Belarus Introduces New Rules for Beneficial Ownership Disclosure. What Does This Mean for Your Business?
On June 1, 2026, Belarus adopted Law No. 150-Z “On State Registration and Liquidation (Termination of Activities) of Business Entities,” which will replace Presidential Decree No. 1 of 2009. The new rules will enter into force in June 2027 and require companies to disclose information about their beneficial owners to the state.
Since beneficial owners will be included in the Unified State Register (USR) under a similar approach to founders, and the Law does not establish any special restrictions on access to this information, the full name and country of citizenship of a beneficial owner will likely be available to any interested person through an extract from the USR - similar to how information about founders and company directors is currently disclosed.
The final procedure will be determined by the Ministry of Justice through additional regulations.
Who is a beneficial owner?
A beneficial owner is an individual who:
- owns at least 10% of shares or interests in the company’s charter capital; or
- directly or indirectly (through third parties) controls the organization - including by giving binding instructions or having a decisive influence on business decisions.
| Important: the requirement applies to actual control, not only formal ownership. |
Who is subject to the new requirements?
The disclosure obligation will apply to:
- Limited Liability Companies (LLC);
- Additional Liability Companies (ALC);
- Unitary enterprises;
- Production cooperatives;
- Peasant (farm) enterprises.
Joint-stock companies are excluded from these requirements.
What needs to be done and when?
June 2027 - the Law enters into force
From this date, information about beneficial owners will become a mandatory category of data in the Unified State Register.
Any change in the beneficial ownership structure will require notification of the registration authority within 10 business days.
This also applies to indirect changes: for example, a change in the ownership structure of a foreign parent company may affect the beneficial ownership of a Belarusian entity.
June 2028 - final deadline for existing companies
Companies established before the Law enters into force will have one year to complete the initial disclosure of beneficial owners.
In practice, most existing companies have approximately two years to prepare.
Why preparation should start now
Two years may seem like sufficient time. However, reviewing ownership structures involving foreign shareholders or complex holding chains can take months. It may require collecting documents from foreign counterparties, analyzing ownership structures, and preparing the necessary corporate documentation.
Companies that begin preparation in advance will be able to avoid unnecessary pressure and compliance risks closer to the deadline.
How REVERA can help
The REVERA team is ready to support your business throughout the adaptation process — from initial consultation and assessment of your corporate structure to implementing the necessary compliance steps.
Not sure who should be identified as the beneficial owner?
| Contact REVERA lawyers - we will help determine the beneficial owners, review your corporate structure, and prepare the required documents. |
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