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Work permit in Lithuania
To obtain work permit in Lithuania for EU citizens there are no restrictions. However for Non-Nationals in Lithuania to get the employment permit there are certain procedures. Foreigners in Lithuania should first find an employer – Lithuanian company that would like to hire them and would apply to Lithuanian Labour Exchange office. Work permit for a non-national employee could be approved up to 2 years. Work permit extension in Lithuania is also possible.
Hiring EU citizens in Lithuania
For Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation (hereafter referred to as citizens of the EU) who wish to stay and work in Lithuania there are no restrictions. This right for citizens of the EU are guaranteed by the European Union Citizen Act.
Hiring Non-Nationals in Lithuania
Foreigners who are non-EU citizen and intend to work in Lithuania must obtain a work permit before entering Lithuania. A work permit may be issued to a foreigner if there is no specialist in Lithuania meeting the employer’s qualification requirements.
One month prior to employment commencing, the Lithuanian registered enterprise must register vacancies at the Lithuanian Labour Exchange office and apply for the issue of a work permit. In cases where the established company in Lithuania is bankrupt, the right to apply for the work permit is not possible.
The procedure goes as follows: labour exchange passes a positive decision and its conclusion is submitted to the Lithuanian Labour Exchange, which passes a final decision and issues a work permit to the non-national. The application, depending on qualification of the future non-national employee may take from up to two months. If the application is approved, the work permit for a non-national employee will be valid for 2 years.
An employer, no later than within 2 months from the day of issue a work permit for a foreigner, must submit the employment contract to the Lithuanian Labour Exchange office for approval (in 2 copies in the Lithuanian language and a language which a foreigner understands). If an employer fails to submit the employment contract within the two-month period, the Lithuanian Labour Exchange withdraws the issued work permit.
Charges for a work permit
After taking the decision on issue of a work permit, the State fee shall be paid:
- For the issue of a work permit for 1 year – 121,64 EUR,
- For the extension of a work permit – 52,13 EUR,
- For the issue of a work permit up to 2 years – 150,60 EUR,
- For the issue of a work permit for seasonal jobs – 34,75 EUR,
- For the issue of a work permit duplicate – 8,69 EUR.
Should you have any questions about work permit in Lithuania, please do not hesitate to contact our English speaking lawyers info@gencs.eu.
T: +371 67 24 00 90
F: +371 67 24 00 91