President of Lithuania Proposes Tougher Rules for Migrants

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The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, has signed a decree initiating parliamentary consideration of amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners. The proposal introduces a new model for issuing temporary work permits. The initiative is aimed both at strengthening control over migration flows and partially addressing labour shortages in the country.

Work permits in Lithuania

The initiative introduces a separate format of temporary work permits for foreign nationals who do not intend to reside in Lithuania long term. It primarily targets workers in sectors facing labour shortages, including long-haul drivers and construction specialists.

The maximum permitted stay under such a permit is set at two years. The model also provides for faster processing of applications and entry procedures, allowing businesses to fill vacancies more quickly in sectors lacking local labour.

After the two-year period, foreign workers will be required to leave the country for at least six months before being eligible to reapply under the same programme.

It is emphasised that highly skilled professionals from third countries are not subject to these restrictions.

Quotas and exams for foreigners in Lithuania

The new model will complement the existing long-term immigration system, while the overall annual migration cap remains unchanged. As before, it must not exceed 1.4% of the country’s population.

A key change is the redistribution of responsibilities: the government, rather than the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, will propose the annual quota size and its allocation.

The legislative initiative also introduces additional integration requirements for foreigners. In particular, applicants for a residence permit for the third time within a 10-year period will be required to pass a Lithuanian language exam. This requirement will apply to both migration regimes. In addition, stricter national security screening is proposed, including longer minimum processing times for such checks.

Other restrictions for migrants in Lithuania

Since 2023, Lithuania has already applied restrictions to citizens of Russia and Belarus. These measures cover visa issuance, residence permits, and enhanced border checks. Russian nationals without Lithuanian residence permits are prohibited from purchasing real estate. Financial transactions and various other activities of foreigners are also subject to monitoring.

The authorities plan to extend these measures until 2028 and expand their scope. The Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs (URK) has proposed that the government prepare a draft law introducing further restrictions on residence permits, tighter rules for property purchases near strategic assets, and enhanced controls on movement.

President Gitanas Nausėda stressed that Lithuania needs a well-managed, legal, and effective migration system that “strengthens us rather than dilutes national identity”. He added that lessons should be learned from other European countries where liberalisation of migration policy has led to negative consequences.

Conclusion

Analysts at International Investment note that migration control is tightening across the European Union. Countries are expanding tools for managing flows at external borders, developing practices of hosting refugee reception centres outside the EU, and increasingly using accelerated procedures for entry refusals. The focus is shifting toward shorter processing times and more efficient deportation mechanisms.

The Baltic states take one of the strictest stances toward Russian nationals and are also tightening regulations for Belarusian citizens. Lithuanian initiatives fit into this broader trend and are likely to continue if the geopolitical situation remains unchanged.