Immigration of Citizens of Australia, Japan, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea Who Intend to Work or Engage in Any Other Legitimate Activity in Lithuania

The citizens of Australia, Japan, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea, who intend to work or engage in any legitimate activity in Lithuania, are subject to simplified immigration conditions for obtaining a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Lithuania.

Citizens of the aforementioned countries arriving to Lithuania with an aim to work or engage in any legitimate activity do not necessarily have to comply with common requirements imposed on the third-country nationals.

If a citizen of Australia, Japan, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea arrives to the Republic of Lithuania to work, he is only required to sign an employment contract or to obtain a written undertaking of the company to recruit him under an employment contract. Citizens of these countries are not required to obtain a decision of the Employment Service concerning a compliance of the alien’s work with the needs of the Lithuanian labour market.

If an alien is a participant or the manager of the company registered in the Register of Legal Entities and he arrives to work in that company, then a list of required documents is also shorter. If less than one year has passed since the incorporation of the company, it is necessary to provide documents evidencing that the company carries out the activities in the Republic of Lithuania specified in the incorporation documents, also, financial statements of the company, concluded employment contract and documents certifying that an alien is a participant or the manager of the company.

Furthermore, citizens of these countries may also apply for the issue of temporary residence permit in the Republic of Lithuania, provided they are engaged in any other legitimate activity, including individual activity. Such activity is considered to be any independent activity in pursuit whereof an individual seeks to derive income or any other economic benefit over a continuous period. This may be an independent commercial or industrial activity of any nature (excluding activities of real estate trade or rent), also, financial instrument transactions; independent creative, scientific or professional activity and other similar independent activity, independent sports and performing activity.

When applying for a residence permit on the basis of individual activity, it is necessary to submit supporting documents, for example, a business certifícate, or documents approving that an alien is engaged in performing or sports activities, or intends to participate in volunteering programs or implement joint governmental programs together with the foreign states.

It should be noted that the simplified immigration requirements are also applied to citizens of the above-mentioned countries who  arrive to Lithuania to work or engage in activity under a regulated profession. Depending on the profession, an alien must have a document confirming that he complies with the conditions laid down in legislation of the Republic of Lithuania to engage in regulated profesional activities.

In Lithuania, regulated professions are the following: lawyer; midwife; architect; educator; bankruptcy administrator; general practice nurse; biomedical technician; dental hygienist;  dental technician; dietician; occupational therapist; tourist guide; dental assistant; advanced practice nurse; physiotherapist; speech therapist; masseur; doctor of medicine; school psychologist; teacher; dentist; patent attorney; private detective; vocational teacher; restorer; restructuring administrator; social worker; social pedagogue; special pedagogue; civil engineer; surdopedagogue; tiflopedagogue; property or business valuer; pharmacist; pharmacy assistant (pharmatechnician); veterinary paramedic; veterinary surgeon.

A temporary residence permit for the above-mentioned purposes can be issued to citizens of such countries for a period of 3 years. If the period of employment or legitimate activity is expected to be shorter, then a temporary residence permit is issued for that period of employment or legitimate activity, by adding additional 3 months after expiration thereof.

Family members of citizens of such countries may jointly apply for a temporary residence permit and come to live in the Republic of Lithuania. Family members are considered to be the following persons: a spouse or registered partner, unmarried and parent-dependent minor children, or parents who have been dependent on their adult children for at least one year and are unable to use the support of other family members residing in a foreign state.

Documents for a temporary residence permit are submitted through the MIGRIS system and upon arrival to the territorial division of the Migration Department at the pre-booked visit time.

After a submission of documents at the territorial division of the Migration Department, a decision on the issue of a temporary residence permit is made within 3 months in a general procedure or within 45 calendar days, if an application is filed as a matter of urgency.