Belarus President Signs Decree Approving Protocol on Amendments to Agreement with Russia on Citizens' Mobility

The President of Belarus has signed a decree approving, as a basis for negotiations, the draft Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement between Belarus and Russia on ensuring equal rights of citizens of the two countries regarding freedom of movement, choice of place of stay and residence on the territories of the Union State member states, dated 24 January 2006.

The draft Protocol provides for the possibility for citizens of one party to obtain temporary or permanent residence permits in the territory of the other party based on their citizenship. The processing time for documents for permanent residence permits will be reduced from three to two months.

The list of documents allowing citizens of the Republic of Belarus to enter, exit, transit, move, and stay in the Russian Federation is expanded to include biometric passports, biometric diplomatic passports, biometric service passports, and identity cards.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorized to conduct negotiations on the draft Protocol and sign it.