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).
Non-EU nationals require either a work permit from the Lithuanian Labour Exchange (Užimtumo tarnyba) and a temporary residence permit (leidimas laikinai gyventi) from the Migration Department, or one of the specialised immigration routes (EU Blue Card, Startup Visa, or investor residence permit).
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.

Short answer

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. Both authorisations are typically required for employment-based immigration: the employer must have a work permit before the individual can obtain a residence permit, and the individual must have a residence permit to legally reside in Lithuania beyond a short-term visa.

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

Most non-EU nationals require a Lithuanian national long-stay visa (type D visa — nacionalinė viza) to enter Lithuania for the purpose of work or residence, unless they are nationals of a country with a visa-free agreement with Lithuania or the EU. The D visa is issued by Lithuanian diplomatic missions (embassies and consulates) abroad and is typically valid for 90 days — sufficient to enter Lithuania and submit a residence permit application to the Migration Department. 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.

National Work Permit + Temporary Residence Permit

Legal basis: Articles 44–47 ULSA; Labour Exchange Order No. A1-316

For: Non-EU nationals employed by a Lithuanian company who do not meet the EU Blue Card eligibility thresholds; the standard route for most employment-based immigration.

Key conditions: Valid employment contract with a Lithuanian employer; the employer must have no grounds for refusal (no open violations, no outstanding tax debts); the role may be subject to a labour market test confirming no suitable Lithuanian candidate is available.

Typical timeline: Work permit: 4–8 weeks. D visa: 2–4 weeks at consulate. Residence permit: 1–2 months after arrival. Total: approximately 3–5 months.

EU Blue Card

Legal basis: Directive 2021/1883/EU; Articles 44(1)(6) and 45 ULSA

For: Highly qualified non-EU nationals employed by a Lithuanian company in a role requiring higher education qualifications or equivalent professional experience. Provides an accelerated EU-wide mobility right.

Key conditions: Valid employment contract; higher education qualification or ≥5 years of professional experience in the relevant field; gross salary at least 1.5× the Lithuanian average gross monthly salary (approximately €2,850 gross/month in 2025).

Typical timeline: Work permit + Blue Card application: 4–8 weeks. D visa: 2–4 weeks. Residence permit: 1–2 months. Total: approximately 3–5 months. EU mobility right: after 18 months.

Startup Visa

Legal basis: Article 44(1)(15) ULSA; Startup Lithuania programme

For: Non-EU entrepreneurs seeking to establish or develop an innovative, scalable startup in Lithuania. The programme is administered in partnership with Startup Lithuania, which evaluates the business concept.

Key conditions: Business concept submitted to Startup Lithuania for qualitative assessment; innovative and scalable business model; Startup Lithuania letter of recommendation required before visa application.

Typical timeline: Startup Lithuania assessment: 4–6 weeks. D visa + residence permit: 4–8 weeks after recommendation. Total: approximately 3–4 months.

Investor Residence Permit

Legal basis: Article 43(1)(9) ULSA

For: Non-EU investors making a qualifying investment in Lithuania — investment in a Lithuanian company, real estate purchase, or qualifying bank deposit.

Key conditions: One of: (a) invest ≥€14,000 in a Lithuanian company employing ≥3 persons and whose activities benefit Lithuania; (b) purchase real estate worth ≥€250,000 in major cities (≥€100,000 elsewhere); (c) deposit ≥€1,000,000 in a Lithuanian bank.

Typical timeline: Investment documentation and application: 2–4 months at Migration Department.

Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT)

Legal basis: Directive 2014/66/EU; Article 44(1)(7) ULSA

For: Managers, specialists, and trainee employees being transferred from a non-EU entity of a multinational group to a Lithuanian entity of the same group. No labour market test required.

Key conditions: Prior employment with the same multinational group for at least 3 months (managers/specialists) or 6 months (trainees); temporary assignment of maximum 3 years (managers/specialists) or 1 year (trainees); salary equivalent to Lithuanian employees in comparable roles.

Typical timeline: ICT permit: 4–6 weeks. D visa: 2–4 weeks. Total: approximately 2–3 months.

Family Reunification

Legal basis: Directive 2003/86/EC; Article 43(1)(3) ULSA

For: Spouses, registered partners, and dependent children of non-EU nationals legally residing in Lithuania on a valid temporary or permanent residence permit.

Key conditions: Sponsor must hold a valid Lithuanian temporary residence permit (minimum 1 year remaining); proof of family relationship; adequate accommodation and sufficient income to support the family member.

Typical timeline: Residence permit application: 2–3 months at Migration Department.

