Country Guides
Belarus
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Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
- Copy of passport
- Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
- Residence permit
- Lease / purchase agreement (proof of residence in Belarus)
- Letter of employment
- Government permission for duty-free import (if applicable)
- Detailed inventory
- Pro-forma invoice
- Import declaration TD-4
- For diplomats: diplomatic passport, diplomatic/accreditation card (both sides), confirmation and authorisation of embassy
- For temporary residents: obligation to export all temporary assets
Specific Information
EAEU membership: Belarus is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) along with Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. The Common Customs Tariff of the EAEU applies to goods from non-EAEU countries. Goods moving between EAEU member states are not subject to customs duties.
Duty rates for non-exempt shipments: Belarus applies tiered duty rates based on shipment value and weight:
- Shipments valued at EUR 1,000-10,000 and weighing 35-200 kg: duties of approximately 30% of value or EUR 2/kg (whichever is higher), plus a fixed duty tax of approximately EUR 35
- Shipments valued over EUR 10,000 and weighing over 200 kg: duties of approximately 60% of value or EUR 4/kg (whichever is higher), plus a fixed duty tax of approximately EUR 35
Traveller duty-free allowances (per belarus.by, confirmed by Embassy UK):
- By air: goods worth up to EUR 10,000 and weighing up to 50 kg
- By land/foot (from April 2024): goods worth up to EUR 500 and weighing up to 25 kg
- Alcohol: up to 3 litres per person (amounts over 3L and up to 5L subject to EUR 10/litre duty; maximum 5 litres total)
- Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco
- Excess goods: duty at 30% and not less than EUR 4/kg
Owner presence: The owner must present all documents personally at the customs office. All customs duties and terminal handling charges (THC) are paid by the owner directly at the customs office.
Document language: All documents must be in Russian, or in English with a Russian translation, on company letterhead, signed and stamped.
Inspections: All shipments are subject to inspection.
Persons moving to permanent residence: The Presidential Decree on personal-use goods provides for temporary storage terms for goods imported by individuals seeking permanent residence.
Duties & Taxes
Duty-free eligibility: The following categories may qualify for duty- and tax-free import: diplomats; foreigners with an accreditation card from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; persons granted free import by a government institution or the MFA; persons sent abroad for employment for at least 11 months (may request permission once per year); temporary residents with arranged export of assets; foreigners with a resident permit; and persons who have received an inheritance in a foreign country.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Narcotics and psychotropic substances — Strictly prohibited (medicinal drugs for personal use on medical indications permitted in limited quantities with documentation)
- Subversive materials — Including books, CDs, DVDs, and cassettes; printed and audiovisual materials containing appeals for extremist/terrorist activity, public justification of terrorism, or Nazi propaganda
- Weapons without permit — Prohibited
- Metals, including ore and bullion — Prohibited
- Radioactive / ionising equipment — Prohibited
- Counterfeit money and goods — Prohibited
- Pornographic material — Prohibited
- Materials promoting Nazi symbols or items confusingly similar — Prohibited
- Pigeons — Prohibited
- Goods of certain origins — Due to international sanctions on Belarus, shipments from certain countries or containing certain items may be restricted; confirm with destination agent
Restricted / Dutiable Items
- Flowers and their parts `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Permission required
- Musical instruments — 2 photographs of each item required
- Artwork and objects — 2 photographs of each item required
- Food items and alcohol — Must be in accompanied baggage (not in household goods shipments)
- Firearms and ammunition `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Special permit from the Interior Ministry required; must be transported as checked baggage
- Wild plants and plant products `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Permission from the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry required
- Pets and animals `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Veterinary health certificate required
- Currency: Over USD 10,000 equivalent must be declared. Over BYN 500 in local currency must be declared. Foreign banknotes and coins must be exported within 2 months of import.
