What is the Belarus digital passport?

It is a mobile version of the citizen passport, planned to support e-signatures and biometric login. It should let people prove identity and sign forms through a phone. The goal is faster access to services and lower fraud, with stronger checks and easier verification.

When will the program start and who goes first?

Authorities set a 2026 to 2030 window. The citizen passport goes first, then other IDs are expected after pilots. The staged approach lets agencies test authentication, refine rules, and integrate services before broad release. Timelines may adjust as pilots and procurement milestones firm up.

How could this affect Australian businesses?

Australian firms dealing with Belarus may need to update onboarding, KYC, and sanctions screening to accept new credentials. Legal and privacy teams should review data flows and storage. Vendors should show strong security, incident response, and audit trails before integrations or sales tied to the digital identity program.

What should investors watch next?

Track pilot announcements, budget allocations, and standards for biometrics and e-signatures. Look for Belarus digital passport adoption in banks and telecoms, and any cross-border acceptance rules. Confirm how private vendors can certify solutions and connect to APIs before making commercial commitments.

Law and Government

January 12: Belarus to Roll Out Digital Passports, Biometric IDs

ByDanny Kontos January 12, 2026January 12, 2026

On January 12, Belarus confirmed a 2026 to 2030 plan to launch the Belarus digital passport, starting with a mobile-first citizen credential that supports e-signatures and biometric login. The Belarus digital passport is set for mobile use at scale. For Australian investors, the initiative signals a fresh wave of identity-tech demand and regulatory change tied to a national digital identity program. We see early benefits for secure e-government rollout, plus new compliance checks for firms dealing with Belarus. This move also aligns with regional trends in mobile ID and stronger authentication.