Belarus is developing plans to offer citizenship to foreign investors, a move aimed at attracting external capital as it navigates international isolation and economic pressures.
Parliament members reviewed the draft legislation this week, which would establish “preferential pathways to Belarusian nationality for qualifying investors.”
According to a Telegram statement from the Belarusian House of Representatives, Deputy Chair Vadim Ipatov participated in an Expert Council meeting where members examined proposed amendments to the country’s 2002 citizenship law.
The bill would allow foreign investors to acquire Belarusian citizenship under favorable conditions, though officials have not disclosed precise investment amounts or qualifying criteria as they finalize the framework.
The proposal comes as the World Bank projects Belarus’s GDP growth will slow to 1.3% in 2026, constrained by sanctions, labor shortages, and structural dependence on Russia’s economy.
Inflation is expected to remain elevated at 6.2%, while the current account deficit improves to 1.2% of GDP. The country’s economy is to continue to grapple with Western sanctions, prompting it to reroute trade primarily through Russia.
CBI’s Economic Rationale
The statement from the House of Representatives describes the changes as measures to strengthen the economy through external investments while implementing safeguards against “potential abuses.”
Council members broadly supported the draft but raised concerns requiring further consideration. Participants requested additional justification for the law and more detailed implementation mechanisms before final approval.
Officials will regulate specific investment conditions through amendments to the presidential decree governing citizenship procedures, rather than spelling them out directly in the primary legislation.
Ilja Belobragin, General Managing Partner at Move to Russia, a consultancy involved in investor mobility programs in Russia, says the proposal has been “in development since March 2025.”
He notes that officials are keeping the investment amounts and program structure confidential during the drafting process, and that he anticipates the proposal will “gain parliamentary approval within three to six months,” indicating a mid-to-late 2026 launch.
Language requirements for citizenship applicants remain under discussion, though Belobragin expects pension-age individuals and children to be exempt.
Adult applicants may face proficiency testing similar to that in the existing investor residence framework, he notes, but officials have not yet made final determinations.
Belarus’s existing investor residence program requires a minimum contribution of 15,000 basic units, approximately $200,000 at current exchange rates.
That framework allows foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency through business investment, intellectual property acquisition, or participation in public-private partnerships.
Residents must maintain physical presence for half the year and may pursue naturalization after seven years of continuous presence.
The Russia and EAEU Link
The citizenship proposal carries particular significance given Belarus’s ties with Russia.
Russia operates its own golden visa program, which grants permanent residency to those who invest at least 15 million rubles ($190,000) in businesses, real estate, or socially significant projects. Holders become eligible for citizenship after five years of legal residency.
As per the long-standing Treaty on the Creation of a Union State of Russia and Belarus, in effect since 1999, Belarusian citizenship also grants holders permanent residence rights in Russia.
The two countries maintain “highly integrated” systems that allow citizens to live and work freely across borders, says Belobragin, adding that “many Russians reside permanently in Belarus and vice versa.”
Thus, this integration may make Belarus more attractive to foreign investors seeking access to both Belarus and Russia.
Moreover, as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Belarusian citizenship offers visa-free access to all member countries, including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
Belarus citizens generally have the right to freely move (often using only national IDs) and reside within the territories of each member state.
While citizens don’t need work permits or visas to visit or remain in each other’s countries, they may still need to register longer stays with local authorities. The EAEU provides an integrated single market spanning 183 million people and a GDP of nearly $2.6 trillion.
Beyond the EAEU, Belarus’ passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 70 countries.
As such, Belobragin says the CBI program in Belarus could be a “very interesting proposition” for many, noting that Belarus has low living costs, minimal crime, great food, and proximity to major Russian cities.
“It’s just an hour and a half flight from Moscow,” he adds.