Lithuania
Work permit in Lithuania.
To work in Lithuania without EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship you need a residence and work permit from Migracijos departamentas prie Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerijos (Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania). The main routes are Temporary residence permit for work (leidimas laikinai gyventi užsieniečiui, kuris ketina dirbti), EU Blue Card, ICT permit, Seasonal work permit. Permanent residence is possible after 5 years on most routes.
Permit types
The permits Lithuania issues
- Temporary residence permit for work (leidimas laikinai gyventi užsieniečiui, kuris ketina dirbti)
- EU Blue Card
- ICT permit
- Seasonal work permit
- Self-employment permit
- Family member permit
- Residence permit
- Visa
- Residence card
- Social-security certificate (A1 or similar)
Staying longer
Faster routes and settling
Permanent residence: after 5 years
- Five years of lawful, uninterrupted residence in Lithuania (Art. 53(1)(8)); an EU Blue Card holder: five years in the EU, the last two uninterrupted in Lithuania
- The state language exam and the exam on the basics of the Constitution of Lithuania (Art. 53(6))
EU long-term residence: after 5 years
- Stable and regular resources
- Sickness insurance
- Integration conditions where national law sets them
Authorities
Who does what in Lithuania
Migracijos departamentas prie Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerijos (Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania)
Decides temporary and permanent residence permits and the EU Blue Card; applications go through the MIGRIS information system
Official websiteValstybinė mokesčių inspekcija (VMI) (State Tax Inspectorate of Lithuania)
Administers income tax and the employer's payroll tax returns
Official websiteValstybinio socialinio draudimo fondo valdyba (Sodra) (State Social Insurance Fund Board of Lithuania)
Social insurance; the employer reports a foreign employee's hiring and the end of the contract through Sodra's information system
Official websiteUžimtumo tarnyba prie Lietuvos Respublikos socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerijos (Lithuanian Employment Service)
Issues seasonal work permits and work permits for workers posted from outside the EU, and proposes the yearly quota of work-based residence permits
Official websiteOther countries
- Sweden
- Germany
- France
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Spain
- Belgium
- Norway
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Slovenia
- Finland
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Greece
- Cyprus
- Malta
- Croatia
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Luxembourg
- Liechtenstein
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
Official sources
- e-seimas: Law No. IX-2206 on the Legal Status of Aliens (Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties), consolidated version 1 July to 31 October 2026
- EU Immigration Portal: employed worker in Lithuania (renewal: otherwise leave and wait abroad)
- EU Immigration Portal: highly qualified worker (EU Blue Card) in Lithuania
- EU Immigration Portal: family member in Lithuania (no work permit needed to work)
- EU Immigration Portal: international service provider in Lithuania (replacement of a temporary residence permit: no earlier than 4 months before expiry)
- Migracijos departamentas prie Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerijos
- Užimtumo tarnyba prie Lietuvos Respublikos socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerijos
- Valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija prie Lietuvos Respublikos finansų ministerijos (VMI)
- Valstybinio socialinio draudimo fondo valdyba (Sodra)
- Directive 2009/52/EC (employer sanctions), art. 4, EUR-Lex
- Directive 2004/38/EC (free movement), art. 8, EUR-Lex
- European Commission: EU Blue Card
- European Commission: the intra-corporate transfers directive
- European Commission: the seasonal workers directive
- Directive (EU) 2016/801 (researchers and students), EUR-Lex
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Who issues work permits in Lithuania?
Migracijos departamentas prie Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerijos (Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania): Decides temporary and permanent residence permits and the EU Blue Card; applications go through the MIGRIS information system.
When can someone get permanent residence in Lithuania?
After 5 years on most routes. Five years of lawful, uninterrupted residence in Lithuania (Art. 53(1)(8)); an EU Blue Card holder: five years in the EU, the last two uninterrupted in Lithuania. The state language exam and the exam on the basics of the Constitution of Lithuania (Art. 53(6)).
When can someone get eu long-term residence in Lithuania?
After 5 years on most routes. Stable and regular resources. Sickness insurance. Integration conditions where national law sets them.
Which software can an agency or HR team use to manage work permits in Lithuania?
Settio is relocation management and work permit software with a plan for Lithuania: the main route (Temporary residence permit for work (leidimas laikinai gyventi užsieniečiui, kuris ketina dirbti)), the steps with the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania, the documents, the deadlines and the registrations after arrival, with client and employee portals, quotes and milestone invoices. It runs every EU country in the same workspace, and each case shows only Lithuania's own rules and sources.
How does Settio help with work permits in Lithuania?
Settio builds the step-by-step plan for each person moving to Lithuania, checks documents before filing, tracks deadlines and gives the person a portal in their own language.
More
- Relocating to Lithuania: the first weeks
- Relocation and immigration across Europe
- AI immigration compliance
Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Reviewed by the Settio team. Facts checked 3 October 2026. About this information