Hi-Tech Park Resident

The Hi-Tech Park (HTP) Resident status is a special legal regime for IT and high-technology entrepreneurs established under Presidential Decree No. 12 of 2005 and significantly expanded by Presidential Decree No. 8 of 2017. The program is administered by the HTP Secretariat under the Council of Ministers of Belarus. It enables foreign entrepreneurs to found and operate IT and technology companies in Belarus under a highly preferential tax and legal framework, with visa-free entry and simplified residence permits. As of 2024, the HTP hosts over 1,000 resident companies employing approximately 60,000 people and has attracted nearly $2.3 billion in cumulative foreign investment since 2017.

The regime operates on an extraterritorial principle — resident companies may be registered and located anywhere in Belarus, not only on the physical HTP territory in Minsk. The special legal regime extends until 1 January 2049.

• Foreign individuals must first register a Belarusian legal entity (LLC, closed joint-stock company, or unitary enterprise)
• The company's primary business activity must be within the approved list of over 40 IT and high-technology sectors
• A business project must be prepared using the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 403 template, demonstrating the company's IT focus, feasibility, and technological substance
• Founders must be at least 18 years old
• Founders must not have unresolved economic or property crime convictions in Belarus or appear on terrorist financing lists
• No specific educational or capital investment qualifications required
• Foreign companies cannot directly become HTP residents; they must establish a Belarusian subsidiary
• Representative offices of foreign companies are explicitly excluded from HTP residency

For HTP resident status:

• Completed application form
• Business project following Council of Ministers Resolution No. 403 template (detailing proposed IT activities, implementation measures, types and volumes of goods/services, and projected financial results)
• Certified copies of the charter and founding documents
• State registration certificate
• Power of attorney (if applicable)

For temporary residence permit:

• Valid passport
• Documentation confirming grounds for the permit
• Proof of accommodation
• State fee payment

HTP resident status is granted indefinitely subject to ongoing compliance with the business project and quarterly reporting obligations. The special legal regime itself is valid until 1 January 2049. Foreign founders and employees may enter Belarus visa-free for up to 180 days per calendar year — this is automatically renewed each calendar year for active HTP founders and employees. Those planning to stay longer than 180 days should apply for a temporary residence permit, which is issued for up to 1 year and renewed annually through the Department of Citizenship and Migration.

After 7 years of continuous residence in Belarus, permanent residency may be applied for.

Family members of foreign HTP founders and employees may obtain temporary residence permits through family reunification provisions under Belarusian immigration law, provided the primary permit holder demonstrates a legal income source meeting the subsistence minimum. Family members are not automatically covered by the HTP visa-free entry provisions and must follow standard immigration procedures separately.

HTP residents benefit from a highly preferential tax regime:

• 0% corporate income tax (9% on certain capital gains and securities transactions)
• 0% VAT on qualifying operations
• 9% personal income tax for employees (13% during the 2023–2027 transitional period)
• 0% customs duties on IT equipment imports
• 0% offshore duty
• 0% real estate and land tax (with conditions)
• Social security contributions calculated on the national average salary rather than actual wages
• Foreign company income from share sales taxed at 0%; dividends at 5%

For comparison, standard Belarusian corporate taxation is 18% income tax and 20% VAT.

The process involves three main phases:

1. Register a Belarusian legal entity. The foreign founder registers an LLC, closed joint-stock company, or unitary enterprise with the local executive committee.

2. Apply for HTP resident status. Prepare a business project using the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 403 template covering proposed IT activities, implementation measures, financial projections, and property rights justification. Submit the business project, application form, certified charter copies, and state registration certificate to the HTP Secretariat ([email protected]). The Secretariat conducts a preliminary evaluation before the Supervisory Board considers the application. The Board may approve, postpone, or reject; rejections may be appealed in court. The maximum review period is 40 calendar days from submission.

3. Obtain immigration documents. Upon receiving HTP resident status, foreign founders may enter Belarus visa-free for up to 180 days. Within 10 days of arrival, foreign citizens must register with the Department of Citizenship and Migration (certain nationalities have extended periods: up to 30 days for Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Kazakh, and UAE citizens; up to 90 days for Russian citizens). Those planning extended stays should apply for a temporary residence permit, processed within 30 calendar days.

Note: Belarus is subject to international sanctions from the EU, US, and other jurisdictions, which may affect the ability of certain nationals to participate in the HTP or conduct cross-border transactions.