Lithuania’s Interior Ministry is proposing that Belarusians who cannot return home be issued longer-term residence permits. Instead of annually, they’d have to reapply for residence every three years.
Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė has drafted an amendment to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens to allow three-year temporary residence permits to be issued to foreigners who are unable to return to their country of origin.
The changes would apply to foreigners who are persecuted by non-democratic regimes, have suffered or are likely to suffer repression, and are therefore unable to return to their country of origin.
Currently, such persons, mainly Belarusian nationals, are granted temporary residence permits for a maximum period of one year.
“The situation in Belarus remains unchanged. Belarusians fleeing the regime’s repression are still unable to return safely to their country. Our commitment to provide assistance to Belarusian citizens remains strong and will continue for as long as necessary,” Bilotaitė was quoted in the ministry’s statement.
According to the minister, the change would also help reduce the workload for Migration Department staff.
Lithuanian has issued more than 700 temporary residence permits to Belarusian citizens who have fled persecution in their country, data from the ministry shows.
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