Work in Lithuania 2024: New Work Permit Requirements for Foreign Nationals

Lithuania has tightened its regulations on international employees. For the majority of foreign nationals looking to work in the country, a temporary residency visa is currently required. With effect from July 1, 2024, the new rules are intended to improve labor migration management.

Lithuania has implemented more stringent guidelines on the hiring of foreign employees; these changes will take effect on July 1, 2024. These modifications are the result of the newly enacted Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, which attempts to improve the nation’s management of labor migration.

Significant Shifts for Foreign Employees in Lithuania

Foreign nationals holding national or Schengen visas, or residency permits from other nations, will no longer be permitted to work in Lithuania as of July 1, 2024. They must receive a temporary residency permit explicitly provided by Lithuania to continue working in Lithuania.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, though. Individuals from other countries who meet certain requirements and enter Lithuania lawfully will not need to apply for a work permit. Among these exclusions are foreign nationals who:

• Are employed by a business that is situated in a member state of the EU.
• Are less than three months a year visitors to Lithuania.
• Are business owners and investors in Lithuanian firms.

Effect on Current Employees

Until the end of their current legal stay or until they obtain the right to work under new circumstances, foreign nationals who began working in Lithuania before these revisions will be entitled to continue doing so. For example, Belarusian nationals working in Lithuania under the shortage occupation list with a Polish visa are allowed to keep working until the expiration of their visa.

To maintain employment, foreign nationals are advised by the Migration Department to apply for a work-based temporary residence permit at least four months before the expiration of their present visa.

The Repercussions of Non-Compliance

The Lithuanian government has taken action to ensure that these new rules are properly implemented. It will now be prohibited to work without valid permission, and companies that break these rules will be subject to administrative penalties. Employers who are found guilty of using undocumented or illegal foreign workers may have a one-year restriction on hiring more foreign workers.

Revisions to Appeals for Resident Permits

How residence permit cancellations are processed is also significantly altered by the new law. In the past, foreign nationals were allowed to keep their residency permits while contesting a decision to revoke them. This practice has been stopped as of July 1, 2024.

Currently, even if a foreign national appeals the cancellation of their residency permit, the permit will remain void during the appeals process. The foreign nationals will receive a return decision if they do not depart Lithuania within 14 days of the permission being canceled. Deportation and a prohibition on entering Lithuania again will occur if this ruling is not carried out.

Steering Clear of System Abuse

Part of the purpose of the tougher laws is to stop foreigners from exploiting the system by registering for courses, finding new jobs, or getting married under the pretenses of staying in the nation. With the government’s new strategy, immigrants who don’t fit the residency requirements will no longer be able to use these loopholes to postpone their departure.

Conclusion

Foreign workers in Lithuania now have to negotiate a more stringent legal environment due to the impending changes. To ensure their legal status before the new restrictions go into full force, those who are impacted should move quickly. Companies must abide by the new regulations to avoid fines and limitations on recruiting foreign labor in the future.