Lithuania: New National Visa Procedures

Key Points  

• Lithuania will update its visa procedures for the issuance of national visas beginning 1 July 2023  

Overview  

The government of Lithuania will introduce new procedures for issuing national visas beginning 1 July 2023. As a result, all national visa applications must be submitted through a new portal: the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS). The government will also cancel the use of the Electonic Application Module (EPM) on this date. The government will continue to process applications submitted to the EPM prior to 1 July 2023.  

In addition, the government will reduce the number of nationalities eligible for a national visa category. For instance, national visas will no longer be issued to the following: 

• Full-time students coming to study at higher education institutions registered and operating in the Republic of Lithuania; 
• Teachers and researchers coming to work in higher education institutions under employment contracts; 
• Foreigners coming to work when their profession is entered in the list of missing professions; 
• Foreign employees who have a work permit issued by the Employment Service; 
• Citizens of Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada and Belarus, who until now received national visas in a simplified manner; 
• Foreigners who have submitted an application to issue or change a residence permit or a family member card of an EU citizen; 
• Foreigners for whom the Migration Department has decided to issue a residence permit or a family member card of an EU citizen. 

What are the Changes?  

The government of Lithuania will update the process for submitting and issuing national visas beginning 1 July 2023. According to the government, these measures will help to simplify the national visa application process. 

Looking Ahead  

Continue to check the government of Lithuania’s website and Envoy’s website for the latest updates and information.