Vilnius mayor launches petition to require non-EU foreigners to learn Lithuanian

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas has begun collecting signatures for a petition calling on authorities to link residency permits for non-EU foreigners to proof of Lithuanian language proficiency, LRT reports.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Benkunskas said he had attempted to discuss the issue with the Interior Ministry but received no positive response. “I feel they are simply trying to sweep this topic under the rug and pretend nothing is happening,” he stated. The petition drive will continue throughout May, both in person and online.

The proposal would require non-EU citizens to demonstrate at least A2-level Lithuanian proficiency to renew temporary residency permits after three years. Currently, no such requirement exists, despite language skills being essential for successful integration, according to the petition.

Benkunskas first raised the idea in April, arguing that Lithuania’s growing foreign population—particularly in Vilnius, where 63,000 of the city’s 79,000 foreigners are non-EU citizens—demands clearer integration policies. The petition warns that without legal incentives to learn Lithuanian, social tensions and isolated communities may increase.

Last year, conservative lawmakers proposed similar amendments, suggesting a five-year deadline for language acquisition, but the legislation has not advanced.