Rights and obligations of foreigners in the Republic of Belarus

Foreign citizens and stateless persons (hereinafter referred to as foreigners) in the Republic of Belarus have the right to preserve and develop their national language and culture, to observe national traditions and customs in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

Insulting the national dignity of foreigners entails liability in accordance with the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus.

Foreigners staying in the Republic of Belarus are obliged to comply with the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and other legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus, to respect its national traditions.

Foreigners in the Republic of Belarus enjoy all means of legal protection of human rights and freedoms provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

Foreigners in the Republic of Belarus are guaranteed personal and residential inviolability, other personal rights and freedoms in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and other legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus.

Foreigners in the Republic of Belarus may own property, inherit or bequeath it, enjoy other property and non-property rights in the manner prescribed by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus, including international treaties of the Republic of Belarus.

Foreigners who have committed crimes, administrative and other offenses on the territory of the Republic of Belarus shall be held liable in accordance with the legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus.

HOUSING, MOVEMENT AND CHOICE OF PLACE OF STAY

Foreigners have the right to move freely and choose their place of stay and residence within the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

The procedure for the movement of foreigners and their choice of place of stay and residence within the territory of the Republic of Belarus is determined by the Rules of Stay of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Belarus, approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus (more detailed information is in section 2. LEGALIZATION OF STAY IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS).

Foreigners can move freely throughout the territory of the Republic of Belarus, with the exception of places that require special permission issued by authorized state bodies or other organizations of the Republic of Belarus, and objects that require special permission issued by the administrations of these objects for entry and stay (such places include, among others, the border zone and border strip).

Specific features of movement for foreigners who entered the Republic of Belarus on the basis of a document defined by an international treaty of the Republic of Belarus regulating the procedure for mutual trips of residents of border areas are covered in the section on SMALL BORDER MOVEMENT.

Foreign citizens can solve housing issues in the Republic of Belarus by:

• renting residential premises at their own expense;
• acquisition of residential premises at own expense;
• work for employers who provide temporary residential premises for the period of employment.

The Republic of Belarus is implementing the State Program for Sustainable Rural Development for 2011-2015. Housing built as part of its implementation is owned by agricultural enterprises and is distributed in accordance with their internal local regulations according to the principles of the need for specialists and priority. Regarding employment with the provision of housing built according to the specified program, you should contact the employers who have announced the availability of vacancies directly.

SOCIAL RIGHTS OF FOREIGNERS

Foreigners permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus have all the socio-economic rights enjoyed by citizens of the Republic of Belarus, including the right to social protection.

Foreigners permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus also have the right to pension benefits on an equal basis with citizens of the Republic of Belarus.

The socio-economic rights of foreigners temporarily staying and temporarily residing in the Republic of Belarus are determined by legislative acts and international treaties of the Republic of Belarus.

FOR REFERENCE:

for citizens of Ukraine and stateless persons who have resided in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, as a rule, for at least a year and arrived in the Republic of Belarus to obtain temporary or permanent residence permits.:
commissions for the assignment of state benefits to families raising children and temporary disability benefits to local executive and administrative bodies, organizations of any organizational and legal forms have the right to make decisions on the assignment of state benefits to citizens of Ukraine in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus in the absence of an objective possibility of obtaining documents or information, confirming receipt (non-receipt) of benefits and other payments to families raising children on the territory of Ukraine.

(Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 420 dated 30.08.2014 "On the stay of Ukrainian citizens in the Republic of Belarus").

Public relations arising in the organization and provision of social services are regulated by the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated May 22, 2000 No. 395-Z "On Social Services", which applies to citizens of the Republic of Belarus, foreign citizens and stateless persons. Social services are provided free of charge and on a reimbursable basis. For foreign citizens and stateless persons temporarily staying and temporarily residing in the Republic of Belarus, with the exception of foreign citizens and stateless persons who have been granted refugee status in the Republic of Belarus, social services are provided on a reimbursable basis, unless otherwise established by legislative acts.

Basic social services in Belarus are provided by state social service institutions of the system of labor, employment, and social protection bodies.

To assist citizens (families) in overcoming difficult life situations, preventing the emergence of difficult life situations, activating their own efforts of citizens and families, and creating conditions for them to independently solve emerging problems, the work of Territorial Social Service Centers for the Population has been organized.

In accordance with the list of free and publicly available social services of state social service institutions with norms and standards for ensuring citizens with these services, approved by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 1218 dated December 27, 2012, the territorial social service centers for the population provide the following types of social services:

• temporary shelter services (for victims of human trafficking, terrorist acts, persons affected by violence, technological disasters, and natural disasters);
• consultative and informational services;
• material assistance;
• social and household services;
• social and medical services;
• social patronage;
• social and pedagogical services;
• social and intermediary services;
• social and psychological services;
• social rehabilitation services;
• hourly child care services (for children under 3 years of age and children with disabilities (nanny services));
• caregiver services (for citizens who have completely lost the ability to care for themselves and move);
• accompanied living services.

More detailed information can be obtained on the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus: http://www.mintrud.gov.by/ru/gsp.