Migration Department Changes
After the changes in the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners come into effect on 1 July 2023, foreigners who are not in Lithuania will apply for national visas only through the external service provider chosen by the Migration Department. Until now, such applications were accepted by Lithuanian diplomatic missions, consular offices or visa centers abroad selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Migration Department, in preparation for the practical implementation of the innovation, will cancel the possibility of filling in applications for the issuance of a national visa through the Electronic Application Module (EPM) from 19 June 2023. Those foreigners who have managed to submit such applications before the mentioned date, but have not yet booked a visit, will be accepted in live queue at the customer service departments of the Migration Department.
If there is an urgent need for a foreigner to apply for a national visa during the transitional period, i.e. from 19 June to 1 July 2023, when the amendments to the law come into force, such cases will be assessed individually by specialists of the Migration Department.
From 1 July, all applications for issuing national visas will have to be submitted through MIGRIS – on the website migracija.lt.
According to the Visa Description, effective from 1 July, a national visa can be issued to students:
- Students coming to Lithuania under the study exchange program;
- Foreigners who cannot leave Lithuania due to any of the following reasons: illness, other acute health disorder or body condition, personal reasons that the foreigners could not foresee or force majeure;
- Foreigners arriving in Lithuania in accordance with the provisions of international treaties or other agreements of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as in other cases when the purpose of their arrival is a long-term stay in the Republic of Lithuania. It can be long-term treatment or rehabilitation, upgrading of high professional qualifications, volunteering, etc.
It is important to remember that from 1 July, national visas will NOT be issued to:
- Full-time students coming to study at higher education institutions registered and operating in the Republic of Lithuania;
- Citizens of Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, and Belarus, who until now received national visas in a simplified manner;
- Foreigners who have submitted an application to issue or change a residence permit or a family member card of an EU citizen;
- Foreigners for whom the Migration Department has made a decision to issue a residence permit or a family member card of an EU citizen.
It can be obtained not only in Lithuania, upon arrival at the Migration Department, but also in 34 centers of the company “VFS Global” operating in foreign countries, where the aforementioned services have been provided since the beginning of this year.
The procedure for submitting applications for Schengen visas will not change from July 1, 2023.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT
STEP 1 – Gather the necessary documents, the checklist is available HERE.
STEP 2 – Submit an online MIGRIS application.
Instructions on how to fill out a migration application and other useful information are available on the website of the Migration Department.
STEP 3 – Make an appointment through the website of the nearest VFS Global application center.
You will require a MIGRIS application number (STEP2) to attend your appointment.
Queues for submission of original documents (uploaded to MIGRIS) and biometric data to an external service provider should not exceed 3-4 days. Please let us know if you are unable to make an appointment through the VFS Global website for a longer period.
STEP 4 – Migration Department will send you an invitation to participate in a mandatory remote interview within 5 days of submitting your Biometric data at VFS Global application center.
All applications are considered individually. The Migration Department reserves the right to request additional or updated documents.
The decision-making period begins after you take part in an interview with an employee of the migration department.
The decision in general order is made within 2 months. Delivery of the TRP card from Lithuania to the country of application for TRP is not included.
Note: Migration Department intends to make a decision on a student TRP earlier, and a student who has submitted an application before the middle or end of July has a chance to receive a card before the start of classes.
STEP 5 – collect your TRP card after receiving confirmation from MIGRIS.
You may choose where to collect your card at VFS Global you submitted your documents or at the Migration Department upon arrival (students who have the right to enter and stay in Lithuania legally without a visa or on other grounds can collect a TRP card in Lithuanian).
Important: Submission of an application does not grant a foreign national the right to stay in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania without a visa or exceed the period of visa-free stay until the application for a temporary residence is processed and a decision is made.
For more information, kindly email us at info@eeriveurope.com.
