If you're studying in Belarus — or planning to — you'll keep running into one number that quietly decides how much you pay for things: the base value (базовая величина). Official documents rarely quote a fixed price in rubles; instead they say something like "2 base values" or "0.5 base values," and it's on you to work out what that means in actual money. This guide explains what the base value is, the current 2026 rate, and exactly where it shows up in a student's budget — from medical insurance to visa fees to fines for a late TRP renewal.
What is the Base Value (Базовая Величина)?
The base value is a standardized amount set by the Belarusian government. Rather than writing a fixed BYN sum into every law, regulation, and fee schedule, the state defines many payments as a multiple of this single figure — for example, "a fine of up to 5 base values" or "a state duty of 0.5 base values." When the government wants to adjust for inflation, it only has to update one number, and every linked fee, fine, and duty adjusts automatically. It's a useful shortcut for the state — but it means you need to know the current rate to understand what anything actually costs.
Current Base Value in Belarus (2026)
As of 2026, the base value is 45 BYN (up from 42 BYN in 2025). It's set by government resolution and typically revised once a year, so a duty listed as "1 base value" in an official document is worth more this year than it was last year. Always confirm the current rate on the official legal portal of Belarus before budgeting for a payment:
Check the latest base value on Pravo.by
To work out a price yourself: take the number of base values written in the regulation and multiply it by 45 BYN. For example, a duty of "0.5 base values" is 22.50 BYN at the current rate. Convert that to your own currency using the day's exchange rate to get a rough dollar or euro figure.
How is the Base Value Used?
- Government Fees: Costs for passports, notary services, and legal documents are set as multiples of the base value.
- Fines and Penalties: Traffic fines and most administrative penalties (including immigration violations) are calculated as multiples of the base value.
- Visa and Consular Payments: Some visa and consular charges are pegged to the base value, so the BYN amount can shift year to year even if the underlying policy hasn't changed.
- Benefits and Subsidies: Certain social benefits, scholarships, and housing subsidies also reference the base value.
What the Base Value Means for International Students
Most of the base-value-linked payments that actually affect a student's budget fall into a handful of categories. Here's where the base value shows up during a typical year of study:
- Mandatory medical insurance: Every foreign national entering or residing in Belarus must hold medical insurance with at least €10,000 of coverage — this applies whether you're applying for a visa, arriving on a visa-on-arrival, or already enrolled and renewing your policy. Annual premiums for students run around $240, and because insurers set their regulated rates with reference to the base value, the premium can rise when the base value does.
- Visa and visa extension fees: Standard and expedited visa costs, plus the visa extension fee (roughly $65 for students extending their stay), are set by regulations that reference the base value.
- TRP-related state duties: Applying for or renewing a Temporary Residence Permit involves state duties quoted in base values, not fixed BYN amounts — so the cost of your TRP paperwork this year won't be identical to what a student paid last year. See our TRP expiry guide for deadlines and the full renewal process.
- Fines for immigration violations: Missing a registration deadline, overstaying a visa, or letting your TRP lapse can result in an administrative fine calculated as a multiple of the base value — one more reason to track your document deadlines closely rather than find out the fine amount after the fact.
- Document and notary services: Replacing a lost passport page, notarizing a document for your university, or getting an official translation typically carries a state duty quoted in base values.
For a full breakdown of what a year of study actually costs — tuition, hostel, insurance, and visa fees together — see our complete cost guide for international students.
Tip: Always verify the current base value on Pravo.by before making any payment quoted "in base values" — the rate changes roughly once a year, and a stale figure can leave you short.