Find your employer of record in Belarus

Foreigners, including citizens of European Union countries, need a visa to enter Belarus. Thus, the country offers the following visas:

• Type B. For transit.
• Type C. For short-term visits for business meetings, conferences, training, and more; the term is 90 days.
• Type D. In this case, it is for long-term visits or for people who want to work long-term in Belarus.

In addition, through the contractor management services, you will be able to obtain a work permit for foreign employees. Foreign employees who wish to work in the country must present the following documentation:

• Visa application form.
• A photo of the passport of the last 6 months.
• A valid passport with a photo, valid for at least 90 days when the applicant wishes to leave the country. Also, the passport must contain at least 2 blank pages.
• Proof of health insurance.
• Certified copy of the work permit.
• The visa processing fee.
• Return postage, if the employee wishes to mail the application.

However, employees under 28 years will need to provide a copy of their birth certificate and copies of the passports of his/her parents.

In contrast, applicants who have had citizenship in Belarus or the USSR must present a certificate of loss of citizenship.

Also, an employer must apply for a work permit for an employee, which will be valid for 1 year. However, highly qualified employees may opt for a 2-year work permit. Moreover, the employer must submit the application, documentation, and proof of payment to the Department of Internal Affairs.

Similarly, if a company wishes to hire more than 10 foreign employees, it will need a permit from the Department of Nationality and Immigration. In any case, the work permit processing time is about 15 days, then, employees must apply for a visa to enter the country.

In Belarus, the standard VAT rate is 20%.

Termination Process

International PEO services help you learn about the labor law of Belarus, concerning the grounds for the dismissal of an employee. Thus, these details are specified and established by the Labor Code in article 42. Hence, the reasons for which an employer can terminate a contract are the following:

• Agreement between both parties
• By the expiration of the term of the contract, unless the parties do not wish to conclude it
• If the contract is initiated by one of the parties (the employer or the employee)
• The worker approves his/her transfer to an elective position
• If the employee does not want to move to another place to continue working with the employer.
• When the employee does not agree with the new working conditions, a new owner or the reorganization of the company
• Circumstances that are beyond the control of the employer or employee
• When a contract ends after the trial period.

However, it is difficult for employers to fire employees, as they must provide valid reasoning. In addition, the notice period is two months, unless the contract establishes a different time. Thus, you can hire the services of an Employer of Record in Belarus.

Notice Period

In Belarus, the minimum notice to terminate the employment relationship is generally 1 month. However, contracts or collective agreements stipulate this notice period. Also, it depends on the type of employment, the state, and the industry.

Determine and manage this time with an international PEO, which during the trial period should be 3 days.

Severance Pay

Employment contracts establish severance pay, although the employer must pay at least 2 weeks of the average salary.

Probation Period

The maximum trial period is 3 months, after which you will be able to hire and onboard workers in Belarus.

Paid Time Offs

Employees need to have worked for at least 6 months to receive annual vacation, stipulated in the labor agreement. In this case, the employee must receive 24 days of paid vacation. Furthermore, the employer may divide these vacations into 2 periods, one of which cannot be less than 14 days. Additionally, if an employee cannot use their annual vacation, they may carry it over to the following year. Also, the Employer of record in Belarus can pay for these vacations before they start, at least one day before.

Public Holidays

There are 9 national holidays throughout the year.

Vacation Holidays

There are 24 vacation holidays throughout the year.

Sick Days

With global employment outsourcing, you will be able to manage these days but it is the Social Security System of Belarus that pays for them. Thus, this government entity establishes a payment of 80% of the regular salary of the employee during the first 12 days. Then, up to 30 days, the payment will be 70% of the salary of the employee. However, employees must justify the request for this leave using a medical certificate.