Employment of foreign citizens in the Republic of Belarus

Foreigners who receive higher education in the Republic of Belarus and are employed under labor contracts with a working time of no more than 20 hours per week, as well as foreigners who received higher education in the Republic of Belarus and are employed under acquired specialty, can work without obtaining a special permit for the right to engage in labor activity in the Republic of Belarus. Consequently, if a foreigner studying in educational institutions of the Republic of Belarus expresses his intention to find a job in the Republic of Belarus, then in this case the employer hiring him does not need to obtain a special permit. When applying for a job, such a foreign citizen submits following documents:

  • a document confirming the education received in the Republic of Belarus;
  • passport or other document replacing it, intended for traveling abroad and issued by the relevant authority of the state of citizenship or usual place of residence or an international organization.

At the same time, foreigners receiving higher education in Belarusian educational institutions will be able to be employed in any specialty, not just the specialty they receive, but only 20 hours a week, since such foreign citizens entered the Republic of Belarus in the first place for study, not work.

The Law of the Republic of Belarus of December 30, 2022 “On Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On External Labor Migration” stipulates that if after July 1, 2023, a foreign citizen who received education in the Republic of Belarus applies for a job in the acquired specialty and assigned qualifications, even independently from the date of graduation from the educational institution, the employer will also not need to obtain a special permit.

These young specialists acquire the right to employment on an equal basis with citizens of Belarus.

Mind that after completing higher medical education in order to become a practicing doctor the graduate must finish the clinical residency with the 1st year program of internship. After completing the first year of clinical residency under the internship program, he/she receives a Good Standing Certificate from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, according to which he/she becomes a practicing doctor.