     Permanent residence permit — the 5-year milestone

    Every non-EU national who has legally and continuously resided in Lithuania for at least 5 years on a valid residence permit becomes eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit (leidimas nuolat gyventi) under Article 53 ULSA, implementing the Long-Term Residents Directive (2003/109/EC). The continuous residence requirement means no more than 10 months of total absence from Lithuania during the 5-year period and no more than 6 consecutive months absent in any single year. A permanent residence permit has no expiry date (it is renewed every 5 years as an administrative formality) and gives the holder the right to work for any employer without a work permit. We manage permanent residence permit applications at the 5-year milestone for all clients whose temporary permits we have managed.

Employer Obligations When Hiring Non-EU Nationals

Employers who hire non-EU nationals in Lithuania have specific legal obligations under the ULSA and the Law on Employment. Failure to comply exposes the employer to significant administrative fines and, in serious cases, criminal liability.

Work permit application — the employer’s responsibility

The work permit application is made by the employer to the Lithuanian Labour Exchange — not by the employee. The employer submits the application, provides the required documentation (including the employment contract or a binding job offer), confirms that the employer has no grounds for refusal, and pays the state fee. The Labour Exchange assesses whether the employer meets the eligibility requirements and, where a labour market test applies, whether a suitable Lithuanian candidate was genuinely unavailable. Work permits are tied to the specific employer and the specific role described in the application — the employee cannot freely change employers or positions under the same permit.

Labour market test — when it applies

For most national work permit applications, the employer must demonstrate that no suitable candidate from Lithuania (or the EU/EEA) was available for the position. This is demonstrated by: advertising the vacancy with the Lithuanian Labour Exchange for at least 10 days prior to the work permit application; being unable to fill the position with a suitable Lithuanian or EU/EEA candidate; and documenting this process. The labour market test does not apply to EU Blue Card applications (which have a salary-based eligibility mechanism instead), to ICT applications (which concern intra-group transfers), or to positions on the list of occupations in shortage (deficit profesijų sąrašas) published by the Lithuanian Labour Exchange. We confirm whether a labour market test applies for each specific role before the employer begins the advertising process.

Employer notification obligations

Under Article 111 ULSA, employers are required to notify the Migration Department of changes in the employment relationship with non-EU nationals: the commencement of employment (within 5 business days); the termination of employment (within 5 business days); and any material change in the terms of employment (change of position, significant salary change, change of workplace). Failure to notify is an administrative violation with fines of €300–€3,000 for responsible officials and €500–€6,000 for the company.

Prohibition on employing without a valid permit

An employer who employs a non-EU national without a valid work permit and residence permit commits a serious violation under Article 124 ULSA. Penalties include: fines of €1,000–€30,000 per illegally employed worker; prohibition from receiving EU structural funds for up to 5 years; and in cases of repeated violation or exploitation, criminal liability for responsible directors. These sanctions apply regardless of whether the employer was aware of the immigration status issue — the obligation to verify the employee’s legal right to work rests with the employer.

The Immigration Application Process

We manage the complete immigration process for both employers and individual applicants. The process varies by immigration route — the steps below describe the national work permit route, which is the most common.

Route assessment and eligibility confirmation
We assess the individual’s qualifications, salary level, and employment situation to confirm the most appropriate immigration route. For Blue Card eligibility, we confirm whether the salary threshold and qualification requirements are met. For ICT applications, we confirm the intra-group transfer eligibility. For investors, we confirm whether the proposed investment meets the qualifying thresholds under Article 43(1)(9) ULSA.

Employer eligibility and compliance check
We confirm that the employer meets the eligibility requirements for submitting a work permit application — including no outstanding VMI tax debts, no labour law violations within the previous 12 months, and SoDra employer registration. An employer with unresolved compliance issues cannot obtain a work permit for a non-EU national.

Labour market test (where applicable)
Where a labour market test is required, we advise the employer on the Labour Exchange advertising requirement: posting the vacancy with the Užimtumo tarnyba for the required period, documenting the candidates interviewed, and confirming that no suitable Lithuanian or EU/EEA candidate was available. We prepare the documentation of this process for inclusion in the work permit application.

Work permit application to the Labour Exchange
We prepare and submit the complete work permit application to the Lithuanian Labour Exchange: employer details, employment contract or binding job offer, job description confirming the role and salary, employer eligibility declarations, labour market test documentation (where applicable), and the applicant’s qualifications documentation. The Labour Exchange has a statutory processing time of 30 business days.

D visa application at the Lithuanian consulate
Once the work permit is issued, the individual applies for a Lithuanian national long-stay D visa at the Lithuanian embassy or consulate in their country of residence. We prepare the visa application document set and advise on the consulate appointment process for the specific country. D visas are typically issued within 2–4 weeks of a complete application.

