Belarusian students often earn extra money in the
process of obtaining secondary specialized or higher education. This helps to
get money, that can go to pay for tuition and personal needs. Foreign students
are not deprived of such a right. In this article we will tell how a foreign student can officially get a job or a part-time job in Belarus.
How can a foreign student work officially?
The issue of employment is regulated by the Law of the
Republic of Belarus “On Labor Migration”. It is important to know the following
points:
- a work permit is not required (you can work on a par with Belarusian students);
- age: from 18 years and above;
- you can get a job or start your own business (individual entrepreneurship).
Not only at the time of the study, but also within 1 year after receiving a diploma of higher education, foreign citizens are given the right to work in their speciality without obtaining permission. In general, the legal status of working foreigners as defined in the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Belarus”.
Special terms
To continue work after one year after receiving a diploma of higher education, you must obtain a special permit or residence permit. In the first case, the conclusion of an employment contract is necessary (the contract agreement is not suitable). Citizens of such countries as Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation can work without obtaining permission (based on intergovernmental agreements of Belarus with the listed states).
At the beginning of 2024, a new list of professions open to foreign workers who do not have a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Belarus came into force. This list significantly expands the range of opportunities for foreign specialists, including labor and service positions such as concrete workers, car drivers, cooks, engineers, agronomists, fitters, turners and medical workers. The full list of professions and positions can be found in the resolution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
For companies seeking to hire foreign personnel, the procedure is now simplified: there is no need to obtain a special permit, it is enough to notify the relevant migration services within three days after the conclusion of the labor contract. It is important to note that foreigners in the listed professions can be employed under any type of labor contract, including contracts, indefinite-term and fixed-term contracts, which provides greater flexibility for both employers and employees. If a foreigner is already working in an occupation included in the new list, the previously issued permit is revoked, simplifying the employment process.
Obtaining a work permit
If you do not qualify for any of the above categories, you will need to go through the procedure for obtaining a work permit. Arrangement of permission is carried out by the specialized unit for citizenship and migration (in duplicate). When applying, the following documents will be required:
- statement of the established form;
- photocopy of the passport;
- confirmation of payment of state duties in the amount of 5 basic units (original receipt).
Permit validity
The average time for consideration of a request is 15
days. Usually, a permit with the right to work is issued to a foreign citizen
for a period of 1 year; in rare cases - for 2 years for highly qualified
specialists. One of the criteria for such specialists - is the amount of
salary, that is 15 times the monthly minimum wage.
Both earnings and experience
In the last courses, excellent help is considered to be practical training in a speciality with further employment. So, by the time the university graduates, the graduate will have initial working experience. This will help to get the first job. Indeed, the employer in the process of hiring is more likely to pay attention to a candidate with certain experience.
The most important thing in deciding whether to work during your studies or not is your academic performance. The most important thing is that employment should not interfere with education, especially if the work is related to the future specialty.