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How to get a work permit of Lithuania?

Lithuania, a country in northeastern Europe, is the southernmost and largest of the three Baltic states. It is famous for its reasonable living cost. Living comfortably in Lithuania can cost from 800 euros to 1500 euros. The average salary in Lithuania is 1400 Euros per month. 

After finding a work visa you can stay for a long time in Lithuania for sure. But it’s not easy to get employment in Lithuania for non-EU candidates. 

Lithuania’s visa ratio is currently visa low and the government is encouraging more and more skilled workers in the country. One can also travel to other Schengen countries after getting the Lithuanian work visa. But the maximum allowed stay in other EU states must not exceed 3 months of a single visit.

Important things to remember are that such work permits based on the D visa category do allow the applicant to get the personal identity number. The visa holder can neither change employer nor do self-employed work.

Qualification requirements for foreigners

A work permit or a decision on compliance with the needs of the Lithuanian labor market is issued if the visa applicant has:

  • qualifications relevant to the work to be done, or
  • One year of work experience in the last three years relevant to the work to be done, or
  • The foreigner is expected to be paid a monthly salary not less than the last published average monthly gross salary in the national economy (including wage data for individual enterprises) for the calendar year.

Work permit process

First of all, you have to find a Lithuanian employer to get a job from. If you successfully get him and he shows interest in employing you, he will apply for a work permit on your behalf from the Labour Services in the country. A candidate from outside the EU has to submit an application for either a work visa, a work permit, or a residence permit to begin a job in Lithuania. If the candidate obtains a work permit he will apply for a national D visa to enter the country. So the process goes on as follows:

  • The employer registers the vacancy at www.uzt.lt;
  • Priority for applying for the vacancy is given to citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, EU citizens, and foreigners with a permanent residence permit in Lithuania. If there are no such candidates, the employer completes an application for a work permit or a decision on compliance with the needs of the Lithuanian labor market for the foreigner;
  • The Employment Service examines the application and makes a decision within seven business days;

The foreigner must obtain a work permit before the date of the planned conclusion of the employment contract or the start of the planned work in the Republic of Lithuania. The employer can submit the recruitment documents to the Employment Service one month after the expiry of the vacancy notice. A foreigner can only hold one work permit at a time.

Types of work permit in Lithuania  

The most common work permits in Lithuania are:

  • Seasonal work visa,
  • Work permit for employment in Lithuania,
  • Work visa for highly skilled workers (EU Blue Card),
  • work visa for intra-company transfers,
  • Work permit of Lithuania.

Work visa for highly skilled workers (EU Blue Card)

For this category, the candidate has to fulfill the following needs to be considered a highly skilled worker:

  • he has found an employer in Lituania who wishes to hire him for his abilities,
  • he is highly educated,
  • he has a minimum of 5 years of professional experience equivalent to higher education,
  • he will be paid a minimum of 1.5 times the average salary in Lithuania,
  • His job is available in the list of professions that require a highly skilled qualification which is lacking in Lithuania.

If luckily the candidate fulfills the criteria for Blue Card, he will obtain a temporary residence permit, normally valid for 24 months. He will participate through MIGRIS (Lithuanian Migration Information System). As far as your employer is concerned he may need to apply to the Employment Service’s territorial division to prove that he fulfills the needs of the Labour Division.

Intra-company Transfer work visa 

The candidate chooses this option if the company is sending him to work with its branch or the same company group situated in Lithuania. In addition, the candidate will get this visa, if he is transferred as a manager, a specialist, or an employee including students who will begin their internship and trainers.

Seasonal work visa

Normally Seasonal work visas are granted in the following situations:

  •  unavailability of Lithuanian employees for seasonal work,
  •  The candidate will work under an employment contract,
  •  candidate has accommodation in Lithuania.

 Seasonal work is part of the list of employment provided at the seasonal Work approved by the Minister of Social Security and Labour.

How a candidate can apply for a Lithuania Work Visa 

The following are the key things to get a work visa in Lithuania, The candidate must:

  • Get the work permit. The Lithuanian Labour Exchange provides the work permit. The candidate’s employer will apply for this permit on his behalf.
  • The employer will collect the necessary documents from the candidate as per requirements. 
  • Prior to the candidate applying for a temporary residence permit, he will be required to submit an application for a work visa at his country’s nearest embassy or consulate. 
  • The candidate will submit his application through the online Migration Department website and must state the type of visa he is looking for.
  • all the candidates will provide the required documents including a valid passport, a photo, and valid health insurance. Obtaining an appointment is necessary,
  • the candidate should submit the papers when goes to the consulate/embassy. After submitting documents processing time normally takes a minimum of 2 weeks.

