Seimas to debate president’s proposed migration reforms

The Seimas Budget and Finance Committee chairman, social democrat Algirdas Sysas, says the president’s proposal to introduce a new temporary work model for immigrants will likely spark broad discussions in parliament, LRT reports.

According to the long-serving MP, the amendments may not tighten but rather open wider pathways for migrants to come to Lithuania.

“The president’s proposal has received many comments and reservations from the Law Department, noting that it would not tighten but rather open a broader path for new foreigners to arrive. I think there will be quite a big discussion about this law,” Sysas told journalists in the Seimas on Tuesday.

He stressed that when regulating migration policy, it is necessary to assess possible consequences, as the desired goals do not always yield the expected results.

“Sometimes we want to make decisions to restrict, but other things happen. That is why the Law Department has reservations,” he said.

Sysas noted that since the amendments were submitted by the Presidential Office, their consideration should also include the government’s conclusion and an assessment of the potential impact on the country’s economy and labour market.

“We need to know what impact this will have on our economic growth and opportunities. Lithuanian scientists have already clearly stated a few years ago that if we want to maintain the country’s economic growth, the labour market must be replenished by about 20,000 workers every year. If this does not happen, some projects cannot be implemented,” the committee chairman said.

He emphasised that decisions must balance migration control with the needs of businesses and the labour market.

“We must balance both the arrival of immigrants to Lithuania and the assurance that job positions requiring more hands are filled. There must be a healthy balance—we cannot make any decision without seeing the consequences,” Sysas said.

The Seimas is expected to receive the president’s proposed new model for temporary work permits for foreigners on Tuesday. The proposal, initiated by President Gitanas Nausėda, aims to establish a new temporary work permit model for foreign workers who do not intend to live in Lithuania permanently or for an extended period. These workers, such as long-haul drivers or construction workers, would come to the country for no longer than two years.

According to the Presidential Office, the legal amendments would establish a faster procedure for the arrival and processing of applications for such foreigners, allowing businesses to hire foreigners more quickly where local workers are not available—with the review taking 28 days.

However, a new strict requirement would be introduced: after the two-year temporary work period, foreigners would be required to leave Lithuania for at least six months. Meanwhile, high-skilled workers from third countries would not be subject to residence restrictions in Lithuania.

The president seeks to improve migration management and address the labour shortage in the country’s economy through amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and other legal acts.

The new temporary work permit model would complement the current long-term immigration system, but the annual immigration quota would not be increased overall under both models.

Additionally, the initiative aims to require foreigners applying for a residence permit in Lithuania for the third time in 10 years to pass a Lithuanian language exam. This would apply to both temporary immigration models.

The president also proposes strengthening the compliance check of foreigners with national security requirements by extending the minimum verification periods.

ELTA notes that the president’s chief advisor, Deividas Matulionis, said the State Security Department (VSD) supports the head of state’s proposals, and the Presidential Office has taken into account the VSD’s previous comments.

Appointed Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas previously stated that the law should be reviewed in essence.