Consequences of Brexit in Lithuania. Rights of the United Kingdom Nationals and Their Family Members

As Brexit approaches and a transition period comes to an end, on 10 November 2020, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania approved a Draft Law on Amending the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens prepared by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. The provisions of the draft attempt to harmonize the law with the provisions of the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland From the European Union.

The draft law is aimed at providing more information to the United Kingdom nationals and their respective family members and giving them clarity on their legal status in Lithuania at the end of the transition period, i.e., after 31 December 2020.

The United Kingdom nationals and their family members who acquired a right to reside in the Republic of Lithuania by the end of this year, can still enjoy the same conditions and are subject to the same requirements as nationals of the Member States of the European Union and their family members. Pursuant to the draft law, the United Kingdom nationals who arrive to reside in Lithuania after the new year, i.e. after the transition period, will have to comply with the preferential provisions applicable to third-country nationals.

Persons who have acquired documents confirming the right to reside in the Republic of Lithuania before the end of this year will be able to use these documents until expiry or replacement thereof. It should be noted that after the transition period such documents will entitle to reside in the Republic of Lithuania, however, the right of free movement of persons in the Schengen area will not be exercised.

The United Kingdom nationals and their family members, residing in the Republic of Lithuania and willing to move freely in the Schengen area after new year, will have to apply to the Migration Department for the change of documents in their possession.

When applying for the document change, the Migration Department will make a decision therefore no later than within one month from the date of submission of an application. The United Kingdom nationals and their family members, who acquired the right to reside in the Republic of Lithuania until the end of the transition period, will be exempt from the state fee for examination and processing of applications regarding the issue of permits to reside in the Republic of Lithuania.

MIGRATION LAW CENTER