Lithuania prepares stricter language requirements for foreigners, but Vilnius remains an exception

The Lithuanian Interior Ministry is drafting legal amendments to require long-term foreign residents to learn Lithuanian, though Vilnius will retain special status, Minister Vladislav Kondratovičius said Thursday.

Speaking to journalists in Jonava, Kondratovičius confirmed that new rules are in development, with plans to submit them to the Seimas (parliament). Under the proposal, foreigners who have lived in Lithuania for five out of the past eight years would be expected to demonstrate proficiency in Lithuanian.

“If a person sees their long-term future in Lithuania, then after five years of residence here, they should certainly be able to speak and use our state language,” the minister stated. He acknowledged, however, that full fluency might not be achievable in just two or three years.

The comments follow a proposal by Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas to deny extensions of temporary residence permits to foreigners with “zero-level” Lithuanian after three years. Benkunskas argued that current regulations fail to create legal incentives for language learning among permit holders. City data shows Vilnius is home to 76,000 foreigners, including 61,000 non-EU citizens.

Kondratovičius emphasized that Vilnius differs from other cities like Šiauliai, where foreign workers are primarily drawn by employment opportunities. “Vilnius is the capital, attracting not only foreign residents who arrive legally today but also Lithuanians themselves,” he noted, comparing the demand for services in the capital to infrastructure challenges like parking shortages.

The minister also reported that for the second consecutive year, the number of foreigners arriving with permits has remained stable and “truly controlled, balanced according to needs.”

Parliament began reviewing migration policy amendments last September, initiated by conservative leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas. The proposals include stricter language integration requirements and new restrictions, such as mandating Lithuanian proficiency for foreigners seeking to extend temporary residence after five years.

Kondratovičius clarified that while service-sector workers must use Lithuanian to provide services, other sectors—particularly those employing Ukrainian refugees under temporary protection—may face different expectations. “Even after four years of war, if they tie their future to Ukraine, they will likely learn only what is necessary for daily life in Lithuania,” he said.

President Gitanas Nausėda has also proposed migration policy changes, including faster issuance of work permits—primarily for two-year terms—with priority processing for immigrants. As of March 1, Lithuania had issued 189,000 temporary residence permits to foreigners.