From November 1, new rules for obtaining temporary residence permits in Lithuania: who can no longer apply within the country

In Lithuania, starting from November 1, the procedure for submitting applications for temporary residence permits (TRP) for foreign citizens planning to work or study in the country has changed. According to the BNS agency, citing the Lithuanian Migration Department, the new restrictions primarily affect foreigners who entered the country on a Schengen visa issued by Lithuania or another Schengen Area country, or on a national visa from another country. Now, such foreigners, if they do not have another legal basis, will not be able to submit applications for work or student TRP directly within Lithuania. ### Who can still submit documents in Lithuania? According to amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners, the possibility of submitting an application within the country remains for several categories of applicants. - Foreigners with a valid residence permit in Lithuania. - Holders of a national visa from Lithuania. - Persons holding a residence permit from another European Union or Schengen Area country. - Foreigners entitled to visa-free stay in Lithuania. For other applicants intending to obtain a temporary TRP based on employment or studying in a bachelor's program, a different procedure is provided. They will have to apply at overseas centers of VFS Global, which provides document acceptance services. Thus, having a Schengen visa alone no longer grants the right to apply for the specified categories of TRP directly in Lithuania. ### An exception for highly qualified workers The new restrictions do not apply to highly qualified specialists planning to work in Lithuania. As explained by the Migration Department, applications from this category of foreigners will still be accepted in the usual manner. The main condition is that the applicant must be legally present in Lithuania. Therefore, the changes primarily affect regular employment and admission to bachelor's programs, rather than all categories of foreign workers and students. ### What will change for those who already have TRP? The procedure for extending a temporary residence permit remains the same. A foreigner who already has a valid TRP based on work will be able to apply for its extension in Lithuania. At the same time, documents can be submitted when there are no more than six months left before the expiration of the existing permit. Thus, the new rules primarily concern the initial issuance of TRP for certain categories of foreigners, rather than the extension of already issued permits. ### Where can Belarusian citizens submit documents? The Migration Department separately clarified the procedure for Belarusian citizens. They will be able to apply for a temporary residence permit based on work through VFS Global offices in Armenia and Georgia. These overseas centers are designated for accepting relevant applications from Belarusian citizens. ### What is important for foreigners to consider? The new rules mean that before traveling to Lithuania for employment or study, it is necessary to find out in advance whether the existing migration status allows applying for TRP within the country. This is especially relevant for foreigners who planned to come on a Schengen visa and then apply for a temporary residence permit directly in Lithuania. If the applicant does not belong to the categories for which exceptions are provided, they will need to use the services of an overseas VFS Global center.