Acquiring citizenship

Bases for acquiring citizenship of the Republic of Belarus:

• by birth;
• as a result of being granted citizenship of the Republic of Belarus;
• through registration;
• on other grounds provided by law (adoption) and international treaties of the Republic of Belarus.

An application for acquisition of citizenship of the Republic of Belarus is not considered if the person who filed it:

• has been convicted of committing a crime against peace and security of humanity, a war crime, a crime against the state;
• has a criminal record for committing a crime on the territory of the Republic of Belarus or outside it, recognized as such by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus;
• is subject to criminal prosecution in the Republic of Belarus or in a foreign state for crimes recognized as such by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus - until a decision (verdict) is made in the criminal case;
• has been deported or expelled from the Republic of Belarus or transferred to a foreign state in accordance with the international treaty of the Republic of Belarus on readmission - until the end of the entry ban period into the Republic of Belarus;
• has been brought to administrative responsibility several times (three or more times) on the territory of the Republic of Belarus - until the expiration of the period after which it is considered not subjected to administrative penalty;
• has provided false information or forged documents;
• is in military service, police service, security agencies, justice or other state bodies of a foreign state.

Acquisition of citizenship of the Republic of Belarus by birth does not require procedural formalities. A child acquires citizenship automatically at the moment of birth due to the fact that at least one of his parents has citizenship of the Republic of Belarus, regardless of the place of birth. A child acquires citizenship of the Republic of Belarus by birth if on the day of his birth:

• at least one of the child's parents is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, regardless of the place of birth of the child;
• the parents (sole parent) of the child, permanently residing on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, are stateless persons, provided that the child was born on the territory of the Republic of Belarus;
• the parents (sole parent) of the child, permanently residing on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, are foreign citizens, provided that the child was born on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, and the states of which his parents are citizens (subjects) do not grant him their citizenship.

A child in the territory of the Republic of Belarus whose parents are unknown becomes a citizen of the Republic of Belarus.

Any person who has reached the age of 18 has the right to apply for citizenship of the Republic of Belarus, if they:

• comply with and respect the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and other legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus, and undertake the obligation to comply with and respect the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and other legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus in the future;
• know one of the state languages of the Republic of Belarus to the extent necessary for communication;
• have resided in the Republic of Belarus after obtaining permanent residence permit in the Republic of Belarus for five consecutive years (The period of residence in the Republic of Belarus is considered continuous if the person has been outside the Republic of Belarus for no more than three months each year during the last five years before applying for citizenship of the Republic of Belarus); The five-year period of permanent residence may be reduced or not applied at all for: - Belarusians, as well as persons who identify themselves as Belarusians, and their descendants (blood relatives in the direct line: children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren) born outside the modern territory of the Republic of Belarus; - persons with outstanding services to the Republic of Belarus, high achievements in science, technology, culture and sports, or with a profession or qualification of state interest to the Republic of Belarus; - persons who are foreign citizens or stateless persons who previously had citizenship of the Republic of Belarus;
• have a legal source of income that provides them and their family members dependent on them with the minimum subsistence level established in the Republic of Belarus (confirmation documents may include certificates of employment and salary, pension, social benefits, payment of single tax for individual entrepreneurs, payment of mandatory insurance contributions, a statement from banking institutions confirming receipt of income from deposits);
• do not have citizenship, or have lost citizenship of a foreign state in the event of acquiring citizenship of the Republic of Belarus, or have applied to the authorized body of a foreign state with a request to terminate their existing citizenship of a foreign state, except in cases where termination of citizenship of a foreign state is impossible for reasons beyond the person's control.

The five-year period of continuous residence does not apply to:

• Belarusians, as well as persons who identify themselves as Belarusians, and their descendants (blood relatives in the direct line: children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren) born outside the modern territory of the Republic of Belarus;
• individuals with outstanding achievements for the Republic of Belarus, significant accomplishments in science, technology, culture, and sports, or possessing a profession or qualifications of state interest to the Republic of Belarus;
• foreigners who were previously citizens of the Republic of Belarus;
  • having a legal source of income that provides them and their dependent family members with the subsistence minimum established in the Republic of Belarus (supporting documents may include certificates of employment and salary, pension amount, social benefits, payment of single tax for individual entrepreneurs, payment of mandatory insurance premiums, bank statements confirming receipt of income from deposits);
  • lack of citizenship, or loss of foreign citizenship in case of acquiring citizenship of the Republic of Belarus, or applying to the authorized body of a foreign state to terminate their existing foreign citizenship, except in cases where termination of foreign citizenship is impossible for reasons beyond the person's control.

The following DOCUMENTS must be attached to the application for citizenship of the Republic of Belarus:

• application form;
• 4 photographs measuring 3 x 4 cm;
• autobiography;
• copies of identity document pages (passport);
• copies of residence permit pages, including the residence mark;
• copy of the applicant's birth certificate;
• copies of civil status registration documents regarding the applicant's marriage (divorce);
• copy of refugee certificate (for refugees);
• document confirming the presence of a legal source of income providing the applicant and their dependent family members with the subsistence minimum established in the Republic of Belarus;
• residence certificate indicating the family composition;
• document from the authorized body of a foreign state confirming the absence or termination of the applicant's foreign citizenship;
• receipt of payment of the state fee (2 base amounts).

When submitting an application for citizenship together with minor children, copies of the children's birth certificates, notarized consent of each child aged 14 to 18 to be granted citizenship of the Republic of Belarus, and notarized consent of the other parent, who is a foreign citizen, to the children's acquisition of citizenship of the Republic of Belarus must be attached to the application of one of the parents.

