As of 1 January 2023, employment procedures for foreign nationals have been eased in Lithuania. All foreign nationals can apply for a temporary residence permit through an intermediary, VFS Global, at their offices in any country. This change follows employment simplification efforts for foreign nationals which began in 2022.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The increasing shortage of workers and the number of Ukrainians fleeing the war to Lithuania have caused Lithuania to ease its employment procedures. (For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2022-048, 8 March 2022.) With these legislative amendments, the entry and employment of foreign nationals are simplified. The measures, that began in 2022, aim to attract highly-skilled specialists to Lithuania and create a more attractive immigration environment.
What Has Changed
Before 2023, the application for a temporary residence permit could only be submitted at the Migration Department offices located in Lithuania. Now, VFS Global offices work as an intermediary of the Lithuanian Migration Department. Individuals applying via VFS Global for a temporary residence permit in Lithuania do not have to be residents of the country where the local VFS Global office is located. Note that Lithuania is still under a state of emergency, thus, applications from residents of Russia and Belarus are not accepted.
The amendments introducing the changes were approved by the Parliament of Lithuania on 30 June 2022.1 The change became effective on 1 January 2023.
FOOTNOTE
1 Legislative changes (Lietuvos Respublikos įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties) accepted by the Parliament of Lithuania (in Lithuanian).
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Lithuania.
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