Belarusian Long-Haul Truckers Massively Interested in "RR Passports". Here's How Such a Passport is Obtained

Belarusian passports with Lithuanian residence permits. Illustrative photo: "Nasha Niva"

The topic of obtaining an "RR passport" has become especially popular among Belarusian long-haul truckers in recent months. Primarily because it allows them to drive in Belarus in a car with European registration and, under certain conditions, import it for further registration in Belarus without paying customs duties.

Drivers share their experiences with colleagues, and some long-haul trucker bloggers gather hundreds of thousands of views on this topic and are even ready to provide paid consultations on obtaining an "RR passport".

"No translations or employment contracts were requested. Paid 10 basic units, 1.5 weeks — and a stamp in the passport," writes one of those who has already obtained the document.

Many are interested in what to do with property in Belarus, how many and what types of cars will be allowed for import.

What is it?

Belarusians who have residence permits in other countries or dual citizenship can go through a specific administrative procedure, popularly known as obtaining an "RR passport".

Previously, Belarusian citizens who officially moved for permanent residency (PMR) to another country received a passport of a special RR series. In the last few years, RR series passports are no longer issued; instead, stamps are placed in a regular passport.

Nevertheless, the procedure of officially departing for permanent residency (PMR) and registering for consular учета is still called obtaining an "RR passport".

Who needs it and why?

Most often, an "RR passport" is obtained to be able to travel to Belarus in a car with European registration as a foreigner — that is, without leaving a deposit (financial guarantee) equal to 100% of the customs duty for the car.

Belarusian long-haul truckers do this primarily because cars in Europe are cheaper (especially older ones), and with European license plates, one can drive without any restrictions throughout Europe.

Павялічыць

Illustrative photo. Photo: "Nasha Niva"

What else does official departure for permanent residency offer?

Here's what obtaining an "RR passport" changes:

• Men and military-liable women with an "RR passport" are removed from military registration. Because of this, young men who have obtained an RR passport are also not called up for urgent military service upon reaching 18 years of age.
• Those who have officially departed for permanent residency are not considered "freeloaders".
• Such a person is not obliged to have a residency registration (propiska) in Belarus, which is convenient for those who do not own their own housing but still have to look for a place to register.
• Holders of an "RR passport" have several customs benefits when returning to reside in Belarus.

The point is that Belarusians who have officially departed for permanent residency in other countries, upon returning home, have the right to import foreign property as personal belongings — that is, without paying customs duties.

Thus, long-haul truckers often use this procedure not only to drive a car with Polish or Lithuanian registration but also to later bring the car to Belarus and register it under Belarusian plates.

However, for this, the car must have been registered in your name abroad for at least 6 months before returning from permanent residency to your homeland.

However, the list of items that can be imported to Belarus without customs duty this way is not limited to cars. In the same manner, you can bring a TV, washing machine, refrigerator, and so on, according to the list.

And one more important point for those who are genuinely returning, and not obtaining an "RR passport" for a car — such a person can transport their belongings without restrictions on value and weight.

Otherwise, a person who has not registered for consular учета abroad can live in another country for 20 years, but will only be able to import personal belongings into Belarus under standard conditions, like regular travelers.

There are also downsides

Besides certain advantages, holders of the so-called "RR passports" also face several disadvantages. 

Because a person does not have Belarusian residency registration, they will not be able to sell real estate or a car without obtaining temporary registration. Moreover, one can be temporarily registered, if holding an "RR passport," for no more than 6 months a year. 

Another more significant disadvantage is that such individuals lose the right to free medical care in Belarus. 

Павялічыць

Illustrative photo. Photo: "Nasha Niva"

How to obtain an "RR passport"

Let's reiterate that a new passport will not be issued at the consulate — only a stamp will be placed in the existing one (so this will not solve the problem of an expiring passport).

Officially departing for permanent residency can be done in two ways. The first, faster and cheaper, is to do it in Belarus.

For this, you need to go to the Department for Citizenship and Migration (popularly known as the passport office). There, the applicant is given a memo outlining what needs to be done.

First — pay a fee of 10 basic units (for children under 14 years old — free of charge). You will also need the passport itself, birth certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificates of children under 18, military ID (if available), application form, notification of foreign document presence, and a folder-file.

Next, you need to wait a month for a check to be conducted for outstanding debts. You also cannot have an open individual entrepreneurship (IE).

In case of a positive check result, a stamp canceling your place of residence registration and a stamp allowing departure for permanent residency will be placed in your passport.

The last, third stamp — regarding registration for permanent consular учета — must be placed in the passport already abroad. The service fee is 10 euros.

Павялічыць

Illustrative photo. Photo: "Nasha Niva"

The procedure for departing for permanent residency can also be done from abroad. However, this is much longer and more expensive.

If, for example, we take Poland and Lithuania, one can book an appointment at the embassy approximately 10 months in advance. The procedure itself costs 200 euros instead of 10 basic units, and the processing time takes up to 4 months instead of 1 month in Belarus. That is, it will take more than one year in total.

With such a set of stamps, one can travel to Belarus in a car with foreign registration, and upon returning (no earlier than 6 months), import personal belongings (including a car) into Belarus without paying customs duties and without restrictions on value and weight.

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