Residence permit application at the Migration Department
After arriving in Lithuania on the D visa, the individual applies for a temporary residence permit at the Migration Department. We submit the complete application: work permit, employment contract, D visa, passport, proof of accommodation in Lithuania, and health insurance. The Migration Department processes residence permit applications within 2 months of submission.

Biometric data and permit collection
The Migration Department notifies the applicant when the permit is ready for collection. The applicant attends the Migration Department office to provide biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) and receives the physical residence permit card. We accompany the applicant to this appointment and confirm that all permit details are correct.

Ongoing compliance — renewals and notifications
A temporary residence permit is typically issued for 1–2 years and must be renewed before expiry. We track permit expiry dates and initiate renewal applications 2–3 months before the expiry date. We also manage the employer’s Article 111 ULSA notification obligations throughout the employment relationship.

Immigration Routes Comparison

Route	Salary / Investment Requirement	Labour Market Test	EU Mobility Right	Permit Duration
National Work Permit	Minimum wage (€1,038/month min)	Yes (with exceptions)	No	1–2 years (renewable)
EU Blue Card	≥1.5× average (≈€2,850/month)	No	After 18 months	Employment contract + 3 months
Startup Visa	None — qualitative assessment	No	No	Up to 2 years (extendable)
Investor Permit	€14,000 company / €250,000 property	No	No	1–2 years (renewable)
ICT Permit	Comparable to Lithuanian employees	No	EU ICT mobility	Up to 3 years (managers/specialists)
Family Reunification	Sponsor’s income sufficiency	No	Follows sponsor	Same as primary holder
Permanent Residence	5 years legal residence	N/A — no work permit	Long-term resident status	No expiry (renewed every 5 years)

Standard Document Requirements

For the employer (work permit application to Labour Exchange)

Completed Labour Exchange application form
Certificate confirming no outstanding VMI tax debts (issued within 3 months)
Copy of the company’s JAR registration extract
Employment contract or binding job offer — signed by the employer; specifying role, salary, workplace, and start date
Job description — confirming the duties and qualifications required for the role
Documents evidencing the labour market test (where applicable) — Labour Exchange vacancy registration, candidate evaluation records
State fee payment confirmation

For the individual (residence permit application to Migration Department)

Valid passport (minimum 3 months’ validity beyond the intended stay)
Passport-size photographs (in accordance with Migration Department specifications)
Criminal record certificate from the country of origin and from any country where the applicant has resided for 12+ months in the past 5 years — apostilled and certified Lithuanian translation
Valid work permit issued by the Labour Exchange
Employment contract — signed by both parties
Proof of accommodation in Lithuania — lease agreement, hotel booking, or employer-provided accommodation confirmation
Health insurance — covering the application period until state health insurance (privalomasis sveikatos draudimas — PSD) activation through SoDra
Educational qualifications (for Blue Card applications) — degree certificate with apostille and certified Lithuanian translation
Application form and state fee payment confirmation

 Translation and apostille — planning ahead

Documents issued outside Lithuania must be apostilled (under the Hague Convention) and accompanied by a certified Lithuanian translation prepared by a sworn translator. The apostille process takes 1–5 business days in most countries; the certified translation takes 3–7 business days. Documents that were not planned for early in the process — particularly criminal record certificates, which have a short validity period (typically 3–6 months) — frequently cause application delays. We provide a complete document checklist at the start of every engagement and coordinate translations through our network of VVKT-registered sworn translators.

Immigration Law Services Pricing

Our immigration services are priced at fixed fees per application. Government fees payable to the Labour Exchange, Migration Department, and consulates are separate and quoted in the engagement proposal.

Service	Price
Immigration route assessment Written assessment of applicable routes; document checklist; realistic timeline; total government fee estimate	€1,000
National work permit — employer application (Labour Exchange) Complete application preparation, Labour Exchange submission, and correspondence through to permit issuance	€2,000
National D visa application support Document preparation, translation coordination, and consulate appointment guidance	€2,000
Temporary residence permit application Full application preparation, Migration Department submission, appointment attendance, and permit collection	€3,000
Full national work permit package (work permit + visa + residence permit) All three stages coordinated as a single engagement; most cost-efficient option for the complete process	€5,000
Startup Visa — Startup Lithuania concept submission Business concept structuring, application preparation, and Startup Lithuania liaison	€2,000
Startup Visa — D visa and residence permit Full visa and permit application based on Startup Lithuania recommendation	€2,000
Investor residence permit — full application Investment documentation, Migration Department application, interview preparation, and permit collection	€3,000
Permanent residence permit application At 5-year milestone; full application preparation, 5-year residence evidence, Migration Department submission	€3,000
Permit renewal (work permit or residence permit) Renewal application preparation and submission; initiated 2–3 months before expiry	€1,500
Document apostille and translation coordination (per document) Coordinating apostille through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and certified Lithuanian translation	€80–€150

