On November 19, 2024 the new edition of the Civil Code of the Republic of Belarus came into force.
The new edition has set the possibility to open branches of foreign organisations (which was not possible before and was anticipated by the foreign business) and set the deadline for terminating representative offices which are registered as a permanent establishments.
Until May 18, 2025, foreign companies carrying business activities in Belarus need to close representative offices and continue their business activities in one of the following options:
(i) Opening a branch of a foreign organization;
(ii) Opening a subsidiary company.
In addition, the alternative option is to purchase shares in acting legal entities.
❗️If the representative office does not carry out business activities, it may continue to operate.
Of course, new possibility entails new regulation, so the Resolution of the Council of Ministers dated November 16, 2024 No 846 was adopted following these changes and approving the Regulations on the procedure for opening and terminating activities of representative offices of foreign organizations and branches of foreign organisations in the territory of Belarus (hereinafter – Regulations).
In this material we will highlight the main points on how to determine which option of carrying out business in Belarus is more suitable for you and what is the new order for setting up a brunch or a representative office.