Work permits and visas in Lithuania: an employer’s guide

If you plan to hire new employees in Lithuania or relocate any existing employees to the country, you will be expected to comply with the country’s local employment legislation. This includes performing right-to-work checks and ensuring employees meet the necessary Lithuanian work visa requirements so that they can legally work in the country.

Companies that fail to follow local labor and immigration laws in Lithuania can face financial or legal penalties. Remote's employer of record (EOR) services provide an invaluable resource to international employers hiring individuals living in Lithuania. Remote can assist with all aspects of global employment, including international taxation, immigration laws, global payroll and benefits, and more. 

This comprehensive guide to relocating international employees to Lithuania will provide the necessary information to ensure your company stays compliant.

The importance of immigration compliance in Lithuania

When companies hire remote employees living in foreign countries like Lithuania or relocate existing employees to the area, they are legally required to comply with all local tax and labor laws. This is true whether the employee is a Lithuanian citizen or a foreign national living in Lithuania temporarily or permanently. 

Both the employee and employer may face potential consequences such as penalties and fines if employees are found to be living and working in Lithuania without the appropriate Lithuanian work permits or visas, even for only a brief period.

Employers need to perform right-to-work checks on their employees to ensure they can legally work in Lithuania and to double-check that employees have obtained all necessary documentation to prove their legal work entitlement. 

As more remote employees opt for a digital nomad experience, there is a higher risk of inadvertently working without meeting the minimum Lithuania work visa requirements. Most countries do not allow individuals to work with a tourist visa.

No matter the length of time an employee spends in a country, they will be expected to possess all necessary documentation. Moreover, because more digital nomads travel through countries like Lithuania, foreign governments are beginning to enforce these immigration requirements more strictly. 

Which workers need a right-to-work check in Lithuania?

Companies will need to perform a right-to-work check on every foreign national living in Lithuania, but may not need to perform these checks on Lithuanian citizens. 

Employers should establish processes to seamlessly perform these checks on any employees who relocate to countries they weren't born in, no matter how short their stay in that country may be. 

Employers will be expected to perform right-to-work checks on temporary residents, permanent residents, and work permit holders in Lithuania.

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Do non-citizens need a work visa or work permit in Lithuania?

Non-Lithuanian citizens will need a work visa to work in Lithuania legally. The ability to obtain work visas depends on the employee's job type and country of origin. 

If individuals do not intend to stay in Lithuania for more than 90 days and are eligible for a Schengen Visa or a European Blue Card, they can live and work in Lithuania for short-term periods without obtaining a work visa.

How is the Schengen Visa applicable?

As part of the Schengen Zone agreement, European citizens who hold a Schengen Visa can travel to Lithuania for up to 90 days out of every 180 days (e.g., roughly two 90-day periods per year). 

Although the Schengen Visa technically allows the holder to travel for both tourism and business purposes, this visa is most commonly used for tourism. However, it serves as a helpful tool for individuals living in the Schengen Zone who wish to work while staying in Lithuania for short periods occasionally or travel to the country to attend business-related events. 

How is the European Union Blue Card applicable?

The European Union Blue Card is another permit available to European individuals living outside the Schengen Zone. With an EU Blue Card, third-country nationals (individuals who live in countries that don't belong to the EU or the European Economic Area) can live and work in Lithuania. 

Individuals who meet the requirements for an EU Blue Card in Lithuania can live and work in Lithuania for up to three years at a time. Blue Card holders can renew their applications at the end of the three years, so long as they still have a valid employment contract. 

What are the eligibility requirements for a work visa in Lithuania?

Employees will need to meet the following eligibility requirements to obtain a work visa in Lithuania: 

• Fill out an application for a National Visa (D) in Lithuanian (or have it translated). Then, return to the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania.

• A letter of invitation from a Lithuanian employer

• Receive a Lithuanian Labor Exchange-issued work permit by applying for a vacant position with a Lithuanian employer who has registered their vacancy with the Lithuanian Labor Exchange.

• Proof of income

• Proof of health insurance

• Proof of a clean criminal record

• A passport

• Any relevant accreditation or educational statements that prove you can perform the work you intend to do in the country

What are the long-stay visa types in Lithuania?

There is only one type of long-stay visa in Lithuania — the National visa (D). This visa allows the holder to remain in Lithuania between 91 days and 12 months. However, the visa will specify how long between these time frames the employee may reside in Lithuania and does not automatically entitle an employee to work.

In addition to obtaining a National Visa, the employee will need to apply for a work visa in Lithuania to be employed in the country compliantly.

How do you get a work visa for Lithuania?

Employees must provide the Lithuanian Migration Department with the following documents to be issued a work visa: 

1. A completed application

2. A copy of their passport

3. A copy of their employment contract

4. A document proving the employee has been working for the company for a minimum of three months

5. A valid certificate denoting administrative penalties

6. A document that provides an overview of the Lithuanian social security contributions the employer has paid for any non-Lithuanian citizens in the country during the 180 days leading up to the visa application

7. A receipt of the application fee payment

Employees can expect the processing time for their work visa to take roughly two weeks, although it may take longer. 

What is the process for employee work visa sponsorship in Lithuania?

Employers will need to provide an employee with work visa sponsorship in Lithuania for them to obtain a work permit. To do so, you will need to either establish a local entity in Lithuania (which is time-consuming, expensive, and complicated) or partner with an EOR like Remote who can sponsor an employee on your behalf. 

What are the visa requirements for digital nomads in Lithuania?

Although Lithuania does not offer a digital nomad visa, individuals can apply for a National Visa (D), allowing them to live in Lithuania for up to one year. They can then apply for a work visa if they wish to live and work in Lithuania. 

Unlike many countries embracing the digital nomad experience, Lithuania does not offer a digital nomad visa. However, members of the following groups can stay and work in Lithuania for up to 90 days:

• European Union citizens

• European Economic Area (EEA) citizens

• Swiss citizens

How Remote makes compliance in Lithuania so much easier

Hiring employees in Lithuania or relocating existing employees to the country can be extremely complicated without the proper localized guidance. Apart from navigating the Lithuanian immigration system, you’ll have to continually ensure you’re complying with the country’s employment and tax laws.

An effective way of complying with these laws is working with Remote. Remote's EOR can efficiently help businesses with all aspects of international employment, including taxes, benefits, payroll, and managing the processes involved in relocating employees.

To learn more about what the employee relocation process entails, download Remote’s Relocation Guide.  Or contact the Mobility team at Remote for further guidance on international employment and relocation.

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