Starting December 1, 2024, Lithuania will enforce stricter guidelines for residence permit applications, the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs announced. The Honorary Consulate of Lithuania in Sri Lanka issued a statement explaining that these new regulations will apply to applications submitted through visa service providers.
The updated rules limit eligibility to specific categories, including family reunification, academic programs (such as doctoral studies), highly skilled employment, and certain investment positions. Applications related to seasonal work and secondments will not be accepted.
The Honorary Consulate also informed that, due to the recent closure of local visa service offices, applicants will need to travel to nearby countries to submit applications. The move to tighten residence permit rules is reportedly in response to security concerns stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
