Group of MPs propose to ban immigrant workers’ family reunification in Lithuania

A group of Lithuanian lawmakers has proposed banning family reunification for immigrant workers legally employed in the country, arguing that the policy change is necessary to prevent a large influx of nonworking migrants.

Ten members of the Seimas registered amendments on Wednesday to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners that would remove provisions allowing residence permits for family members of foreigners already living and working in Lithuania.

One of the bill’s authors, Vytautas Sinica of the far-right National Alliance party, said that without this change, Lithuania could see around 60,000 additional immigrants arrive starting next year through family reunification, placing a financial burden on taxpayers.

“By 2026, three years after the start of mass immigration, around 60,000 additional foreigners could come to Lithuania through family reunification. These would no longer be labour migrants but mostly nonworking persons,” Sinica said in a statement.

Workers (associative image) | BNS

He argued that such an influx could affect Lithuania’s demographic composition, cultural cohesion, and national identity, especially in major cities.

The explanatory note attached to the bill argues that labour migration is justified by economic needs but supporting their family members burdens public services and welfare programs.

“The proposed amendments would preserve the right to family reunification only for Lithuanian citizens and for foreigners whose cases are justified on humanitarian grounds, such as refugees or victims of human trafficking,” Sinica said.

The bill was signed by ten MPs belonging to the informal parliamentary group Against Mass Immigration, including Rima Baškienė and Kęstutis Mažeika of the Democrats “For Lithuania” faction, Ligita Girskienė and Rimas Jonas Jankūnas of the Farmers and Greens Union, Laurynas Kasčiūnas and Audronius Ažubalis of the conservative Homeland Union, Vytautas Sinica and Vitalijus Šeršniovas of the non-attached groups, Social Democrat Andrius Busila, and Martynas Gedvilas of the Nemunas Dawn party.