The changes will affect many areas of life. Are you ready to find out what will change on the very first day of the new year?

The basic amount will increase in Belarus

From the beginning of the year, its size will increase to 45 rubles, which will automatically affect duties, administrative fines, and social benefits.

Documents and Civil Registry Office

• Marriage registration and certificate restoration – 45 rubles.
• Change of surname or name – 90 rubles.
• First divorce – 180 rubles, repeat divorce – 360 rubles.
• Passport replacement: standard – 45 rubles, expedited (15 days) – 90 rubles, urgent (7 days) – 150 rubles.
• Driver's license – 90 rubles.
• Court fee for cases of invalidation of a transaction – 250 rubles.

Motorists

• Speeding by 10–20 km/h – from 45 rubles; more than 40 km/h – up to 540 rubles.
• Repeat offenses – 225–675 rubles or license suspension for a year.
• Absence of technical inspection: up to 135 rubles for individuals, up to 450 rubles for sole proprietors and legal entities.
• Driving under the influence:

- at 0.8 per mille – a fine of up to 4500 rubles and license suspension for 3 years;
- at a higher level – up to 9000 rubles and license suspension for 5 years.

Smoking in prohibited places

• Fine up to 180 rubles.
• In entrances and elevators – up to 900 rubles.

Fare Evasion

• Urban transport — 22.5–45 rubles.
• Suburban — 31.5 rubles.
• Intercity — 45 rubles.

Social Benefits

• Minimum unemployment benefit — 33.75 rubles, maximum — 90 rubles.
• Rehabilitated citizens — 90 rubles.
• Released from places of deprivation of liberty — up to 225 rubles.
• Conscripts in training — 675 rubles.
• Material payments under collective agreements (vacation, birth of a child, wedding) will increase by approximately 7%.

Public Sector Salaries to Increase

According to a government decree, from the beginning of the new year, the base wage rate in the public sector will be 297 rubles.

What Will Change

• The base rate, a key element of the tariff system, directly affects the salaries of employees in public organizations, including educators.
• Incentive and compensatory payments, calculated based on the base rate, will also increase.
• The previous increase occurred on September 1, 2025: the rate rose to 273 rubles.

From January 1, 2026, the increase will be 8.8% compared to September.

Overall, the annual growth will reach 9.6% relative to the January 2025 level.

The Ministry of Labor emphasized that the adopted decision will allow public sector salaries for all categories of employees to be maintained at a level above inflation.

Minimum Wage in Belarus to Rise to 858 Rubles

From January 1, 2026, the minimum wage will increase to 858 rubles, which is 132 rubles higher than the current level, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

Key Provisions

• The minimum wage is the mandatory lower limit of remuneration for all employees.
• The social standard applies to all organizations, regardless of their form of ownership, as well as to individual entrepreneurs.
• An increase in this indicator will help compensate employers for the costs associated with the temporary employment of young people.
• The minimum benefit amounts will increase for: maternity and paternity leave, childcare, and for those starting their careers during periods of temporary disability.

Judicial Procedures: New Rules from January

As of January 1, 2026, a unified procedural regulation, the KGS, will come into force, combining the norms of the Civil Procedure Code and the Economic Procedure Code.

Key Innovations:


• all civil and economic cases will be considered under unified rules;
• a mandatory pre-trial procedure is now also required for order proceedings;
• deadlines will be calculated from the date of case initiation, in working days;
• simplified and default judgment procedures will be introduced;
• court decisions can be appealed in three instances;
• a unified enforcement document – a writ of execution, which can be in electronic form;
• electronic evidence and the possibility of filing claims online are enshrined;
• a class action lawsuit and a new conciliation procedure – negotiations with the assistance of lawyers – will be introduced.

The Book of Complaints: A New Approach

As of January 1, 2026, the rules for maintaining the book of remarks and suggestions will change in Belarus. Now, when an entry is made, the client will not be able to see previous entries.

The book is mandatory for organizations and individual entrepreneurs providing services, selling goods, as well as for housing and communal services, public catering, transport, medical institutions, banks, insurance companies, cultural and sports centers, law firms, and realtors.

A fine of 180 rubles is imposed for refusing to present the book. The entry must contain the date, name, contacts, and serial number. The book is kept for 5 years, new ones are issued only when it is completely filled or lost.

