14 May, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. In Belarus, the cost of expedited passport processing will be reduced from May 16, the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. The reduction is provided for by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 200 of April 26. This document establishes a unified period for the expedited issuance of a Belarusian citizen's passport – 15 calendar days, instead of 10 working days. The fee will be Br17.5 thousand (previously – Br20 thousand). Previously, passports for citizens who applied for departure for permanent residence outside the country were processed on an expedited basis within 30 days. From May 16, this period will be 45 days with a fee of Br35 thousand (previously – Br30 thousand). Furthermore, Belarusian citizens who have departed for permanent residence outside the country are now permitted to register their place of stay within Belarus for up to 6 months using passports of the PP series. Upon registration, they are issued a certificate established by law. In addition, currently, when processing passports for Belarusian citizens under 16 years of age, it is necessary to pay for computer registration in the amount of 0.2 base units (currently, one base unit is Br35 thousand). With the entry into force of the new decree, this procedure will be cancelled. The issuance of a passport to a minor from May 16 will be free of charge if the document is not processed on an expedited basis.-0-

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