LITHUANIA – Immigration changes for 2025.

January 20, 2025


By: Carlijn Langeveld, Newland Chase Advisory

Lithuania made several changes to immigration rules and practices, which took effect at the beginning of 2025.

New quota numbers for 2025

In 2024, 36,663 of the 40,250 quota for third-country nationals coming to Lithuania to work were used. For 2025, the authorities have reduced the total quota to 24,830 and removed divisions for different economic activities. The amount of quota still available at any given time can be found here. Due to the reduction in available quota, it is more important than ever to plan in advance.

Inclusion of employers of record.

From 2025 the quota are also applicable to temporary employment agreements, including those through Employers of Record, for which high instances of illegal employment have been found.

Special criteria for highly qualified professionals.

The authorities are prioritizing highly qualified professionals (HQPs), who they see as driving economic growth. HQPs therefore are able to obtain a permit for employment outside of the quota. To qualify, they will need to earn at least 1.5 times the national average monthly salary (equalling €3,020.70), or, in certain situations (including but not limited to if their position is considered a Shortage Occupation) 1.2 times the national average monthly salary (equalling €2,416.56).

Change of employer rules.

The rules relating to changing employer once a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) has been obtained have become stricter. Under the new rules, employees are allowed to file an application for a change of employer only once they have worked for the initial employer for at least six months. Previously there was no such minimum work period.

As a reminder, it is important that the employee does not end their employment with the initial employer before the application for the change of employer has been filed, to avoid the new employer being fined and the employee potentially losing their TRP. Once the application is filed, the employee can end the initial employment, but they must wait for the change of employer process to complete before starting with the new entity.

Increase in penalties for illegal work.

The penalties for illegal work have been increased. In case of non-compliance, legal entities can now be fined between three and 12 times the minimum monthly salary (currently € 924), equalling between €2,772 and €11,088. This is a significant increase from the previous range of €868-€2,896. Other possible penalties that may be applied are fines of between €1,500 and €5,000 per illegally working foreigner for the head of the company if found to be administratively liable, and a one year restriction on employment of foreign nationals. It may also result in the company being considered unreliable by other authorities, which can have an impact beyond immigration.

A1 requirement for postings to Lithuania.

A person who is employed in the EU, EEA, or Switzerland and is temporarily posted to Lithuania will now need to provide a copy of an issued A1 certificate as part of both the Posted Worker Notification (PWN) by the sending entity and the LDU Notification by the hosting entity in Lithuania. This document proves that they continue being subject to the social security system in their home country. The A1 also needs to be provided to the Migration Department (MD) for the EU registration process for EU nationals for postings over 90 days, and for the Temporary Residence Permit application for non-EU nationals as part of an intra-EU posting to Lithuania. The MD requires this to be a certified version of the A1, ie. in pdf format signed electronically by the authorities. Previously, the relevant authorities relied on only information provided by the employer or hosting entity.

Closing of VFS centers for visas for employment purposes.

VFS Service Centers in the UAE and India no longer allow Indian nationals to file for visas for employment purposes for Lithuania. Service Centers in Jordan, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and Nepal will also no longer accept applications for such purposes. Citizens of these countries must apply for their visas in other countries where the external service provider accepts applications for nationals from countries where no local representation is available, for the following purposes:

  • Employment in a highly qualified position;
  • Transfer within a company;
  • Employment as a lecturer or researcher under a contract with a scientific or educational institution;
  • Family reunification;
  • Enrolment in studies at a Lithuanian higher education institution under an approved study program, including doctoral studies; and
  • Relocation as part of a major investor initiative or collective relocation in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law.

An overview of locations where such applications are accepted can be found here.

Newland Chase insights.

Lithuania recognizes the benefits of welcoming foreign workers—highly qualified professionals in particular—especially considering the high tax revenues and expertise they bring in. However, cutting the quotas for non-HQP foreigners to only two-thirds of the quota used last year and the new time restriction on changing employers are a clear signal that it also wants to protect its local labor market.

Finally, the increased penalties for illegal work and the new stricter A1 requirement show that Lithuania takes immigration and related compliance increasingly seriously. Therefore, it is imperative for employers to educate themselves on and follow the rules and regulations that apply when employing or hosting foreign nationals. Newland Chase can advise on all immigration requirements applying to your specific scenarios.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.