 Government fees — not included above

Lithuanian immigration applications involve government fees payable directly to the authorities: the Labour Exchange work permit fee (€30 per application); the Migration Department residence permit fee (€120 standard processing, €240 expedited — 5 business days); and consular D visa fees (vary by nationality). We include all government fees in the initial cost estimate provided at the engagement proposal stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. A tourist visa or Schengen short-stay visa does not authorise employment in Lithuania. Working in Lithuania requires either a national work permit (for employed persons) or a residence permit on another qualifying basis (investor, family reunification). A non-EU national who works in Lithuania on a Schengen visa or without any visa is working illegally — exposing both the individual (risk of deportation and entry ban) and the employer (fines of €1,000–€30,000 per illegally employed worker under Article 124 ULSA) to serious consequences. The correct sequence is: work permit from the Labour Exchange → D visa from the Lithuanian consulate → arrival in Lithuania → residence permit from the Migration Department.

The complete process from starting the Labour Exchange application to holding a valid residence permit in Lithuania typically takes 3–5 months for a national work permit application. This breaks down as: Labour Exchange application and processing (4–8 weeks); D visa at the consulate (2–4 weeks); arrival in Lithuania; Migration Department residence permit application and processing (up to 2 months). Running the Labour Exchange application and the D visa application as much in parallel as possible — and preparing the residence permit application documents in advance of arrival — can compress the total timeline. We provide a project-specific timeline at the route assessment stage.

A national work permit is tied to the specific employer named in the permit and the specific role described in the application. An employee on a national work permit who changes employer must have a new work permit for the new employer before beginning work. During the transition, there will be a period where the employee has no valid work permit — during which they cannot legally work in Lithuania. Planning a job change for a non-EU national requires initiating the new employer’s work permit application at least 4–8 weeks before the intended start date with the new employer. For EU Blue Card holders, changing employers after the first 18 months requires notification to the Migration Department but not a new permit application in all cases — we advise specifically on the Blue Card mobility provisions.

The labour market test requires an employer to advertise a vacancy with the Lithuanian Labour Exchange for at least 10 days before applying for a national work permit for a non-EU national — demonstrating that no suitable Lithuanian or EU/EEA candidate was available. Roles exempt from the labour market test include: roles on the list of occupations in deficit (deficit profesijų sąrašas) published by the Labour Exchange, which is updated periodically and includes specific categories such as some engineering, technology, and healthcare roles; EU Blue Card applications (which use the salary threshold as the eligibility mechanism instead); ICT permits (which concern intra-group transfers, not open market hiring); and roles filled by the intra-corporate transfer route. We confirm whether a labour market test applies for each role as part of the route assessment.

Yes — a non-EU national holding a valid Lithuanian temporary residence permit on an employment basis can apply for family reunification permits for their spouse (or registered partner) and dependent children under 18. The family reunification permit application is made to the Migration Department and requires proof of the family relationship, adequate accommodation in Lithuania, and the primary permit holder’s sufficient income to support the family. Family members admitted on reunification permits are entitled to work for any Lithuanian employer without a separate work permit — this is a significant practical benefit compared to the primary permit holder’s employer-tied permit. We manage family reunification permit applications alongside the primary permit process.

Yes — after 18 months of employment in Lithuania under an EU Blue Card, the holder acquires an EU-wide mobility right under Directive 2021/1883/EU as transposed into Lithuanian law. This allows the Blue Card holder to move to another EU member state and apply for a Blue Card in that country under an accelerated procedure, without having to restart the full immigration process from scratch. The mobility right also covers family members who have been admitted under the Lithuanian Blue Card. This intra-EU mobility is one of the most commercially significant advantages of the Blue Card over a national work permit — for international businesses with operations in multiple EU countries, it allows specialist employees to be rotated across EU entities without the full immigration process in each country.

Before a non-EU national begins work, the employer must verify: the validity of the work permit (issued by the Labour Exchange, naming the employer and the role); the validity of the residence permit (or D visa for the initial entry period); and that the work permit and residence permit are consistent with the role to be performed. A copy of both documents should be retained in the employee’s HR file. The employer is required to notify the Migration Department of the employee’s commencement of work within 5 business days under Article 111 ULSA. Employers who fail to verify permits before employment begins have no defence to an Article 124 ULSA illegal employment violation if the employee turns out not to have valid authorisation.

Ready to start your Lithuanian immigration process?

Contact us to discuss the specific situation — whether it is a new hire for your Lithuanian company, an intra-corporate transfer, or a personal immigration matter. We will confirm the applicable route, assess eligibility, and provide a fixed-fee quote for the complete process. For time-sensitive situations, we can submit a Labour Exchange application within 48 hours of receiving the required documentation.