Immigration Law in Lithuania
AT A GLANCE
- Lithuanian immigration law governs the right of non-EU nationals to enter, reside, and work in Lithuania. The primary statute is the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties — ULSA), which transposes the relevant EU immigration directives into Lithuanian law.
- EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens have freedom of movement and do not require immigration permits to live and work in Lithuania — they may register their residence as an administrative matter through the Migration Department (Migracijos departamentas).
- Third-country nationals intending to work in Lithuania generally require a temporary residence permit authorising employment, unless an applicable statutory exemption applies. Since 1 July 2024, a separate work permit has not been the standard requirement for ordinary employment. Work permits issued by the Lithuanian Employment Service (Užimtumo tarnyba) remain relevant for certain specific categories, including seasonal employment. Other immigration pathways include the EU Blue Card for highly qualified employment, residence permits for innovative startup founders and permits based on qualifying business activities.
- Immigration applications for work permits and residence permits are managed by two separate authorities — the Labour Exchange (work permits) and the Migration Department (residence permits) — and must typically be coordinated in parallel to avoid gaps in legal status.
- We manage the complete immigration process: route selection, document preparation, employer compliance, Labour Exchange submissions, and Migration Department liaison through to permit issuance.
Immigration law services in Lithuania cover the legal process of obtaining the right for a non-EU national to live and work in Lithuania — from selecting the correct immigration route based on the individual’s qualifications, salary, and business situation, to preparing the complete document package, managing the Labour Exchange work permit application, and coordinating the Migration Department residence permit process. All routes are governed by the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (ULSA), implementing EU immigration directives. We advise employers on their obligations when hiring non-EU nationals and manage individual applications through to permit issuance.
The Lithuanian Immigration Law Framework
The Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (ULSA)
The Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (Lietuvos Respublikos įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties — ULSA) is the primary statute governing immigration to Lithuania. It regulates the entry, residence, work, and departure of foreign nationals — both EU and non-EU. The current ULSA consolidates the transposition of the principal EU immigration directives, including the Long-Term Residents Directive (2003/109/EC), the EU Blue Card Directive (2009/50/EC as replaced by 2021/1883/EU), the Single Permit Directive (2011/98/EU), the Intra-Corporate Transferees Directive (2014/66/EU), and the Seasonal Workers Directive (2014/36/EU).
The two-authority system — Labour Exchange and Migration Department
Lithuanian immigration for employment purposes operates through a two-authority system. The Lithuanian Labour Exchange (Užimtumo tarnyba, subordinate to the Ministry of Social Security and Labour) issues work permits — the authorisation for the employer to employ a specific non-EU national in a specific role. The Migration Department (Migracijos departamentas, subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior) issues residence permits — the authorisation for the individual to reside in Lithuania for the permit period. For ordinary employment-based immigration, the employer generally submits the required mediation letter through MIGRIS, while the third-country national applies for a temporary residence permit authorising employment. A separate Employment Service work permit is not universally required. The relevant residence and employment authorisation requirements depend on the applicant’s immigration category and any applicable exemptions. The Lithuanian Migration Department is responsible for residence permit decisions, while the Employment Service performs specific functions prescribed by employment and immigration legislation.
EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens — no permit required
Citizens of EU member states, EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), and Switzerland have freedom of movement within the EU and do not require a work permit or residence permit to work in Lithuania. They may register their residence with the Migration Department for administrative purposes (required after 3 months of residence), but this is not a condition of working. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can begin working in Lithuania immediately without any prior authorisation. Non-EU family members of EU citizens who have exercised their right of free movement in Lithuania have derivative rights under Directive 2004/38/EC (Free Movement Directive), implemented in ULSA.
Visa requirements — entry before the permit
The appropriate entry document for a third-country national depends on their nationality, purpose of travel and intended period of residence. A Lithuanian national long-stay visa (type D) is available for specific statutory purposes and is not a universal prerequisite for obtaining a temporary residence permit. National visas may generally authorise stays exceeding 90 days, up to the applicable maximum period. Temporary residence permit applications are submitted through MIGRIS and, where permitted, may be completed through authorised external service providers abroad or the Migration Department in Lithuania. Possession of a Schengen visa or visa-free entry permission does not generally authorise ordinary employment in Lithuania. For nationals of visa-free countries (such as the US, Canada, Japan, and certain others), entry on the Schengen visa-free regime is possible but the 90-day stay limitation applies.
Immigration Routes for Non-EU Nationals
Lithuania offers several distinct immigration routes for non-EU nationals, each with different eligibility conditions, processing timelines, and ongoing obligations. Choosing the correct route at the outset prevents delays and reduces the risk of application refusal.













