Where and how to apply | National long-term visa If you are a sportsman, a trainer, an accredited journalist or you come to carry out governmental programmes as a lecturer or researcher, you may apply for a national long-term visa at the Lithuanian embassy or consulateSearch for available translations of the preceding link, or, if you are already legally staying in Lithuania, you can apply for a national long-term visa at the certain divisions of the Migration department (Vilnius, Kaunas or KlaipedaSearch for available translations of the preceding link). Please note that from the 1st January 2020 you can apply for a national long-term visa only at the Lithuanian embassy or consulate (except if you are a lecturer or a researcher). National long-term visa is issued within 15 days and allows you to enter and stay in the country for up to one year. If necessary, during the validity of the national long-term visa you can apply for a temporary residence permit while in the country. Temporary residence permit The decision to issue the residence permit is taken within 4 months at the latest. For an additional fee, the decision will be taken within 2 months at the latest. Since you have submitted the application for a temporary residence permit you can apply for a national long-term visa that will be issued for a period of up to 5 months. In this case you may stay in Lithuania while your application for a temporary residence permit is being examined and, in case of issuance, collect your residence permit. If you receive a positive decision and are outside the country, you will be issued a single entry national visa, if necessary, and you will be able to enter Lithuania and collect your residence permit here. Note that in case you apply for extension of your residence in Lithuania, you should apply for a temporary residence permit before your previous temporary residence permit expires. Otherwise, you will have to leave the country and wait for your temporary residence permit while abroad. |
Documents required | NB! Once launched, the new Migration Information System (MIGRIS) will allow to fill in the application form and submit all documents required to apply for a temporary residence permit online. To obtain a national long-term visa you must show:
To obtain a temporary residence permit you must show the following documents:
In order to issue a temporary residence permit, 2 of your fingerprints and a face image will be taken. In order to issue a national long-term visa, all hand fingerprints will be taken. |
Further requirements | Having received a temporary residence permit, you must declare your place of residence. To collect your residence permit you must contact:
If you hold a temporary residence permit, you must, not later than within 7 days, notify the Migration department in the event of: change of documents confirming your identity or citizenship; change of your family situation; change of your place of residence. |
Duration of validity of permits | Residence permits are issued for 2 years or for the period of your activities if this is less than 2 years and can be renewed each time for the same period. National long-term visas are issued for a period of 1 year and cannot be renewed. |
Conditions for renewal | Your temporary residence permit may be renewed on the same conditions. An application for the renewal of a temporary residence permit must be submitted to the Migration department’s territorial division. Application and required documents for the renewal of a temporary residence permit in general order shall be submitted at least 2 months in advance but not earlier than 4 months before the expiry of the current permit. Application and required documents for the renewal of the temporary residence permit on a matter of urgency shall be submitted at least 1 month before the expiry. The decision to renew the residence permit is taken within 2 months at the latest. For an additional fee, the decision will be taken within 1 month at the latest. |
Appeals | You will be notified on the decision via the e-mail address, submitted in your application. Decisions can be challenged before the Vilnius District Administrative Court within 14 days from the receipt of the decision and further before the Supreme Administrative Court. |
Further information |
Change of business activities | If you decide to change your activities, you must apply for the issuance of a new temporary residence permit. |
Change of status | If conditions for issuing a temporary residence permit have changed and you are no longer eligible for the temporary residence permit, you must leave the Republic of Lithuania and your temporary residence permit will be revoked. However, if you express a wish to reside in the Republic of Lithuania, you may be granted temporary residence permit on other grounds. In this case, you need to apply for a new temporary residence permit. |
Family members | If you, being directly involved in projects of importance to Lithuania, have invested in Lithuania any property owned, borrowed or managed and used by the right of trust, you are immediately entitled to family reunification and do not need to wait for the two-year period of legal residence to be completed. Your family members may immediately apply for a temporary residence permit. In other cases, general requirements for family reunification are applied. |
Long-term residence | If you are a sportsman, a trainer or you come to carry out governmental programmes as a lecturer or a researcher together with your family members, they may apply for the issuance of a national long-term visa. If you have been residing continuously and legally for five years in Lithuania, you can obtain a permanent resident’s status. Basic knowledge of the language and of the Lithuanian Constitution will be tested. |
No information available