Lithuania’s Interior Ministry is proposing amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens in an effort to tighten requirements for foreign workers and the businesses that employ them.
The move comes as the number of foreigners living in Lithuania exceeded 200,000 for the first time last year.
Tightening requirements to prevent abuse
During a press conference on March 5th, Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė emphasized the importance of tackling labor shortages and humanitarian issues.
She also emphasized how important it is to stay watchful for possible threats to national security and to prevent any abuse of migration procedures.
Under the proposed changes, employers would have to hire foreigners on a full-time basis. They would also need to share details on the qualifications and experience of these hires.
Only foreigners with residence permits would be permitted to work in Lithuania. This means that working under visa-free arrangements or Schengen visas will no longer be an option.
Limiting employers and cracking down on tax evasion
The suggested amendments also aim to restrict the number of different employers that a foreign worker can work for to a maximum of three.
Bilotaitė explained that they often encounter situations where a foreigner comes and ends up working for ten or more different employers. Although the situation seems unlikely, the ministry is suggesting a limit on how many employers they can work for.
Additionally, foreigners who fail to submit required tax returns could be denied a temporary residence permit or have their existing permit revoked.
The goal is to crack down on tax evasion and ensure compliance with Lithuanian laws.
The proposed amendments will soon be submitted to the government for approval before they are presented to the Seimas during its spring session.
Foreign worker numbers surge, particularly from Belarus
Data from the Employment Service shows the number of foreign workers in Lithuania jumped 65% to 142,000 in 2023, with most coming from Belarus.
At the start of this year, 131,400 third-country nationals were working in Lithuania, a 65.5% increase from a year ago.
European Union (EU) citizens working in the country numbered 10,000, up 66.7%.
Belarusians made up the largest group of newcomers at 47,700, almost 1.6 times higher than the previous year. Ukrainians were the second largest at 44,800, a 37% increase.
The number of workers from Uzbekistan surged 3.7 times to 6,600, while those from Kyrgyzstan rose 2.2 times to 5,600.
Among EU nationals, Romanians were the most numerous at 2,900, followed by Latvians (2,400), Poles (1,500), Bulgarians (1,000) and Italians (300).
Balancing labor needs with national security concerns
The influx of foreign workers comes as Lithuania grapples with labor shortages in certain sectors.
However, authorities are also wary of potential threats to national security and abuse of migration procedures.
In 2023, Lithuania made 16,000 decisions to ban foreign nationals from entering the country due to national security concerns. So far this year, 244 such decisions have been made.
Bilotaitė pointed out that the increasing number of foreigners moving to Lithuania is making it harder to maintain control.
The government is aiming to strike a balance between addressing workforce gaps and safeguarding national interests.
Lithuania started tightening controls on labor migration to prevent any misuse of the immigration system.
However, the Interior Ministry believes that further actions outlined in the proposed amendments are necessary.
Additional scrutiny for long-term travelers
Proposed changes in Lithuania’s rules for foreign workers might affect long-term immigrants, like families, investors, digital nomads, and students.
Those planning to combine their stay with employment opportunities could face additional scrutiny and limitations.
However, specific provisions for these categories of immigrants remain unclear. They might be addressed separately from the foreign worker amendments.
Lithuania’s evolving immigration landscape and EU policy
Lithuania is working on tightening foreign worker regulations, which may reflect a broader trend among EU countries dealing with immigration challenges.
The proposed amendments align with the country’s recent decision to strengthen labor migration controls and aim to strike a balance between addressing workforce needs and mitigating potential security risks.
While Lithuania’s changes focus on third-country nationals and employment, they are part of a larger conversation about immigration policy within the EU.
Soon, the EU will start implementing the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) to help monitor people coming in and out of its borders. This will help secure the EU’s external borders, while still facilitating legitimate travel.
As individual member states like Lithuania adapt their immigration policies to local circumstances, they must also navigate the broader framework of EU regulations and initiatives.
The interplay between national and EU-level policies will continue to shape the immigration landscape across the bloc, including the experience of foreign workers, visitors, and long-term immigrants.
Navigating the tightrope of immigration reform
As Lithuania experiences record levels of immigration, particularly in the form of foreign workers, the government is taking steps to tighten regulations and oversight.
The Interior Ministry’s proposed amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens aim to prevent abuse of migration procedures, crack down on tax evasion, and address national security concerns while still allowing benefits from much-needed foreign labor.
The coming months will determine whether the stricter rules are enacted and how they impact Lithuania's immigration landscape moving forward.