The Aliens Decree was issued on 4 August 1922, by the Sovnarkom of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic.

The following groups of people were deprived of citizenship (unless they received passports in consulates of Soviet Republics before 1 January 1923): Children of Belarusian SSR citizens born in the territory of the Belarusian SSR acquired citizenship at the time of birth.

According to the Code of Marriage, family and guardianship of Belarusian SSR promulgated in 1927: The Citizenship Act of the USSR (1930) and the Citizenship Act of the USSR (1931) declared that citizens of the USSR who lived in the territory of a Soviet Republic would become citizens of that Republic, unless they chose citizenship of another Soviet Republic in connection with their ethnic origin.

Legal norms regarding Belarusian citizenship by birth were revoked in order to bring Belarusian family law in accordance with the Principles of Legislation on Marriage and the Family of the USSR and the Union Republics (1968).

According to the Nationality Act, only persons 18 years and older may renounce their citizenship, as long as they possess another citizenship or guarantee of acquisition thereof, do not have any debts or unfulfilled obligations and are not under criminal prosecution.

In practice, not completing military service can be used as grounds for refusing renunciation, even for minors, as it is considered an 'unfulfilled obligation'.