Lithuania tightens migration policy but calls blanket language tests excessive

Lithuania’s interior minister has defended plans to strengthen migration rules while criticising proposals to mandate Lithuanian language proficiency for all foreign residents, calling such measures disproportionate, LRT reports.

Vladislavas Kondratovičius, the minister of the interior, stated that migration policy is being tightened but argued that language requirements should primarily apply to foreigners who live permanently in Lithuania and work in direct public-facing roles. “There are people who come to work but are rarely even in the country. We checked one group of drivers—over a year, they spent just nine days in Lithuania. In some cases, over two years, they were here only a week. The question is: do they really need to know the state language in such cases?” he told journalists on Wednesday.

The minister’s comments follow Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas’ push to tie residency permit renewals for non-EU citizens to proof of at least A2-level Lithuanian proficiency after three years. Kondratovičius dismissed the proposal as premature, saying, “We see smoke but don’t know the cause. The mayor is proposing just one point… It’s strange that he’s staging this show outside our windows without even inviting us.” He invited Benkunskas to discuss the issue at the ministry.

Under current rules, which took effect in January, foreign workers in service sectors must already demonstrate Lithuanian language skills. Kondratovičius confirmed that stricter enforcement will begin next year, focusing on roles with direct public interaction, such as food service. He reiterated that integration—including language and cultural adaptation—falls under the responsibility of the ministries of culture, social security, labour, and local municipalities, not the interior ministry.

Last year, conservative lawmakers, including Benkunskas’ ally Laurynas Kasčiūnas, proposed amendments requiring foreigners to learn Lithuanian within five years, but the measures stalled. As of 1 April, Lithuania had issued 185,000 temporary residency permits to foreigners.