Belarus is considering a citizenship-by-investment (CBI) pathway for foreign investors, following reports that lawmakers are advancing proposed amendments to the country’s citizenship legislation.
The initiative, which is currently under parliamentary review, would mark a notable shift in Belarus’s approach to capital-based migration. While the proposal has been described as creating preferential access to citizenship for qualifying investors, it remains at a pre-legislative stage, with no confirmed investment thresholds, eligibility criteria, or implementation timeline disclosed so far.
What Is Being Proposed
The draft legislation under discussion aims to allow foreign nationals to obtain Belarusian citizenship under favorable conditions tied to investment. While the proposal has received attention within the investment-migration industry, specific program details including investment thresholds and eligibility criteria have not yet been finalized or publicly disclosed. Officials are keeping these aspects confidential as the bill is refined.
Parliamentary sources and industry experts suggest the proposal could be approved and formally adopted within three to six months, potentially paving the way for a mid-to-late 2026 launch if the process stays on schedule.
Existing Investor Residence Pathway
Although Belarus does not currently operate a formal CBI program, it does offer an investor-based residency route that foreign nationals can use to obtain permanent residency in the country. Under this existing framework:
- Investors must make a minimum contribution of 15,000 basic units, which is roughly $200,000 at current exchange rates.
- Qualifying investments may include business establishment, intellectual property acquisition, or participation in public-private partnerships.
- To maintain permanent residency status, holders must spend at least half of each year physically present in Belarus.
- After seven years of continuous residency, permanent residents may apply for naturalization under standard nationality laws.
This investor residence pathway functions as the current practical option for capital-based migration to Belarus, although it does not directly confer citizenship.
Economic and Strategic Context
The push for a CBI program comes as Belarus seeks external investment amid ongoing economic pressures, including slowed growth and the impact of international sanctions. Lawmakers have framed the proposed changes as part of broader efforts to strengthen the economy through foreign capital, while also indicating that safeguards against potential program abuses will be included in the final legal framework.
Regional Implications
Belarus is closely integrated with neighboring states through the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Belarusian citizenship would confer visa-free travel and residence rights across all EAEU member countries including Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan under existing agreements. Additionally, a longstanding Union State treaty between Belarus and Russia means that Belarusian citizens can generally live and work in Russia without separate residency authorization.
Outlook for Investors
While the draft CBI proposal represents a potentially significant development, it remains pre-legislative and unlaunched. Advisors and prospective applicants should treat the initiative as evolving policy, not an actionable program, until official regulations are published and legally enacted. The existing investor residency option with its defined investment requirement and residency conditions continues to be the principal structured pathway for capital-linked migration to Belarus.
