Employment of foreigners in Lithuania - guidance for employers

Non-European Union citizens

Matters regarding foreigners living and working in Lithuania are regulated by the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and other legal documents issued by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania.


A foreigner who intends to work in the Republic of Lithuania must obtain a work permit before entering the Republic of Lithuania. A work permit may be issued to a foreigner if there is no specialist in Lithuania meeting the employer’s qualification requirements.


The conditions and order of issue a work permit in Lithuania

To employ a foreigner, an employer must apply to the local labour exchange (by the registered office or by the place of residence) and to register a vacancy.

An application to issue a work permit is not considered if an employer has not registered a vacancy one month before submitting an application to the local labour exchange, as specified in legislation.

Formalities to be completed

I. To employ a foreigner under a contract of employment, the following documents are needed*:

Application of the set form;
Copy of the passport of a foreign citizen or an equivalent document intended for travelling to a foreign country and recognised in the Republic of Lithuania;
Copy of a diploma or an equivalent document confirming person’s qualification;
Copy of a resolution of a competent institution in proof of recognition of professional qualifications if the profession is regulated in the Republic of Lithuania. More detailed information on the recognition of professional qualifications is available at the Ministry of Social Security and Labour;
Qualification assessment certificate issued by the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education, as set down in the Resolution No 60 of 21 January, 2005 ,,On Approval of Regulations of Assessment and Academic Recognition of Foreign Qualifications Giving Access to Higher Education and Higher Education Qualifications” (Official Gazette, No 12-369, 2005), if a profession is not regulated in the Republic of Lithuania, but higher education is required;
Copy of a document proving a foreigner’s two years professional work experience during the last three years. This requirement does not apply for:
the case specified in Article 2.3 of the Order No A1-223/1V-310 of 28 September, 2004 of the Ministers of Social Security and Labour and Interior “On Approval of Rules and Provisions for the Issue of a Work Permit to an Alien Situated in the Republic of Lithuania”;
the postgraduate (residency) students who study in the Republic of Lithuania;
Copies of documents proving a foreigner’s improvement of a possessed qualification (if any);
Certificate of studies issued by a Lithuanian higher education institution confirming second and a subsequent year of study in the Republic of Lithuania;
Certificate signed by the employer informing about:
need to employ a foreigner;
dismissals during 6 months before applying for the issue of a work permit (specifying the reasons for dismissal, the qualifications of dismissed employees and their functions);
employer does not have a valid administrative penalty according to Article 2063 of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Republic of Lithuania;
copy of an issued work permit and an employer’s certificate on a foreigner’s work in an enterprise indicating his/her functions, salary, the amount of assessed and paid taxes and state social insurance payments for all work period in the case of application specified in Article 2.4 of the Order No A1-223/1V-310 of 28 September, 2004 of the Ministers of Social Security and Labour and Interior “On Approval of Rules and Provisions for the Issue of a Work Permit to an Alien Situated in the Republic of Lithuania”.

II. To issue a work permit for an employee of a foreign company who was sent for temporary employment, the following documents are needed*:

Application of the set form;
Contract on providing services or performing jobs concluded between a local company and a foreign enterprise sending an employee for temporary employment;
Copy of a foreign country’s Certificate of Registration of Legal Entity or copy of Abstract of Title;
Detailed description of the project specifying the reasons why a foreign company’s services have been chosen to implement this project and what is the purpose of receiving a foreign employee;
Copy of the passport of a foreign citizen or an equivalent document intended for travelling to a foreign country and recognised in the Republic of Lithuania;
Copy of the employment contract between a foreigner and the company sending him for temporary employment;
Certificate of a competent foreign institution or enterprise proving that a foreigner is covered by social insurance in the sending enterprise;
Copy of a diploma or an equivalent document confirming person’s qualification.

III. To issue a work permit for an intern or trainee, the following documents are needed*:

Application of the set form;
Copy of the passport of a foreign citizen or an equivalent document intended for travelling to a foreign country and recognised in the Republic of Lithuania;
Copy of a diploma or an equivalent document confirming person’s qualification;
Copy of a resolution of a competent institution on the recognition of professional qualifications if the profession is regulated in the Republic of Lithuania. More detailed information on the recognition of professional qualifications is available at the Ministry of Social Security and Labour;
Certificate of qualification assessment issued by the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education, as set down in the Resolution No 60 of 21 January, 2005 ,,On Approval of Regulations of Assessment and Academic Recognition of Foreign Qualifications Giving Access to Higher Education and Higher Education Qualifications”, if a profession is not regulated in the Republic of Lithuania, but higher education is required;
Certificate issued by a higher educational institution abroad confirming a foreigner‘s study (if he/she is still studying);
Certificate issued by an employer assessing a foreigner’s basic the Lithuanian language knowledge necessary for working in Lithuania;
Certificate of mediation signed by the President of Student Association AISEC Lietuva or by the President of Lithuanian Medical Students’ Association (LiMSA) proving the validity of employment.
Copy of cooperation agreement concluded between an employer and the Student Association AISEC Lietuva or LiMSA (the Lithuanian Medical Students' Association).

To be employed as an intern or trainee, a foreigner should satisfy the following conditions:

be not younger than 18 and not older than 30;
have higher education or study in a higher school;
seek to improve the Lithuanian language skills or his/her professional competence, or to acquire additional qualification.
*Note: Foreign states’ documents shall be legalised or certified by Apostille if not otherwise stated in other legal acts. The authenticity of translation of foreign documents in the Lithuanian language shall be confirmed by the signature of a translator.