of entry.

The short-stay visa (Type C) allows for visits to Belarus for up to 90 days. Your staff may use this visa if there are only short-term projects or events in Belarus, such as meetings, or if an employee is traveling as a digital nomad and only staying for a short time.

The long-stay visa (Type D) allows for entry into Belarus between 90 days and five years. Employees would need a long-stay visa if they intend to stay in Belarus for longer than 90 days.

In addition to the duration of the visit, there are different categories of visas, depending on the purpose of the trip:

• Employment
• Business travel
• Tourism
• Journalism
• Study
• Service
• Diplomatic
• Religious reasons
• Private reasons
• Permanent residence
• Humanitarian programs
• Sports, culture, science, and education

To work in Belarus, individuals need a Belarus work permit. Employers oversee the application process for work permits for their employees, which can be issued for one year. This Belarus work visa can be extended for one more year, after which a new work permit is needed.

Belarus visa requirements

There are several documents required to apply for each type of visa, which may differ depending on the visa.

The following documents are required for categories of visas relevant to remote employment in Belarus for either short-stay or long-stay visas.

For business travel, these documents are required:

• Letter of visa support issued by a Belarusian entity
• An application for foreign enterprise in the Republic of Belarus, if the visa is for a manager or employee from foreign countries

For employment visas, the following documents are required:

• Copy of a special employment permit issued by the local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs certified by a Belarusian public notary or confirmation sent directly to the embassy or consulate office
• Original or copy of the permission to open an office in the Republic of Belarus for heads of foreign enterprise offices
• Copy of the employment contract
• Valid passport or travel document
• Copies of medical insurance
• Proof of work experience from previous employers
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence
• Additional documents depending on country of origin or country of destination

The requirements for the Belarus work permit are as follows:

• Passport valid for at least six months
• Job offer from an employer in Belarus
• Travel insurance to cover the entire stay in Belarus
• Must possess the skill and experience for the type of job being offered
• Must have sufficient funds to cover the entire stay in the country
• Must be of good character and be in a healthy condition
• Proof of accommodation in Belarus for the length of the stay
• Proof of payment of the visa fee
• Educational transcript, if necessary

How to apply for a work visa in Belarus

To obtain an entry visa, applications and supporting documents should be submitted to an entry visa issuing authority, such as an embassy.

Citizens of the United States applying for a visa should submit their application to the Embassy of Belarus in the United States or the Consulate General of Belarus in New York.

The following supporting documents are required:

• A completed copy of the visa application form
• A recent full-face photograph, 35mm by 45mm in size
• Foreign travel documents, such as a passport
• Visa support documents, as listed in the sections above
• Proof of medical insurance
• Consular fee payment receipt

To extend their stay in Belarus, an employee must contact their local unit of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior where they initially registered to receive a residence permit.

Once a visa has been issued, foreigners can travel freely in the country except for some places that require a special permit, such as the Border zone and the Borderline.

Work permit application

Employers can apply for a special work permit for foreign employees on behalf of their employees. This permit is required for foreign citizens who do not have a permanent residence permit or a residence permit in Belarus. Exceptions include students receiving higher education at a Belarusian institute and citizens of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states. Without obtaining this permit for employees that require it, an employer risks paying large fines if they hire foreigners to work in the country.

A separate Belarus work permit must be obtained by the employer for each of their employees working in Belarus. An employer can legally hire a foreigner to work in Belarus if there is a representative office in the country or if they partner with an employer of record that has a legal entity registered in the country.

The employer submits an application to the Office of Citizenship and Migration along with copies of the employee’s passport and payment receipt. The fee for a special work permit is five basic units. The fee for an extension is three basic units (1 basic unit = 29 rubles or approximately 9.20 euros).

Application processing time

The processing time to get a work visa may take five working days. The term of consideration for processing a work permit is 15 days starting after the day the work permit application had been submitted.

Planning to hire or work in Belarus? Here’s how Skuad can help

Employees traveling to Belarus, or planning to stay in the country, must obtain either a short-stay visa or a long-stay visa with work permits to work in the country. Visa applications, submitted at the employee’s local Belarusian embassy, should be planned ahead of time to account for extended processing times.

To remain in compliance with local employment and immigration laws, all employees must be legally able to work in the country where they reside or are traveling to. You can partner with an employer of record like Skuad to handle compliance, including compliance with immigration laws and visa requirements.

As your employer of record in Belarus, we can:

• Onboard new employees locally
• Process cross-border payroll and payroll taxes
• Administer benefits
• Maintain local compliance with employment, tax, and Belarus immigration laws
• Assure that all of your employees have met the Belarus visa requirements and have work permits to legally work in the foreign country they are located in

Contact us for a demo today to see how an employer of record can help your globally expanding company and how we can help you create a global expansion strategy that's right for your business.

FAQ

How do I get a work permit in Belarus?

To work in Belarus, you need to get two documents: an entry visa and a special work permit. The entry visa, which permits you to enter the country, is something you can apply for yourself. The special work permit, which permits you to work in the country, is something your employer must apply for.

Choosing the right visa or permit depends on the employee’s length of stay. The following entry visas with the maximum duration of visits are available:

• Transit visa (Type B): Two days
• Short-stay visa (Type C): Up to 90 days
• Long-stay visa (Type D): between 90 days and five years

The transit visa only allows you to pass through the country. So, you must choose either a short-stay visa or a long-stay visa, depending on how long you want to stay and work in Belarus. To get your entry visa, applications must be submitted along with supporting documentation to an entry visa issuing authority, such as a Belarus embassy.

Can a foreigner get a job in Belarus?

Foreigners are free to get a job and work in Belarus, as long as they hold the appropriate work permit. Special work permits must be obtained by the employer and are valid for one year. After that, the employer must apply for an extension, which can last for another year.

A special work permit is required for foreigners who do not have a residence permit in Belarus. Exceptions include students attending a Belarusian institute and citizens of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states.

Employers can legally hire foreign workers as long as there is a representative office of the company in Belarus. Companies can either form a legal entity in the country or partner with an employer of record, such as Skuad, which has the legal ability to hire foreign workers since they have an entity in the country.

The employer must submit an application to the Office of Citizenship and Migration as well as copies of your passport and payment receipt for the application fee.

How long does it take to get a work permit in Belarus?

A visa application may take five working days to process. Processing a work permit application should take about 15 days after the application was submitted.

Can Americans work in Belarus?

Americans are free and welcome to visit or move to Belarus to work. They must follow Belarus immigration laws and meet Belarus visa requirements to visit and stay in Belarus.

To work in Belarus, you must have a special work permit, which your employer must obtain for you.

How can a US citizen get a Belarus visa?

US citizens are free to apply for a Belarus visa. To apply for an entry visa, submit your application to the Embassy of Belarus in the United States or the Consulate General of Belarus in New York. Once you have your visa, your employer can obtain a work permit for you.