- Alcohol: Up to 3 litres duty-free; 3-5 litres at EUR 10/litre; maximum 5 litres total
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Vehicle title / registration
- Bill of lading (OBL)
Specific Information
Vehicle restriction: Per the IAM guide, vehicles with more than 4 wheels cannot be imported. This unusual restriction should be confirmed with the destination agent for current applicability.
Temporary import for foreign citizens: Foreign citizens can import a car or motorcycle without paying duties and taxes for up to 1 year. The initial period is 3 months, after which an extension must be applied for at the customs office. Temporarily imported vehicles may only be used within the EAEU territory by the individual who imported them. Before the 1-year period expires, the vehicle must be either exported from the EAEU territory or sold/donated after paying all applicable customs duties.
Utilisation fee: Belarus charges a vehicle utilisation fee that varies based on vehicle age and engine size, payable in Russian roubles (RUR). This fee is separate from customs duties and has significantly increased the cost of vehicle imports.
Driving: Driving is on the RIGHT-hand side of the road.
Pets
- Vaccination record
- Veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days prior to arrival
Health certificate: Must be issued within 10 days of arrival and confirm the animal is free from rabies and other infectious diseases.
Dogs and cats: Must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate from the country of origin.
Pigeons: Cannot be imported into Belarus.
Quarantine: Not specified for compliant animals in available sources. Contact the destination agent.
Official authority: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food handles animal import controls.
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.
Personal appearance: The owner must appear personally at the customs office with all original documents.
Payment: All customs duties and THC are paid directly by the owner at the customs office.
Routing / port of entry: Belarus is landlocked, bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. International freight typically arrives overland from EU ports (Hamburg, Gdansk, Klaipeda) or by air via Minsk National Airport. The primary customs clearance points are in Minsk. Goods from within the EAEU (Russia, Kazakhstan, etc.) move freely without customs duties.
IMPORTANT — Sanctions context: Since 2022, Belarus has been subject to extensive international sanctions from the EU, US, UK, and other countries. These sanctions may significantly affect the movement of goods, financial transactions, and shipping logistics. Some shipping lines may not service Belarus. Financial transfers may be restricted. Movers must verify current sanctions compliance with their legal department and destination agent before accepting any shipment to Belarus. The sanctions environment is dynamic and can change at short notice.
Currency: Belarusian rouble (BYN). Foreign currency import is unrestricted but amounts over USD 10,000 must be declared.
Cultural & Other Information
- OpenFactBook (replaces CIA World Factbook): https://www.openfactbook.org/countries/belarus/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus
- State Customs Committee: https://www.customs.gov.by/en/
- Belarus.by — Customs Regulations: https://www.belarus.by/en/travel/customs-regulations *(TLS certificate issue as of June 2026 — verify in browser)*
- Belarus MFA — Import Duties: https://mfa.gov.by/en/export/tariffs/vvoz/
Key country facts: Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The capital is Minsk. Official languages are Belarusian and Russian; Russian is predominantly used in government and business. The currency is the Belarusian rouble (BYN). Belarus is a member of the EAEU. The EAEU Common Customs Tariff applies to goods from non-EAEU countries. Belarus does not recognise dual nationality. Driving is on the right-hand side.
Important notes for movers: The sanctions environment since 2022 is the overriding consideration for any shipment to Belarus. Movers must conduct sanctions compliance checks before accepting any move. The duty structure for non-exempt shipments is punitive (30-60% depending on value/weight), making the duty-free eligibility categories critically important. All documents must be in Russian or have certified Russian translations. The owner must appear personally at customs. The pigeon import ban mirrors Azerbaijan's.
Regulatory Updates
- April 2024: Land border duty-free allowance reduced from EUR 1,000/31 kg to EUR 500/25 kg.
- 2022–present: Extensive international sanctions imposed on Belarus by the EU, US, UK, and allied countries, significantly impacting trade, shipping, and financial transactions.
- 2021: EAEU Common Customs Tariff updated (EEC Council Decision No. 80).
- Ongoing: The sanctions regime is dynamic. Movers must verify current compliance requirements before each shipment.
Useful resources