Registration, stay, residence, and domicile in Belarus – what’s the difference?

Understanding Registration: Temporary Stay, Residence, and Registration of Citizens and Foreigners in Belarus

The issue of registration for foreigners and citizens of the Republic of Belarus often causes confusion. In this article, we will clarify the concepts to avoid misunderstandings and better understand the rules applicable to different categories of individuals.

Registration of Foreigners in Belarus

Foreign citizens arriving in Belarus are divided into three groups depending on their status of stay:

Temporarily staying foreigners – individuals who come to the country for no more than 90 days within a calendar year based on a visa or visa-free regime. They do not have a permit for temporary or permanent residence. As a general rule, such foreigners must register with the migration service within 10 days after arrival. However, for example, Russian citizens can stay in Belarus for up to 90 days without mandatory registration.
Temporarily residing foreigners – individuals who have obtained a temporary residence permit in Belarus. They are registered based on this permit and can stay in the country for more than 90 days.
Permanently residing foreigners – individuals who have obtained a permanent residence permit as well as a biometric residence card. They are considered equal to Belarusian citizens in terms of registration requirements.

It is important to note that temporarily staying and temporarily residing foreigners are subject to separate registration rules different from those applicable to Belarusian citizens and permanently residing foreigners.

Registration of Belarusian Citizens and Permanently Residing Foreigners

Citizens of the Republic of Belarus, as well as foreigners with a permanent residence permit, are required to register at their place of residence or place of stay. Let's clarify these concepts:

Place of residence – the address of a residential property where a citizen resides on a permanent basis. Registration at the place of residence is permanent, but no stamp is placed in the identity document.
Place of stay – the address where a citizen temporarily resides, such as in a rented apartment or dormitory. Registration at the place of stay (temporary registration) does not require deregistration from the place of residence and is granted for up to one year.

Key Registration Rules

Belarusian citizens and permanently residing foreigners must register at their place of residence.
When temporarily leaving for more than one month, they can register at their place of stay.
Registration at the place of residence is possible only if housing space standards are met:
- At least 15 sq. m per person (20 sq. m in Minsk).
- At least 6 sq. m per person in dormitories.
Temporarily departed citizens and foreigners with a residence permit must register at their place of stay within one month.
A citizen can have only one registration at the place of stay.

Registration of Tenants

One of the grounds for registration at the place of residence or stay is a rental agreement. If a person rents an apartment, they must register based on this agreement.

Conclusion

The main difference between registration, stay, residence, and domicile lies in a person’s legal status. Temporarily staying foreigners can be in the country without a residence permit but must register with the migration service. Temporarily residing individuals obtain a special permit, while permanently residing foreigners hold a residence permit. Belarusian citizens register either at their place of residence (permanent registration) or at their place of stay (temporary registration).