President of Ukraine signed a decree on enticing IT specialists from Belarus

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 420/2020 "On some measures to attract entrepreneurs, highly qualified specialists who are citizens of the Republic of Belarus."

According to Zelensky's press service, the document will contribute to the development of the investment potential of Ukraine and the attraction of highly qualified IT specialists and innovators.

According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers must extend the period of temporary stay of Belarusian citizens on the territory of Ukraine to 180 days a year. This applies to entrepreneurs, highly qualified specialists, in particular specialists in the field of information technology and innovation, whose immigration is in the interests of Ukraine, and their family members.

Also, the government should introduce a pilot project on simplified registration of a residence permit for these categories of citizens of the Republic of Belarus. At the same time, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of reducing the time frame for obtaining such documents to three days without the need for additional travel outside the Ukrainian territory.

Separately, the Cabinet of Ministers should optimize the procedure for obtaining permits for the use of labor of foreigners and stateless persons for employment of Belarusian citizens who are highly qualified IT specialists. To do this, it is proposed to reduce the period for granting such permission to five days and provide for the possibility of obtaining it on the basis of tacit consent.

According to the decree, the procedure for registering Belarusian IT specialists as individual entrepreneurs - single tax payers needs to be improved.

It is also necessary to recognize the documents issued by the competent authorities of Belarus, which are necessary for the implementation of labor activity in Ukraine.

In addition, the government must ensure the smooth functioning of a single information portal and hotline telephones to provide advice to Belarusian citizens who immigrate to Ukraine.

At the same time, the regional state administrations and the Kiev city state administration should facilitate the provision of consultations to Belarusian citizens who immigrate to Ukraine.