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Simplified permanent residence proposed for highly skilled foreign workers in Belarus
MINSK, 13 January (BelTA) – The process for obtaining permanent residence permits may be eased for highly qualified foreign workers. This provision is included in the bill “On amending laws on state fingerprint registration” that passed the second reading in Belarus on 13 January, BelTA has learned.
“We propose waiving the three-year continuous residency requirement for highly qualified foreign specialists and stateless persons seeking a permanent residence permit in Belarus,” stated Mikhail Oksenyuk, a member of the Standing Commission on National Security of the House of Representatives, as he presented the bill.
The deputy clarified that the proposal to waive this requirement was introduced during the bill’s revision ahead of its second reading.
Regarding other provisions of the draft law, Mikhail Oksenyuk explained that the border service is now authorized to conduct fingerprint registration of individuals crossing the state border. Specific categories of citizens subject to such registration have been established.
Additionally, the border service and customs authorities are now permitted to conduct personal searches of people at checkpoints; such a provision did not previously exist, the deputy noted.
In a comment to journalists, the standing commission member emphasized that not every foreigner entering or leaving Belarus will undergo fingerprinting. For example, it will be mandatory for individuals who are prohibited from entering Belarus, should they be identified as such at a checkpoint. For other foreign citizens, fingerprinting may be conducted at the discretion of authorized officers if there is reason to believe they could pose a threat to the Republic of Belarus.
“This does not mean that if a plane arrives with 190 people on board, every foreign citizen will be fingerprinted. Absolutely not. This is a right of the border service, not an obligation,” the parliamentarian stated.
The border service will run and administer the fingerprint database they compile. The bill also outlines guidelines for other government bodies to access and use this database.
“Yesterday, the president of the Republic of Belarus approved decisions regarding the protection of the state border,” the parliamentarian noted. “I believe that the adoption of this bill will enhance the effectiveness of the border service in safeguarding the state border.”
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