On Thursday, the Lithuanian parliament Seimas adopted amendments obliging foreigners and companies employing them to serve clients in the Lithuanian language as of 2026.
At the same time, the Seimas exempted foreigners from having to learn Lithuanian if it is not their regular occupation, for example, if they sell goods or forest produce at fairs or other venues.
The amendments were adopted with 78 MPs voting in favour, none against and 5 abstentions.
According to the amendments, services will have to be provided in the official language at the level of Lithuanian language proficiency set by the government.
The initiators of the draft law believe that such a provision will encourage foreigners to integrate more into Lithuanian society and learn at least the spoken national language.
“It is believed that citizens of the Republic of Lithuania should have the right to be served in the national language,” the explanatory note of the draft law states.
According to it, the use of the Russian language in the service sector in Lithuania is increasing.
“The results of the 2021 census published by the State Data Agency revealed that about 60 percent of the Lithuanian population speak Russian, which means that as many as 40 percent of the population are forced to face service in a language they do not understand,” the note reads.
The law will enter into force on January 1, 2026.
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