Passport: from 14 years old

A citizen's passport of the Republic of Belarus certifies identity within the country, confirms citizenship outside the country, and grants its holder the right to exit and re-enter the Republic of Belarus.

Currently, every citizen who has reached the age of 14 must have a passport. In case of travel outside the country, a passport is required regardless of age, even if the child is only a few months old. Passports for children are issued for a period of 5 years, but not beyond the age of 14. Upon reaching the age of 13, a passport is issued for a period of 10 years. Passports are subject to exchange every 10 years until the age of 64, and at the age of 100 up to 125 years.

After the passport expires, the document becomes invalid. To exchange a passport, it is not necessary to wait until the exact expiration date. This can be done in advance – less than one year before the document's expiration date.

Previously issued passports are valid until the date indicated in them. However, when a citizen travels to EU member states for a Schengen visa, they must have a passport issued no more than 10 years prior, with an expiration date no earlier than 3 months from the planned departure date from an EU member state, and the passport must contain at least two blank pages for visas.

It is also important to remember that an invalid passport not only prevents travel abroad but also makes it impossible to perform any legally significant actions, such as registering property rights for housing or a vehicle, or withdrawing money from a bank.

For your information. Living without an identity document, or with an invalid document, is subject to administrative liability under the law. Part 3 of Article 23.53 of the Code of Administrative Offenses provides for a penalty in the form of a warning or a fine of up to four base amounts.

Natalia BULYNYA