Lithuania opens its labour market to qualified foreign professionals

The Lithuanian Parliament has adopted the amendments proposed by the Ministry of the Interior which will facilitate the recruitment of highly skilled foreign professionals to work in Lithuania.

The amendments make it possible for third-country nationals to come to Lithuania if they are being temporarily transferred to work as managers, professionals or trainees (with a university education) from companies established in the third-country nations to the subsidiaries of these companies in Lithuania.

In terms of the requirements for employee-trainees, these will include a university education, or an internship programme, as well as the prerequisite that any such person shall have been employed in the company of the third country for a minimum period of time prior to being sent to the subsidiary of the company in Lithuania.

Applications regarding the transfer of a foreign national to work in Lithuania must be dealt with within two months or in one month in urgent cases. Prospective employees must have worked for the company group for a minimum of six months.

The amendments will come into force on 1 September.