Lithuania – Changes in National Visa Application Process

As of 1 July 2023, the procedure for issuing national visas in Lithuania is changing.  From 1 July, the Migration Department will take care of this procedure.  All applications for the issuance of national visas will have to be submitted through the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS).  Some categories of foreign nationals will no longer be able to apply for a national visa.

The procedure for submitting an application for a national visa is being simplified and will be similar to that of a residence permit.  The amendments taking effect will waive the issuance of a national visa on the basis of work (except for seasonal work), as well as other grounds that duplicate the grounds for issuing a temporary residence permit in Lithuania.

On 1 July 2023, amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners¹ enter into force.  From this date, foreign nationals who are not in Lithuania will apply for national visas only through an external service provider chosen by the Migration Department.  Until now, such requests were accepted by Lithuanian diplomatic missions, consular offices, or visa centres abroad selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In addition, a new legal act – Description of the Procedure for Issuing a National Visa² – was introduced and is to take effect on 1 July 2023.  This law shall determine the procedure for submitting documents for obtaining a national visa, conducting consultations, issuing or refusing to issue a national visa, as well as cancelling and revoking a national visa.

From 1 July 2023, all applications for issuing national visas will have to be submitted through the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS) on the website www.migracija.  The possibility of filling in applications through the Electronic Application Module (EPM) will be cancelled.

The grounds for issuing a national visa will also change.  According to the Migration Department³, from 1 July 2023, national visas will not be issued to:

• full-time students coming to study at higher education institutions registered and operating in the Republic of Lithuania;
• teachers and researchers coming to work in higher education institutions under employment contracts;
• foreign nationals coming to work when their profession is entered in the list of “missing professions”;
• foreign national employees who have a work permit issued by the Employment Service;
• citizens of Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, and Belarus, who until now received national visas in a simplified manner;
• foreign nationals who have submitted an application to issue or change a residence permit or a family member card of an EU citizen;
• foreign nationals for whom the Migration Department has made a decision to issue a residence permit or a family member card of an EU citizen.

Foreign nationals of all these categories, in order to legally enter and stay in Lithuania, will have to apply not for a national visa, but for obtaining a temporary residence permit in Lithuania.

As there have been some changes to policy and procedures that will apply going forward – and it can be confusing to navigate them – if there are any questions about which entity is handling applications for the issuance of national visas, eligibility and the conditions for getting issued with a national visa, and making the applications, it may be prudent to consult with a qualified global-mobility professional and/or immigration counsel, or a member of the Immigration team with KPMG in Lithuania (see the Contacts section).

1  Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners (in Lithuanian): XIV-1277 Lietuvos Respublikos įstatymo „Dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties“ Nr. IX-2206 pakeitimo įstatymas (e-tar.lt) .

2  Description of the Procedure for Issuing a National Visa / Dėl Nacionalinės vizos išdavimo tvarkos aprašo patvirtinimo (in Lithuanian): https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/703670e0164311ee9f7ec2ffce8b47bc .

3  Migration Department information (in English and Lithuanian): “The procedure for issuing national visas is being changed – this will be taken care of by the Migration Department."   

* 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.