A person who has reached the age of 18, permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, who has not been a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, and who meets the following requirements:

• complies with and respects the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and other legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus, and assumes the obligation to comply with and respect the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and other legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus in the future;
• knows one of the state languages of the Republic of Belarus to the extent necessary for communication;
• lacks citizenship, or has lost citizenship of a foreign country in the event of acquiring citizenship of the Republic of Belarus, or has applied to the authorized body of a foreign country with a statement on termination of their foreign citizenship, except in cases where termination of foreign citizenship is impossible for reasons beyond the person's control;

is entitled to apply for citizenship of the Republic of Belarus by registration, if they:

1. were born or permanently resided in the territory of the Republic of Belarus before November 12, 1991;
2. is the spouse of a person who acquires citizenship of the Republic of Belarus by registration on the basis specified in clause 1;
3. is a descendant of a person who acquires, acquired, or could have acquired citizenship of the Republic of Belarus by registration on the basis specified in clause 1.

Citizenship of the Republic of Belarus may be acquired by registration without complying with the above conditions:

• a child permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Belarus — by a joint application of the parents, one of whom is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, or by an application of one of the parents who is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus if the location of the other parent is unknown, or by an application of the sole parent who is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus;
• a child in the territory of the Republic of Belarus under guardianship or trusteeship and whose only parent, or one of the parents if the location of the other parent is unknown, or both parents have died, been deprived of parental rights, abandoned the child's upbringing, or given consent to the child's adoption, been declared incapable by a court, are missing, or declared dead, as well as a person who has reached the age of 18 under guardianship — by an application of the guardian (trustee) agreed upon with the guardianship and trusteeship authority.

The following documents must be attached to the application for citizenship of the Republic of Belarus by registration:

• 4 photographs measuring 3 x 4 cm;
• an autobiography;
• copies of the identity document pages (passport);
• copies of residence permit pages, including those with the applicant's place of residence stamp;
• copies of documents confirming the applicant's birth or permanent residence in the territory of the Republic of Belarus before November 12, 1991;
• a document from an authorized body of a foreign state confirming the absence or termination of the applicant's foreign citizenship;
• a copy of the marriage certificate (in appropriate cases);
• a copy of the birth certificate (in appropriate cases).

Citizenship of the Republic of Belarus can also be acquired by registration as follows:

• children permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Belarus — by a joint application of the parents, one of whom is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, or by an application of one of the parents who is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus if the location of the other parent is unknown, or by an application of the sole parent who is a citizen of the Republic of Belarus;
• children located in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, whose sole known parent or both parents have died, been deprived of parental rights, refused to raise the child or gave consent to his adoption, been declared incapable by a court order, missing or deceased, as well as incapable persons under guardianship or trusteeship — by an application of the guardian (trustee) agreed upon with the guardianship and trusteeship authority.

More detailed information about the institution of citizenship and documents for obtaining citizenship in the Republic of Belarus is available at the following link: http://mvd.gov.by/main.aspx?guid=80533.

Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan arriving for permanent residence in the Republic of Belarus, based on the Agreement between the Republic of Belarus, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on a simplified procedure for acquiring citizenship, have the right to apply for citizenship of the Republic of Belarus:

• those who were citizens of the former USSR, born or resided in the territory of the Republic of Belarus before December 21, 1991,
• having close relatives permanently residing in Belarus who are citizens of the Republic of Belarus (spouse, parent (adopter), child (including adopted), sister, brother, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter).

Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, citizens of the Russian Federation who are permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus or arriving for permanent residence, have the right to acquire citizenship of the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the Agreement between the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation on a simplified procedure for acquiring citizenship, subject to the following conditions:

• if the applicant has at least one close relative permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus and who are citizens of the Republic of Belarus: spouse, parents (adoptive parents), child (including adopted), sister, brother, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter.

Citizens of Ukraine who permanently reside in the Republic of Belarus have the right to apply for citizenship of the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine on a simplified procedure for changing citizenship, who:

• have received permission to permanently reside in the Republic of Belarus in the prescribed manner;
• have completed the procedure for leaving Ukraine for permanent residence and registered with the consular office at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Belarus.

More detailed information about the documents for obtaining citizenship is available at the link: http://mvd.gov.by/main.aspx?guid=80533.

TERMINATION OF CITIZENSHIP

Grounds for termination of citizenship of the Republic of Belarus:

• withdrawal from citizenship of the Republic of Belarus (based on a personal application of an individual who has reached the age of 18, or on an application of a guardian, parents, adoptive parents, or a sole parent, adoptive parent);
• loss of citizenship of the Republic of Belarus:
  • due to joining the military service, police, security agencies, justice authorities, or other state bodies of a foreign country;
  • upon application of parents regarding a child who acquired citizenship of a foreign state along with citizenship of the Republic of Belarus at birth (from 14 to 18 years of age, only with the consent of the child, expressed in writing and notarially certified).
  • on grounds provided for by international treaties of the Republic of Belarus.

Termination of citizenship of the Republic of Belarus is not allowed if the citizen of the Republic of Belarus:

• is accused, or there is a final and enforceable conviction against him/her;
• has tax arrears or other unfulfilled obligations to the Republic of Belarus, its administrative-territorial units, legal entities, and individuals;
• does not have another citizenship or guarantees of its acquisition.