Getting married in Belarus is a well-regulated process — but the requirements differ depending on whether both partners are Belarusian citizens or one is a foreign national. This guide covers everything you need to know: legal conditions, required documents, timelines, state fees and the specific rules that apply to international couples.
Below you can find additional articles on marriage registration in Belarus:
Legal conditions for marriage in Belarus
Under Articles 17–19 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Marriage and the Family (KoBS), a marriage can only be registered if the following conditions are met:
- Both parties give their free and voluntary consent.
- Both parties have reached the minimum marriage age of 18 years.
- Neither party is currently in a registered marriage with another person.
- The parties are not close blood relatives (parents and children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren).
- Neither party is an adoptive parent and an adopted child in relation to each other.
- Neither party has been declared legally incapacitated by a court.
If a person conceals any of these circumstances, the marriage may subsequently be declared invalid. For more on this, see our page on annulment of marriage in Belarus.
Minimum age for marriage in Belarus
The standard minimum age for marriage in Belarus is 18 years. However, the law provides for exceptions in the following circumstances:
- pregnancy;
- birth of a child;
- emancipation — the acquisition of full legal capacity by a minor before reaching adulthood.
If one of these conditions applies, the registry office may reduce the minimum marriage age, but by no more than three years. The reduction is granted at the request of the future spouses themselves — parental or guardian consent is not required (Art. 18 KoBS).
Where to register a marriage in Belarus
Marriages in Belarus are registered by civil registry offices (ZAGS) — the state bodies responsible for registering acts of civil status. The application may be submitted to the registry office at the place of residence of either spouse or either spouse’s parents. In that case, the relevant parent’s passport must be provided.
In exceptional circumstances — serious illness, for example — marriage registration can be carried out at home, in a hospital or another location outside the registry office premises. A solemn ceremony outside the registry office is also permitted.
Only civil marriages are legally recognised in Belarus. Religious ceremonies have no legal force under Belarusian law.
Documents required for marriage registration
Both future spouses submit a joint application at the registry office. In the application, they confirm there are no obstacles to the marriage and state the following:
- which surname(s) they wish to use after marriage;
- whether either of them has been previously married;
- whether they have children in common.
Along with the application, the following documents are required:
- passports of both parties;
- document confirming payment of the state fee.
If either party was previously married, a document confirming the termination of that marriage must also be provided — a divorce certificate or death certificate of the former spouse.
Timeline: how long does marriage registration take?
The date of marriage registration is agreed upon between the future spouses and the registry office. Under Art. 213 of the KoBS, the marriage must be registered no earlier than three days and no later than three months from the date the application is submitted.
In exceptional circumstances — pregnancy, the birth of a child or other valid reasons — this period may be shortened or extended, subject to agreement with the head of the registry office.
Both parties must be personally present at the time of registration. The marriage record is entered into the passports of both spouses, containing the surname, first name, patronymic and date of birth of each.
State fee for marriage registration in Belarus
The state fee for marriage registration in Belarus is 1 base unit. From 1 January 2026, the base unit is set at 45 Belarusian rubles (Council of Ministers Resolution No. 651 of 20 November 2025).
Payment can be made at any bank branch or through internet banking via the ERIP system.
Marriage registration with a foreign national in Belarus
Belarusian law fully permits marriages between Belarusian and foreign citizens. The registration procedure follows the same general rules, but the document requirements are more extensive.
For a marriage involving a foreign national, the following must be submitted to the registry office:
- joint application from both parties;
- passports of both parties — the foreign national’s passport must be accompanied by a notarised translation into Russian or Belarusian;
- a certificate of single status (certificate confirming the absence of a registered marriage), issued in the foreign national’s country of residence and either apostilled or subject to consular legalisation, with a notarised translation into Russian or Belarusian — this certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issue;
- a document confirming the legal basis for the foreign national’s stay in Belarus (visa, temporary residence permit, residence permit or registration);
- if previously married: a legalised document confirming termination of the previous marriage, with notarised translation;
- document confirming payment of the state fee.
Apostille or consular legalisation?
If the foreign national’s country is a party to the 1961 Hague Convention, an apostille is sufficient. If not, full consular legalisation through the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus is required. A number of countries — including China, Vietnam, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Bulgaria — have bilateral agreements with Belarus under which even an apostille is not required.
Before accepting the application, the registry office is required to check whether the foreign national’s home country requires a special permit for its citizens to marry abroad. If such a permit is required and has not been obtained, the registry office will inform the parties — but if they wish to proceed, the marriage will be registered with a note in the records that the parties were informed of this requirement.
For a detailed breakdown of the marriage procedure specifically for foreign nationals, see our page on marriage with a foreign citizen in Belarus.
Prenuptial agreement in Belarus
Signing a prenuptial agreement is entirely voluntary — it is not required in order to register a marriage. Under Belarusian law, a prenuptial agreement can be concluded both before and during the marriage, at any time the spouses choose.
To conclude a prenuptial agreement, both parties must appear in person before a notary. The notary fee for certifying a marriage contract is approximately 200 Belarusian rubles.
A well-drafted prenuptial agreement can prevent significant disputes later — particularly in cases involving property in multiple countries or one spouse being a foreign national.
Need legal assistance with marriage in Belarus?
Our advocates have been handling marriage-related matters in Belarus for over 10 years — including international cases involving clients from Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Asia. We advise in both English and Russian and can assist you remotely if you are not based in Belarus.
If you have any questions about marriage registration, document requirements or related family law matters, contact us:
📧 [email protected] 📞 +375 29 142 27 19
