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Lithuania Unlawfully Denying Residency to Ukrainians Without Valid Passports, Red Cross Warns
Interior Minister: Biometric passports are not required for temporary protection beneficiaries.
The Lithuanian Migration Department is refusing to extend residence permits for some Ukrainians who do not possess valid biometric passports, the Red Cross has warned. The organization argues that such rejections violate both national and EU laws.
Lithuania’s Interior Minister, Alicija Ščerbaitė, has confirmed that Ukrainians under temporary protection are not required to have valid passports. However, despite this, the Migration Department continues rejecting renewal applications for undocumented Ukrainians.
Lithuanian Red Cross: Residency Denials for Ukrainians Violate the Law
The Lithuanian Red Cross has reported an increasing number of cases where the Migration Department refuses to process residence permit renewals for Ukrainians due to a lack of valid biometric passports.
Chairman of the Human Rights Committee in the Lithuanian Parliament, Laurynas Šedvydis, has confirmed that more Ukrainians are seeking legal assistance regarding this issue.
"Under European Union law, countries must issue residence permits to individuals under temporary protection. National law also explicitly states that Schengen travel document requirements do not apply to them," said Viktor Ostrovnoj, Head of the Asylum and Migration Program at the Lithuanian Red Cross.
Lithuania’s Interior Minister Alicija Ščerbaitė acknowledged that the Red Cross has documented 31 such cases and emphasized that amendments to the current residence permit regulations may be needed to avoid similar issues in the future.
Lithuania Extends Temporary Protection for Ukrainians Until 2026
The European Union activated the Temporary Protection Directive, granting immediate residency and work rights to Ukrainian refugees.
According to Eurostat, as of late 2024, more than 4.2 million Ukrainians held temporary protection status in the EU. The largest increases in beneficiaries were recorded in Germany (+11,915), Czechia (+5,820), and Poland (+4,045).
Lithuania has also remained a key destination for Ukrainian refugees. Last year, Lithuania’s Migration Department extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2026.