If your company is preparing to expand into Lithuania, an important part of the process is likely to be bringing in foreign employees to assist with the expansion. To do this in compliance with the nation’s employment and immigration laws, each worker needs to hold a valid Lithuanian work visa.
Obtaining work visas for Lithuania can be a complicated process, with various visa options, a different language, and strict regulations often making it difficult to understand and navigate.
At Horizons, our foreign expansion experts offer an extensive selection of Lithuania work visa services, immigration support, and outsourcing, to give your business everything necessary to expand into Lithuania with workers chosen from the global talent pool.
Hire borderless talent with Horizons
Hire and pay talents
with Horizons in
180+ countries.
Basic requirements for Lithuania work visas
Most foreign workers coming to Lithuania for employment will need to get both a visa and a work permit. Depending on the type of visa required, there are various different requirements, but some of the general requirements include:
- Valid passport and photographs
- Application forms
- Any requested application fees
- Medical insurance
- Job offer from a Lithuania-based employee
- Proof of relevant work experience and qualifications
Types of Lithuania visas
Lithuania is a member of the European Union (EU), so any nationals of EU or European Economic Area (EEA) countries will need do not need visas or permits. However, any other foreign workers will need both a visa (to enter and stay in the country) and a permit (to allow employment).
The majority of foreign workers will need a national visa, a type of visa similar to some offer in other EU countries that is designed for stays in a country of up to one year and can be renewed or upgraded. For longer stays, you can also get a temporary residence permit, usually valid for two years with opportunities to renew.
How to get Lithuania work visas and permits
Work permit applications must be handled by the employer. The details of such applications can be found online through the Lithuanian Labour Exchange. Once a Lithuanian work permit has been approved, your employee will need a visa. Applications for visas need to be completed by the employee in question and can be done online.
Other considerations
Some high-level professionals may not need to follow the same work permit rules to live and work in Lithuania. However, they will need a temporary residency visa for this option and will need to gain approval from the country’s Ministry of the Interior.
Finally, it is always good practice to prepare early and apply for any necessary visas and permits well in advance of needing them to avoid delays.