Debtors' Cars Will Be Evacuated Under New Rules

From January 1, 2026, new rules for the evacuation of debtors' vehicles will come into force in Belarus. Resolution No. 649 clarifies the procedure for towing, impounding, and wheel locking.

If a car is wanted by a court bailiff's decision, a traffic police inspector conducts an inspection in the presence of the owner or witnesses and draws up an act. The court bailiff is immediately notified of the detention. The document is drawn up in four copies: for the inspector, the impound lot, the bailiff, and the car owner.

Hunting Rules Change in Belarus from January 1

Igor Shunevich, head of the Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen (BSHF), announced key changes. According to him, the current system is ineffective: hunting is actually managed by an "average ranger" who sets dates, decides what to shoot, who to invite, and how to distribute money.

What Will Change


• From the new hunting season, the ranger will cease to be the organizer of the hunt and will only be an executor.
• He will not be able to have a personal client base, invite hunters, accept money, or independently schedule hunts.
• Organizational issues – fundraising, issuing permits, participant allocation – will be transferred to district and inter-district structures, gamekeepers, and chairmen.
According to Shunevich, the old system generated irresponsibility, losses, and complaints from hunters. The new rules are intended to eliminate these problems. Those who transition to the new form of work are promised bonuses and allowances.

Unified Rules for Leasing State Lands Introduced

President Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 439 "On Rent for Land Plots Owned by the State".

Key Changes


• The rent amount will be equated to the land tax.
• All benefits provided for by the Tax Code, previously available only to owners, will apply to tenants.
• Payment deadlines and reporting procedures to tax authorities remain unchanged.
Comment from the State Property Committee. Elena Gaidukova noted that the decree is aimed at improving the system of rent collection. Its provisions apply to all state-owned land plots leased by local executive committees and administrations of free economic zones.

Implementation Stages

• Contracts will be brought into compliance with the decree upon tenant applications, upon lease renewal, or by decision of local authorities.
• Full application of the new rules will begin on January 1, 2026.

New Rules for Individual Entrepreneurs

From January 1, 2026, individual entrepreneurs will be able to operate only in those areas that are included in the list approved by the government. The Resolution of the Council of Ministers introduces a restriction that will force many entrepreneurs to change their business form.

Goals and Measures


• simplifying the regulation of entrepreneurial activity;
• reducing the number of individual entrepreneurs operating outside the established rules;
• strengthening control over compliance with legislation.

What Individual Entrepreneurs Need to Do


• check in advance whether their activity is included in the approved list;
• if not, switch to the status of a legal entity or cease operations as an individual entrepreneur.
Lawyers warn: failure to comply with new requirements will have serious consequences.

Belarus to Update Rules for Control Activities

Starting from the new year, inspections will be conducted under Decree No. 227 "On Enhancing the Effectiveness of Control (Supervisory) Activities," which will replace the current Decree No. 510.

Key Changes


• Emphasis on preventing violations: if identified problems are promptly rectified, there may be exemption from liability.
• Government bodies have brought their acts into compliance with the new decree.
• The State Control Committee has approved an updated regulation on plans for selective inspections.

Belavia Resumes Minsk – Tel Aviv Flights

Starting January 8, 2026, the airline will resume regular flights from Minsk to Tel Aviv.

Schedule


• Twice a week – on Thursdays and Sundays.
• Departure from Minsk: 07:10 → Arrival in Tel Aviv: 12:20.
• Return flight: 13:15 → Arrival in Minsk: 20:40.

Flight and Service


• Duration: 6 hours 10 minutes outbound, 6 hours 25 minutes return.
• Boeing 737-8 aircraft, business class, hot meals for passengers.

Ticket Prices


• From 671 BYN one way.
• From 1327 BYN round trip (Light fare).

How We Will Work and Rest in January 2026 in Belarus

Non-working days:


• January 1 and 2 (Thursday and Friday) – New Year.
• January 7 (Wednesday) – Orthodox Christmas.
Thus, at the beginning of the year, Belarusians will receive several additional days off: two days in a row for New Year's and one more day for Christmas. The rest of January will be working days according to the usual schedule.

Winter school holidays in Belarus

Students will be resting from December 25 to January