Topic 2 Information on permits and requirements for working in Lithuania

Foreigners granted asylum in Lithuania can get a job without restrictions and do not need a work permit. Asylum seekers, i.e. foreigners whose asylum applications have not yet been decided, are not entitled to work in Lithuania. However, asylum seekers are allowed to work if, within 6 months from the date of submission of the application for asylum, the Migration Department has not made a decision regarding the granting of asylum in the Republic of Lithuania through not fault of the asylum seeker.

Following the influx of Ukrainian refugees after February 2022, Ukrainians are exempted from the obligation to obtain a work permit in the Republic of Lithuania and / or a decision on the compliance of a foreigner’s work with the labour market needs of the Republic of Lithuania.

All beneficiaries of refugee or subsidiary protection status are enabled to participate in active labour market policy measures. Vocational training, apprenticeship contracts, support for the acquisition of work skills, subsidised employment may be offered to persons without qualifications and/or competences matching the needs of the labour market who have been granted refugee status or who have been granted subsidiary or temporary protection.

Subsidized employment. The employment of persons who have been granted refugee or subsidiary protection status by employers may benefit from a recruitment subsidy measure and a compensation of 75% work pay. The subsidy can be applied for up to 2 years.

More information: https://uzt.lt/administracine-informacija/dazniausiai-uzduodami-klausimai-pabegeliu-idarbinimas/

Source of photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-with-a-hijab-working-on-her-laptop-9218635/

A third-country nationals may come to work in Lithuania with one of the following documents:

1. Work permit
2. Permit for a seasonal work
3. A decision regarding the compliance of the profession of a foreigner with the needs of the labour market of the Republic of Lithuania
4. A decision regarding the compliance of a high professional qualification of a foreigner with the needs of the labour market of the Republic of Lithuania.

Each document sets out special requirements for the employee or the employment contract, as well as the period during which the foreign citizen can legally reside in Lithuania.

The Employment Service are responsible for issuing, extending and revoking work permits for foreign nationals. Visitofficial Employment Service website: https://uzt.lt/en/.

A work permit may be issued to a foreign citizen if there is no specialist in Lithuania who meets the qualification requirements specified by the employer. A highly qualified specialist does not need a work permit if he or she is subject to other conditions for issuing a temporary residence permit established by law.

Foreign citizens do not need to obtain a work permit or a decision on meeting the needs of the labour market if the foreigner’s profession is included in the list of missing professions in the Republic of Lithuania by the type of economic activity. In the second half of the year 2020, this list includes concreters, welders, electricians, metal hull assemblers, metal bending machine operators, drivers of international routes, tailors, weavers, butchers, slaughterers.

The full list of the missing professions in the Republic of Lithuania by the type of economic activity can be found on the website: https://uzt.lt/darbdaviui/uzsienieciu-idarbinimas/

Foreigners who intend to work in the Republic of Lithuania must obtain a work permit if:

• They are allowed to stay in the Republic of Lithuania because they are or have been a victim of human trafficking or illegal work and liaisons with a pre-trial investigation institution or a court to combat trafficking in human beings or crimes related to trafficking in human beings or illegal work, when working under particularly exploitative conditions; when a minor worked and intends to exercise the right to work;
• They arrive in the Republic of Lithuania to work as a seasonal worker or as a trainee (except for a trainee who is transferred within the company) or a placement student;
• They do not arrive in the Republic of Lithuania but intend to work under a remote work contract concluded with a company operating in the Republic of Lithuania;
• in other cases where the foreigners are not exempt from the obligation to obtain a work permit (you can find more information at: http://uzt.lt/darbdaviui/uzsienieciu-idarbinimas/).

A foreigner can apply for a work visa or a residence permit. There are several steps migrants should make in order to obtain a job :

1. Find a job vacancy/employer. The general way to do this is by searching in various websites that regularly upload job vacancies.
2. Obtain a work permit. The employer has to go through necessary procedures at a Lithuanian Labour exchange, meaning that she/he need to prove that there are no specialists among Lithuanian and EU citizen which meet the requirements of the current position. In other words, the employer should obtain the decision on compliance with labour market needs, which takes about one month. This step is complicated, because it takes a great effort of employer, and therefore, they prefer hiring local employees or those migrants who have already obtained residency permits due to other reasons (marriage, studies, etc.) or those having work permits from neighbouring countries (ex., Poland where the procedure is simpler).
3. Get a visa/residence permit. After obtaining a work permit, the foreigner may apply for residency permit, which takes about 4-5 month. There are several offices in the biggest cities where migrants can apply for residence permit in Lithuania or they can apply in Lithuanian embassy if they are abroad.

• Nationals of EU and EFTA countries.
• Foreigners with a permanent residence permit.
• Third-country nationals who are family members of citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and have a residence permit issued on the basis of family reunification.
• Third-country nationals who have obtained residence permits on the basis of studies.
• A foreigner whose profession is included in the list of professions for which there is a shortage of workers in the Republic of Lithuania, according to the type of economic activity (in this case, quotas are applied. Once the quota is exhausted, foreigners who intend to work in the Republic of Lithuania must obtain a work permit. You can monitor the established quotas here). The list of the 2022 shortage of occupations can be found here.
• The salary to be paid to the foreigner will be no less than three average monthly gross wages.
• A foreigner who has already worked in Lithuania for two years as a highly skilled worker and wants to change their temporary residence permit.
• A foreigner who works remotely in Lithuania under an employment contract with a company operating in Lithuania.
• A foreigner applying for a Blue Card.

Source of picture: https://www.pexels.com/photo/composition-of-vintage-stamp-set-and-stationery-arranged-with-succulents-3839648/