The Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania has launched new rules for the selection procedure for foreign countries where an application for a temporary residence permit in Lithuania can be submitted through an external service provider.

Following the new procedure, the criteria that must be met for interests of state security, foreign policy and labour market needs include the following:

• The Department of Migration must consider the state’s security interests, foreign policy priority directions, labour market needs, and institutional capacities.
• The Department of Migration must consult with the Department of Homeland Security, the State Border Guard Service and the police concerning foreign countries.
• Only after evaluating all these aspects can the Minister of the Interior approve the list of foreign countries where one can apply for a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Lithuania through an external service provider.

The methodology used to determine the number of foreigners served in each department of the external service provider was also approved.

Türkiye, UAE, Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan Sending  Highest Number of Visitors to Lithuania

Through a recent statement, the Ministry also revealed that currently, citizens from Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan make up the largest number of foreigners registered for visits, Schengen.News reports.

As the same explains, foreigners can apply for a temporary residence permit for an external service provider located in their country of residence and for branches of external service providers operating in other foreign countries.

Since last year, Lithuanian authorities have allowed foreigners to obtain a temporary residence permit in Lithuania while abroad through external service providers. Meanwhile, since January of this year, the number of contracted departments has been reduced from 34 to 31.

According to the Ministry, in 2023, a total of 29,739 applications for temporary residence permits in Lithuania were submitted through the branches of the external service provider. As a result, those with the most significant number were introduced from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Last month, Lithuanian authorities banned 1216 foreigners from entering the country. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said the main reasons the migration authorities also revoked the residence permits of 1,483 foreigners were unsigned or interrupted work contracts. Such measures were announced immediately after Lithuania implemented stricter labour rules.