What candidate should do after entering Lithuania?

The candidate will need to apply for a temporary residence permit after he enters Lithuania, this is necessary if his work visa leads to a residence permit in Lithuania. The candidate has to fulfill the application for a temporary residence permit through MIGRIS, otherwise, he is also required to register his residence at the Migration office, which will then provide the data to the Center of Registers. In case the residence is under some other name, he must also provide a permit signed by the owner.

What is the work visa fees?

It is 120 euro and the candidates are advised to submit the visa fee at the Lithuanian embassy/consulate. A receipt will be given after paying the fee. The candidate will attach that document to his online application. 

Length of work visa

A Lithuanian work visa is provided for not more than 12 months. However, the candidate can extend it when he applies for a temporary residence permit, and his employer submits an application for an extension of the work permit. He can renew it annually. After five years, the candidate gets a chance to apply for a permanent residence permit and Lithuanian citizenship.

Work Visa Extention

The candidate’s employer will submit an application for his work visa extension 30 days prior to the permit expiry date. If his stay extends beyond 12 months, he will apply for a temporary residence permit to stay further in the country.

Family visa

This can happen if the candidate has a valid work permit and temporary residence permit. His family will apply for a family reunification visa. This visa will allow his family to live with him as long as his valid permit exists.

Finding jobs in Lithuania

Generally speaking, jobseekers must: submit a curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter, and, after a successful selection procedure, go for an interview with the employer. These requirements do not apply to those who are looking for manual work, for which a CV and an interview or just an interview are generally sufficient. You can compose your CV at: https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/editors/en/cv/compose

Following are the important websites to find jobs in Lithuania:

More information from the Lithuanian official website

A foreigner intends to work in the Republic of Lithuania under a fixed-term, indefinite, or multi-employer contract, as well as a temporary employment contract, or works under these employment contracts under the conditions set forth in Article 44 of the Law of the Republic of Lithuania “On the Legal Status of Foreigners”, if he:

  • intends to start working in the Republic of Lithuania;
  • has a work permit in the Republic of Lithuania and a national visa and intends to continue working;
  • is a foreigner whose profession was included in the list of Professions with a shortage of workers in the Republic of Lithuania approved by the Director of the Employment Service by type of economic activity, has a national visa and intends to continue working in a profession not included in the Professions, the list of which employees are missing;
  • is a foreigner whose profession is included in the list of professions with a shortage of workers, and the quota determined in accordance with Article 571 of the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreigners” has been used up;
  • is a foreigner posted to work temporarily in the Republic of Lithuania, when his permanent place of work is abroad, has a work permit and a national visa and intends to start working in the Republic of Lithuania;
  • has a temporary residence permit issued in accordance with Article 40, Paragraph 1, Clause 4 of the Law “On the Legal Status of Aliens”, and intends to continue working in the Republic of Lithuania or wishes to change the employer or work function with the same employer;
  • has a temporary residence permit issued on a basis other than that specified in Article 40, Part 1, Item 4 of the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreigners”, and intends to work in the Republic of Lithuania;
  • has a work permit (has been exempted from the obligation to obtain a work permit in accordance with Article 58, Clause 11 of the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreigners” and is subject to the visa-free regime provided for in Article 11, Part 2 of the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreigners” or has the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreigners” document referred to in paragraphs 3-5 of Article 11 and intends to continue working in the Republic of Lithuania;
  • has a national visa, issued in 2017 according to the Visa Issuance Procedure Description, approved by the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. December 28 by order no. 1V-899/V-330 “On Approval of the Visa Issuance Procedure Description” (hereinafter – the Visa Issuance Procedure Description), on the grounds specified in clauses 70.19-70.21 and intends to work in the Republic of Lithuania;
  • has completed studies or training in the Republic of Lithuania under a formal vocational training program, 10 years have passed since the completion of studies or training under a formal vocational training program, intends to work and applies for the issuance or change of a temporary residence permit, Article 40, Paragraph 1, 4 of the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreigners” on the basis established in point.