Lithuania

Am I eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card?

In Lithuania, the EU Blue Card is a temporary residence permit issued in the following cases:

1. If you intend to work in an occupation included in the list of high value-added occupations for which there is a shortage of workers in the Republic of Lithuania, and you will be paid a monthly salary of at least 1.2 times the monthly average gross wage in the national economy for the most recent calendar year, published by the State Data Agency (including the data on the wages of individual businesses).
2. If you intend to work in an occupation that is NOT included in the list of high value-added occupations for which there is a shortage of workers in the Republic of Lithuania, and you will be paid a monthly salary that is at least equal to 1.5 times the monthly average gross wage in the national economy for the last calendar year, as published by the State Data Agency (including the data on the wages of individual businesses). 

Thus, to be eligible, a Lithuanian employer must be willing to hire you for a highly qualified position and pay you at least 1.5 times the most recent average monthly gross wage in Lithuania. The employer is required to offer employment for a period of no less than 6 months under a formal employment contract. If your profession is listed among the high value-added professions with a shortage of workers, the salary must be at least 1.2 times the average monthly gross wage. Additionally, you must have a higher education diploma or at least 3 years of professional experience in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) management or as an ICT specialist, acquired within the last 7 years, equivalent to higher education qualifications. Alternatively, you can have at least 5 years of professional experience equivalent to higher education qualifications. 

The latest List of High Value-Added Professions with a Shortage of Workers in the Republic of Lithuania is available here.

How much do I have to earn to qualify for an EU Blue Card?

In Lithuania, the average monthly gross wage (before taxes) in the national economy for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by 11% compared to the same period in 2022, reaching €2,110. Based on this data, to qualify for an EU Blue Card in Lithuania, you would need to earn:

• For high-value-added occupations included in the official list: at least 1.2 times the average gross wage, which amounts to approximately €2,532 per month.
• For other occupations: at least 1.5 times the average gross wage, which equals about €3,165 per month.

The average gross annual salary threshold is updated and announced by the State Data Agency every quarter.

Are there exceptions to the minimum salary requirement?

N/A.

Will EU citizens' applications be prioritised over mine?

Some Member States apply a Labour Market Test (LMT). This is a mechanism that aims to ensure that migrant workers are only admitted after employers have unsuccessfully searched for national workers, EU citizens (in EU Member States, this also means EEA workers) or legally residing third-country nationals with access to the labour market according to national legislation (for more information see the FAQ section).

Lithuania applies a labour market test (but not for those applying for an EU Blue Card, provided they are legally residing in the country).

How long will my EU Blue Card be valid?

The standard period of validity in Lithuania is: three years.

Specific rules: in Lithuania, the EU Blue Card is issued or renewed for a period of three years. If the employment contract is of shorter duration, the EU Blue Card shall be issued for the duration of the contract plus three months.

How much will it cost?

Initial EU Blue Card fee: 160 EUR.

Renewal: 160 EUR. Replacement: 160 EUR.

Fee for express issuance: 320 EUR.

How long will it take to get my EU Blue Card?

Decisions on temporary residence permits in Lithuania are made, and permits are issued, within 1 month under the standard procedure or 15 days under the expedited procedure, for both new permits and renewals.

More information on migrating to Lithuania

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