JOINING HTP FOR IT COMPANIES IN BELARUS

The High-Tech Park (HTP) in Belarus is a unique legal regime established by the government to support and develop the IT business sector. Over the past years, it has become one of the largest IT clusters in Eastern Europe and a powerful hub attracting both Belarusian and foreign IT companies. Becoming an HTP resident grants companies access to a wide range of tax incentives, transparent regulations, and flexible interaction with government authorities.

For many IT companies, joining the HTP is a strategic step—not only a way to optimize their tax burden but also an opportunity to conduct activities related to software development, IT services, machine learning, GameDev, FinTech, and other high-tech fields.

However, to obtain HTP resident status, companies must meet certain requirements, prepare a well-founded business model, and undergo a regulated document submission process.

In this article, we will explain in detail:

• Who is suitable to participate in the HTP?
• What steps does the accession process include?
• What mistakes should be avoided when submitting documents?

These instructions will be useful to you if you are considering registering a new company in Belarus with subsequent entry into the HTP or want to transfer your existing IT business to this model.

What is the High-Tech Park (HTP) in Belarus?

The High-Tech Park (HTP) is a special legal regime established in the Republic of Belarus to support and develop information technologies, innovative entrepreneurship, and the digital economy. It was founded in 2005.

Despite its name, the HTP is not a physical territory (although there is a designated area for the real estate of HTP residents), but a legal framework available to IT companies registered anywhere in Belarus. Any company that meets the established requirements can become an HTP resident, regardless of its geographic location.

Objectives and Functions of the HTP

The creation of the High-Tech Park was a significant step in developing Belarus’s digital sector and creating a favorable environment for IT business. The main objectives are:

• Attracting investments in high technology.
• Stimulating the export of software products and IT services.
• Building a modern digital economy capable of competing globally.

HTP actively collaborates with government bodies, educational institutions, venture funds, and international IT platforms. Its residents work with both foreign clients and the Belarusian market, forming an ecosystem for sustainable growth in the IT industry.

Why Joining the HTP is Important for IT Companies

Participation in the HTP is not just a status but a strategic opportunity to:

• Conduct business with minimal tax burden.
• Attract investments and conclude international contracts.
• Utilize flexible hiring practices (including individual entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote specialists).
• Receive legal and organizational support from the HTP Secretariat.

For both new and existing IT companies—Belarusian or those with foreign founders—the HTP provides a platform for sustainable growth and entry into international markets. Foreign companies cannot become HTP residents but may invest in Belarusian HTP resident companies.

Who Can Join the HTP: Permitted Activities

To obtain HTP resident status, a company must meet certain criteria regarding its activities. Only organizations engaged in activities included in the officially approved list have the right to become HTP residents. This list is established by the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Belarus.

Main Types of Activities Allowed for HTP Residents

The most common areas of activity for companies becoming residents include:

• Software development for all device types and platforms.
• Development of mobile applications and web services.
• IT outsourcing and outstaffing services (including development, testing, technical support).
• Information security and data protection.
• Cloud technologies, SaaS, IaaS, PaaS.
• Game industry (GameDev)—creation and maintenance of video games.
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data.
• Blockchain and cryptographic technologies.
• FinTech projects (financial technologies, digital platforms, payment systems).
• Educational IT platforms and EdTech.
• Business process modeling and automation.
• AR/VR and other interactive technologies.
• Research and development (R&D) activities in the IT field.

IT activity must be the company’s primary business. Companies planning to join the HTP cannot engage in unrelated activities such as trade, construction, or transportation.

Participation of Foreign Founders and Teams is Allowed

One of the advantages of the High-Tech Park (HTP) is its openness to foreign investors and developers. Founders of an HTP resident company may include:

• Foreign individuals and legal entities.
• Belarusian companies, including newly established ones.
• Startup teams planning to develop an IT product within Belarus.

The company may employ both hired staff and individuals under civil-law contracts, including sole proprietors (as business partners) and self-employed persons (including foreign citizens), provided that the applicable legislation is complied with.

Business Model and Its Compliance with HTP Requirements

When submitting an application, the company must present a business plan justifying:

• The feasibility and sustainability of the chosen business model.
• The export potential of the IT product or service.
• The technological components of the project.
• The possibility of creating jobs and increasing revenue.

The business plan is evaluated by the Secretariat of the HTP Supervisory Board for:

• Compliance of the declared activities with the approved list.
• The project’s prospects and innovativeness.
• Legal purity and readiness to conduct transparent IT activities.

It is advisable to seek legal assistance from specialists experienced in HTP admissions when preparing the documentation package. This significantly increases the chances of a positive decision from the Supervisory Board and saves time.

Stages of Joining the High-Tech Park

Joining the High-Tech Park is a structured procedure that includes document preparation, business plan approval, and official registration in the resident registry. Although the process is relatively transparent and formalized, it requires attention to detail. Mistakes at any stage can lead to application rejection, especially for new companies.

Stage 1. Preliminary Preparation
Before applying, it is necessary to:

• Register a legal entity in Belarus.
• Determine the type of activity corresponding to the list of activities permitted for HTP residents.
• Develop a business project outlining the core idea, team, financial indicators, and market entry strategy.
  Even if the company has not yet started active operations, it can apply—as long as the business plan is well-founded and the project is technologically promising.

Stage 2. Document Collection and Submission
The required documents for submission (as of 2025) include:

• Application for inclusion in the HTP resident list.
• Business plan in a structured format (DOC or PDF).
• Founding documents (charter, registration certificate).
• Power of attorney (if documents are submitted by a representative).
• Additional documents upon Secretariat’s request (e.g., explanatory notes, team resumes, contracts with clients, etc.).

