Import of Personal Belongings and Goods When Moving to Belarus

👤For TRP (Temporary Residence Permit) Holders

Duty-free import is allowed only for used personal belongings intended exclusively for personal, family, household, or other needs not related to entrepreneurial activity:

— Clothes, footwear, bedding, toiletries, books, tableware, etc.

Furniture, household appliances, electronics, tools, and other durable goods (even if used) are not included in the list of “essential personal items” and fall under the general duty-free import norms: up to 25 kg per person with a total value not exceeding 500 euros (2026 norm).

Everything exceeding these limits is subject to declaration and duties:

• 4 euros for each kilogram over 25 kg, OR
• 30% of the value of the new item (e.g., TV, refrigerator, etc.) plus import VAT (20%) if you declare by value rather than weight.

The choice of payment method (by weight or by value) depends on which is more beneficial—but the final decision is made by the customs authority.

🏠 For PRP (Permanent Residence Permit/Residence Permit) Holders

Persons who have received a residence permit in the Republic of Belarus have the right to duty-free import of all personal property, including furniture, household appliances, electronics, tools, interior items, and other durable goods, provided that:

1. They are used.
2. They were purchased before the date the residence permit was issued.
3. They are intended for personal needs.
4. The individual must not have used such a benefit previously (i.e., has not imported personal belongings to Belarus duty-free as a migrant before).

Duty-free import of one vehicle is also permitted if:

• You are its full owner (not in leasing, not under an encumbered loan);
• The vehicle has been in your ownership for at least 6 months prior to the date of receiving the PRP;
• The vehicle is imported within 18 months from the date of issuance of the residence permit ID card.

📋General Requirements:

• All items imported during the move must be included in an inventory (a list with descriptions and value assessments).
• For small volumes (e.g., 1–2 suitcases), items may be listed in the passenger customs declaration.
• When importing bulky cargo (furniture, appliances, etc.), it is recommended to coordinate the list with customs in advance and prepare supporting documents (photos, receipts, sales contracts — especially for vehicles).

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Export of Funds from the EU to Belarus

Regarding the export of cash from the EU to Russia and Belarus, additional conditions currently apply to the Law on Declaration of Cash at the State Border and Regulation (EU) 2018/1672. Restrictions are in place for exporting cash to Russia and Belarus.

Sanctions regulations allow the export of Euro banknotes and other official currency banknotes of EU member states to Russia and Belarus only in the amount necessary for a person’s personal needs during the trip (the specific amount is not defined, but it is usually only 50-200 euros). If a person exports funds subject to sanctions, customs officers may request documents confirming the intended personal expenses in the RF or RB (e.g., hotel reservation).

But what should a person do if they sold, for example, an apartment in Latvia for 50,000 euros and wants to take this amount to buy an apartment in Belarus? Buying real estate in Russia or Belarus cannot be considered “personal needs during a trip.” Therefore, in accordance with sanctions regulations, exporting 50,000 euros in cash from Latvia will not be permitted.

The Law on Declaration of Cash at the State Border states that when crossing the Latvian border (both entry and exit) at points where it is also the external border of the EU, any individual is obliged to declare cash in any currency if the amount is equivalent to or exceeds 10,000 euros. Declared funds are converted into euros at the ECB exchange rate published on the penultimate Wednesday of each month, valid for the entire following month. Therefore, exchange your euros for dollars, pounds sterling, yuan, or Turkish lira (i.e., currencies of countries not in the European Union). However, dollars are best, as they can be exchanged in any city.

• Up to 10,000 in USD equivalent can be carried without declaration.
• From 10,000 to 100,000 dollars – mandatory declaration at both borders. No duties are charged; the amount may only be recounted.
• From 100,000 dollars – you must show the source of income.

Important Note: If a customs officer sees signs of potential illegal activity by the person crossing the border, they have the right to require that person to fill out a cash declaration form even if the amount is less than 10,000 euros.

To declare money, you must fill out and sign a cash declaration form by hand. The declaration must include, among other things: the economic source and the intended use of the cash. When crossing the external border, the declaration is submitted to the relevant official of the competent authority.

Failure to comply with the declaration obligation by the European Union entails a fine of 20% of the amount subject to declaration. However, if the amount of undeclared funds exceeds 50 minimum monthly wages, a criminal case is initiated (under Part 2.1 of Article 195.2 of the Criminal Code for non-declaration of a large sum of money imported or exported when crossing the country’s external border).

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Declaring Money When Entering Belarus: Rules to Know

Cash and traveler’s checks are subject to mandatory customs declaration when imported into the EAEU territory or exported outside it if the total amount exceeds the equivalent of $10,000 per person. In other words, if a family is traveling, the amount of cash allowed without declaration increases proportionally to the number of family members, including children. For example, spouses with two children can bring up to $40,000 without formalities. However, the amount for each person must be in a separate wallet!

When calculating the total amount of funds subject to declaration, both foreign currency and Belarusian rubles are taken into account, including coins and banknotes of various denominations. This means travelers must sum the value of all funds in different currencies to determine if declaration is necessary.

To undergo the declaration procedure, passengers should use the “Red” corridor at the checkpoint. Specific requirements are established for moving particularly large sums—over $100,000 in equivalent. In such cases, the submission of a passenger declaration must be accompanied by documents confirming the origin of the cash and monetary instruments.

The following are acceptable as proof:

• Bank statements regarding cash withdrawals;
• Notarized sales contracts for real estate or vehicles;
• Inheritance certificates;
• Documents regarding lottery winnings or other events.
  The main thing is that the document must be official, contain the organization’s details, and allow customs to verify the legality of the funds.

☝️Attempting to carry more than $10,000 across the border without declaration, but not more than $30,000, constitutes an administrative offense. This carries a fine of 5 to 30 base units. Additionally, confiscation of undeclared funds may be applied.

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If you have any remaining questions, join our Telegram chat “Moving to Belarus for Permanent Residency”, where there are separate topics on moving, customs, cars, and registration. There you will find verified information and support from those who have already completed this journey.