Seimas begins debate on president’s proposal for fixed-term work permits for foreigners

The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has started discussions on a proposal by President Gitanas Nausėda to introduce a new model of fixed-term work permits for foreign nationals, LRT reports.

On Tuesday, lawmakers voted 58-1 with four abstentions to proceed with a draft law amending the legal status of foreigners, despite objections from the Seimas Legal Department.

Deividas Matulionis, an advisor to the president, presented the amendments, stating that Lithuania is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign workers. As of July 1, over 222,000 foreigners—7.7% of the population—resided in the country. He warned that rising immigration pressure is straining integration systems and increasing social tensions.

The proposed fixed-term work permit model targets foreign workers who do not intend to stay in Lithuania permanently, such as long-haul drivers or construction workers, for periods not exceeding two years. The changes aim to streamline arrival and application processes, allowing businesses to hire foreign workers more quickly where local labour is unavailable.

Under the new rules, foreign workers on two-year permits would be required to leave Lithuania for at least six months before reapplying. Highly skilled workers from third countries would be exempt from residency restrictions.

The Legal Department has raised concerns over compliance with EU directives, noting that the proposed regulations could conflict with existing rules on the rights of third-country workers in the EU. Specifically, the draft law would prevent extensions of fixed-term permits in cases of unemployment, which may violate EU standards.

The president’s office clarified that the fixed-term model would complement the current long-term immigration system, with the annual immigration quota—capped at 1.4% of Lithuania’s population—remaining unchanged. The government, rather than the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, would set the exact quota and its distribution between the two models each year.

Additional measures include a requirement for foreign nationals applying for a residence permit for the third time in a decade to pass a Lithuanian language exam. The proposal also seeks to strengthen national security checks for foreigners by extending minimum verification periods.