The Lithuanian parliament last week began debating proposed amendments to tighten migration policy, including stronger language integration requirements and new restrictions for foreign residents.
The bill, initiated by conservative leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas, seeks to amend the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners. After its initial presentation, 85 lawmakers supported the measure, none opposed it, and two abstained.
The proposal would require foreigners who have lived in Lithuania for five years and wish to extend their temporary residence permits to demonstrate proficiency in the Lithuanian language. The government would determine the level of proficiency required.
“My proposal is to introduce a state language requirement set by the government. Whether it is A2 or B1 level, the government would decide,” Kasčiūnas told lawmakers. “After five years, you should be able to do more than just say ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’. You should be able to communicate.”
Additional provisions would require foreigners who have lived in Lithuania for at least two years, hold a valid one-year residence permit and want to bring in family members to prove their relatives’ knowledge of Lithuanian, unless there are valid reasons they cannot learn the language.
The bill also proposes limiting the right of foreign master’s students to bring family members to Lithuania and creating a government-approved list of universities authorised to admit foreign students. Bachelor’s students from abroad would be limited to working no more than 20 hours per week, down from the current 40.
Kasčiūnas argued that some foreigners use student status to gain work rights rather than pursue studies. “Of course, we attract talent, and there are many benefits, but there is also a group of students who remain first- or second-year students for years, working rather than studying,” he said.
Earlier this month, the Migration Department urged universities and colleges to strengthen oversight, citing an increase in cases where foreigners allegedly use studies as a pretext to obtain residence permits. About 9,000 foreigners currently hold temporary residence permits for studies in Lithuania.
The amendments would also require foreigners who have lost Lithuanian citizenship but hold permanent residence permits, as well as those who have lived in Lithuania since before July 1993, to demonstrate Lithuanian language proficiency and pass a constitutional basics exam when applying for or renewing residency.
“Sometimes we see cases where someone has lived in Lithuania for 40 years and still does not speak the language,” Kasčiūnas said. “I propose setting a government-mandated threshold so permanent residents renewing their permits would also have to pass a test.”
As of September 1, Lithuania was home to nearly 210,000 foreign residents. Ukrainians made up the largest group with 76,000, followed by Belarusians (52,000) and Russians (14,000).
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
