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Statutory guidance

Republic of Belarus sanctions: guidance

Statutory guidance for the Republic of Belarus sanctions regime, plus a summary of its purposes, scope and prohibitions.

Updates to this page

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Department for Transport, Export Control Joint Unit, Home Office, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation and Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation
Published:
15 January 2020
Last updated:
1 May 2026
Show all updates

  1. Amended to clarify which Department for Business and Trade (DBT) teams now lead on trade sanctions licensing.

  2. Added summary of the regime's purposes, scope and prohibitions. Updated transport sanctions section for better clarity and usability, with no material changes to text.

  3. Page has been updated for better clarity and usability. No material changes to text.

  4. Page navigation has been updated for better usability. No material changes to text.

  5. These changes reflect the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2024 and taken together make a range of technical changes with the purpose of improving OFSI’s ability to gather intelligence on industry’s compliance with financial sanctions, strengthen OFSI’s enforcement powers, enable OFSI to conduct its licensing responsibilities more efficiently, and clarify financial sanctions legislation where there is existing uncertainty.

  6. References to 'Import Case Management System' updated to 'Apply for an import licence' to reflect new service name. Email address and links also updated.

  7. Added the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) as a supporting organisation, who took over civil enforcement for sanctions in October 2024. As part of these new powers, OTSI has introduced a new service to apply for sanctions licences for the provision of services, which replaces the previous process of applying via SPIRE. Applications for goods-related exports sanctions licences remain via SPIRE.

  8. Made minor administrative amendments.

  9. These latest amendments coincide with the laying of a new latest SI which includes a new package of sanctions against Belarus, banning the import of various goods such as gold, iron, steel, aluminium and associated ancillary services such as brokering and technical assistance. In addition these amendments also include director disqualification clauses.

  10. Added new licensing grounds.

  11. Updated to reflect the provisions in The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

  12. Guidance amended to reflect the provisions in the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2022.

  13. The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 has been added to the list of regulations.

  14. Guidance amended to reflect the provisions in the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

  15. First published.

Documents

Republic of Belarus sanctions: statutory guidance

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Details

The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, and certain other regulations, are in force to meet the UK’s policy objectives.

This summary gives a quick overview of the sanctions in place under the regime. It is not comprehensive and is not a replacement for the statutory guidance or the regulations themselves. 

Summary 

The Republic of Belarus sanctions are broad in scope. 

Designated persons and specified ships 

The UK Sanctions List tells you who is designated under the regime and which sanctions have been applied to them. A designated person can be an individual, a business or an organisation.  

The statutory guidance lists in detail the sanctions that can apply in respect of designated persons, including: 

  • an asset freeze on their funds and other assets 
  • making available funds or economic resources to them or for their benefit   
  • director disqualification 
  • immigration sanction (travel ban) 

Under this regime, ships can also be subject to sanctions, if they are specified on the UK Sanctions List or have certain connections with Belarus or with persons designated for that purpose.  

Wider financial sanctions 

As well as the sanctions that apply only in respect of designated persons, there are wider financial sanctions that apply in relation to entities and individuals connected with Belarus and a Belarusian authority. These sanctions include certain investment restrictions, a ban on loans and credit, and a ban on insurance and reinsurance. 

Certain financial dealings with the National Bank of Belarus and the Ministry of Finance of Belarus are also sanctioned. 

Sanctioned goods and services 

You must not export or otherwise supply or transfer to or for use in Belarus, or to a person connected with Belarus certain goods in these categories (this is not an exhaustive list): 

  • military, security and para-military goods, software and technology and arms, ammunition and related material  
  • dual-use goods and technology   
  • internal repression goods and technology 
  • critical-industry goods and technology 
  • oil refining goods and technology 
  • quantum computing and advanced materials goods and technology 
  • chemical and biological weapons-related goods and technology 
  • machinery-related goods and technology 
  • luxury goods 
  • tobacco industry goods 
  • banknotes 

Related financial services, brokering services and technical assistance may also be subject to sanctions. 

You must not directly or indirectly provide interception and monitoring services to or for the benefit of the Government of Belarus.      

Transit control and import restrictions are also in force.  

Transport sanctions  

Transport sanctions make it an offence to allow Belarusian aircraft or ships into UK airspace or ports and create powers to make directions to effect this.

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