Admission of foreigners in a simplified procedure
As of January 1, 2025 a new list of professions for workers (positions for employees) comes into effect, for which foreign citizens or stateless persons are attracted in a simplified manner.
This is defined by the resolution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus dated December 12, 2024, No. 99 "On the Definition of the List". The list has been expanded by 6 positions: track installer, seller, technician, plumber, electronics engineer, electromechanic, and supplemented with codes of professions for workers (positions for employees).
In total, the list includes 41 professions for workers and 18 positions for employees.
The head of the department for citizenship and migration of the Vitebsk regional executive committee, police colonel Svetlana Avik draws the attention of employers that when employing foreigners in 2025 for professions or positions from the list, the following should be taken into account:
- there is no need to obtain a special permit;
- employment without a special permit is allowed only for the professions and positions specified in the list, without creating new ones and for which a corresponding code is provided (resolution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus dated July 24, 2017, No. 33);
- the list for 2025 includes a footnote <*> for the profession "driver of a vehicle". Now, hiring a foreigner for this profession to carry out passenger transportation in irregular communication, including taxi vehicles, is only possible if the information is included in the Register of passenger transportation in irregular communication in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated January 25, 2024, No. 32 "On passenger transportation";
- the employment contract is concluded for the duration of the list, that is, until December 31, 2025, at the latest;
- within 3 working days from the date of conclusion (extension of the validity period) and termination of the employment contract, a written notification should be sent to the department for citizenship and migration of the Vitebsk regional executive committee (210101, Vitebsk, Frunze Ave., 41a) or to the email address UGIM_UVD_Vitebsk@mvd.gov.by;
- the form of notification is approved by the resolution of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus dated 16.05.2023 No. 98 "On the Procedure and Form of Notification" and is posted on the website: the internal affairs department of the Vitebsk regional executive committee – public safety police – department for citizenship and migration of the Vitebsk regional executive committee – labor migration – employer notification.
It should be reminded that Article 2 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 225-Z dated December 30, 2010, "On External Labor Migration" defines other categories of foreigners for whom a special permit is not required for employment. At the same time, employers are also obliged to send a notification within 3 days regarding the conclusion (extension) and termination of the employment contract with them.
In case of violation of the notification deadlines regarding the conclusion (extension) and termination of the employment contract concluded with a foreigner, employers may be held administratively liable in the form of a fine of up to 20 basic units (Article 24.11 of the Code of Administrative Offenses or part 8 of Article 24.35 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).
Additional information on the procedure for employing foreigners can be obtained at the department for citizenship and migration of the Vitebsk regional executive committee at the address: Vitebsk, Frunze Ave., 41a (citizen reception: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 08:00 to 13:00) or by phone 8(0212) 60-34-90.
Department for Citizenship and Migration of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.