All documents are submitted to the Secretariat of the HTP Supervisory Board in paper and/or electronic form, depending on the requirements. The language of submission is Russian or Belarusian.

Stage 3. Application Review by the Secretariat and Submission to the Supervisory Board
After receiving the documents, the Secretariat conducts a preliminary review including:

• Compliance of the company with established requirements.
• Correctness of the document formatting.
• Justification of the business plan.
  If all is in order, the package is forwarded to the HTP Supervisory Board for consideration. The Board meets at least once a month and makes a decision on approval or rejection.

Stage 4. Decision and Notification
The Supervisory Board may:

• Approve the company’s inclusion in the HTP.
• Postpone the decision (e.g., if the business plan needs revision).
• Reject the application with reasons provided.

Upon approval, the company is officially recognized as an HTP resident.

Stage 5. Contract Signing and Registration
After approval, the company must:

• Begin operations according to the submitted business plan.
• Sign a contract for operating under HTP conditions.
• Obtain the HTP resident certificate.
• Update registration data with tax authorities and other bodies, if necessary.

Timeframes for Admission

The entire process from submitting an application to obtaining resident status usually takes between 4 to 6 weeks but may vary depending on the quality of document preparation and the date of the next Supervisory Board meeting.

Recommendations from Practicing Lawyers

In practice, successful admission to the HTP largely depends on:

• A properly prepared business project adapted to HTP requirements.
• Legally clean founding documents.
• Correctly chosen activity type and precise formulations.
• Confident communication with the Secretariat and readiness to answer clarifying questions.

We recommend involving experienced lawyers specializing in IT company registration and interaction with the HTP. This helps avoid refusals due to formal reasons and increases the chances of successful admission on the first attempt.

What Should a Business Project Include for Admission to the HTP

One of the key documents determining the fate of a company’s application for joining the High-Tech Park is the business project. This is not just a brief description of the idea but a full-fledged document where the company demonstrates its ability to conduct IT activities that comply with the list of permitted directions and develop them considering the priorities of Belarus’s digital economy.

It is important to note that the Secretariat of the HTP Supervisory Board evaluates business projects not formally but based on feasibility, transparency, and technological and economic justification. Therefore, the correct structure and content of the business project are essential for a positive admission decision.

As of 2025, the standard structure of the business project (according to the Secretariat’s methodological guidelines) includes:

1. General Information about the Company

• Full company name and registration details.
• Information about the founders (including foreign ones).
• Form of ownership, ownership structure, key details about management.

2. Details of Planned Activities

• Detailed description of the type of IT activity the company intends to perform.
• Justification of compliance with the list approved by Decree No. 12.
• Description of the product, technology, and services to be developed or provided.
• Avoid abstract formulations; specify concrete technological solutions, software stacks, intended architecture, and value for the end user.

3. Team and Competencies

• Key project members: developers, architects, managers.
• Education, professional experience, and specialization.
• Previously implemented IT projects (if any).
• Planned team structure: full-time employees, sole proprietors, remote specialists.

4. Description of Target Market and Customers

• Geography of activities (domestic market, export).
• Target audience of the product or service.
• Market entry plan and promotion channels.
• Potential clients and partners (if agreements exist, attach letters of intent or contract copies).

5. Economic Forecasts

• Planned income and expenses for the next 1–3 years.
• Estimated gross revenue, export revenue, and number of jobs created.
• Profit forecast, tax payments, and export share (percentage).

6. Infrastructure and Organizational Aspects

• Description of technical and office base (or plan to establish it).
• Software and hardware used.
• Availability of lease agreements, equipment, licenses, etc.

7. Arguments for Project Sustainability and Prospects

• Why the project has development potential.
• Its competitive advantages.
• Innovative solutions used.
• Possibility of scaling and entering new markets.

8. Information on Investment Attraction (if any)

• Sources of financing.
• Participation of investors (internal or external).
• Support from incubators, accelerators, specialized funds, etc.

Format and Submission of the Business Project

The document must be:

• Written in Russian or Belarusian.
• Submitted in text format, DOC or PDF.
• Logically structured with numbered sections.
• Accompanied by appendices if needed (resumes, tables, charts, client letters, etc.).

Why It’s Better to Entrust Preparation to Specialists

Despite appearing simple, many applications are rejected precisely due to improperly prepared business projects: overly general activity descriptions, terminology inaccuracies, weak financial models, or lack of understanding of the actual product.

We recommend consulting lawyers and advisors experienced in preparing business projects specifically for HTP admission. This increases the chances of approval by the Secretariat and saves time when dealing with the Supervisory Board.

Conclusion

Joining the High-Tech Park is not only an opportunity to benefit from a preferential tax regime but also an important step for developing your IT business in Belarus at the international level. However, successful inclusion as an HTP resident requires a careful approach: strict compliance with the approved types of activity, competent preparation of the business project, and completing all stages of interaction with the Supervisory Board Secretariat.

Many companies, especially new ones or those with foreign participation, face challenges already at the stage of drafting the business project or preparing the document package. Therefore, we recommend seeking professional legal advice to avoid refusals and expedite the admission process.

Our team of lawyers consists of practicing specialists who support IT companies at all stages of registration and operation within the HTP. We ourselves are residents of the High-Tech Park, know all the internal nuances, and are ready to help you go through the admission procedure as efficiently as possible.

Contact us to receive personalized consultation and support throughout all stages of joining the HTP — from document preparation to interaction with the Secretariat.