Lithuania - Family member - European Commission

You can arrive to Lithuania as a family member, if one of the following persons resides in Lithuania:

at least one your parents, who is a citizen of Lithuania;
if you are an unmarried minor (under the age of 18) – at least one of your parents (or their spouse) who is a citizen of Lithuania or has a residence permit***;
your or your spouse’s unmarried child, who is a citizen of Lithuania;
your child, who has obtained asylum and has a residence permit;
your spouse or registered partner, who is a citizen of Lithuania or has a residence permit. In such case both of you (if your spouse or registered partner has a residence permit) must be of at least 21 year of age, unless your spouse or registered partner has obtained an EU long-term resident’s status in another EU Member State***;
your child who has a residence permit, when you have been his or her dependant for at least 1 year, and there are no other family members who could support you***;
your parents who are incapable to work due to the pension age or disability and who have a permanent residence permit.

***In cases marked by asterisks you will be eligible to apply for family reunification in Lithuania if your family member whom you want to join in Lithuania (your sponsor):

has legally resided for at least two years in Lithuania;
holds a residence permit valid for at least one year;
shows reasonable prospects of acquiring permanent residence in Lithuania.

If your sponsor belongs to any of the categories listed below, the requirements of 2 years of residence and reasonable prospects do not apply and you can apply for a family member’s residence permit immediately:

aliens who obtained asylum in Lithuania;
researchers who have been granted temporary residence permits in Lithuania according to Directive 2016/801/EU or teachers arriving to teach in a higher educational establishment;
highly qualified workers who have been granted temporary residence permits in Lithuania according to Directive 2009/50/EC (“Blue Cards”);
intra-corporate transferees who have been granted temporary residence permits in Lithuania according to Directive 2014/66/EU (“ICT”);

aliens who have been granted temporary residence permits in Lithuania on the ground that they intend to engage in legal activities related to the introduction of new technologies or other innovations that are significant for the economic and social development of the Republic of Lithuania;

EU long-term residents who obtained this status in another EU Member State according to the Directive 2003/109/EC, but only if the family already existed in that other EU Member State;
interns who have arrived to the institutions of higher education and research of the Republic of Lithuania under treaties of the Republic of Lithuania or according to European Union academic exchange programmes with third countries;
investors who, by directly participating in the projects of importance to the State, have invested in the Republic of Lithuania in a property owned, borrowed or managed and used by them by the right of trust;
persons, whose share in the enterprise is not less than 14 000 euros and when the enterprise employs citizens of Lithuania, EU or EFTA or permanent residents and meets other conditions set in national laws (for more information regarding the issuance of a temporary residence permits for investors please click here).

You may also obtain a temporary residence permit in case there are particularly difficult circumstances related to the termination of a marriage or registered partnership or death of a family member. A temporary residence permit under this ground may be issued for one year.

Where and how to apply	Temporary residence permit In general, an application for a temporary residence permit for family reunification should be submitted to the embassy or consulate in the country of your residence. If you are legally staying in Lithuania, the application can be submitted to the Migration department’s territorial divisions (you must register your visit time at ePolicija.lt portal) Please note that from 1^st September 2019 you are allowed to apply for a temporary residence permit only at the Migration department. NB! Once launched, the new Migration Information System (MIGRIS) will allow to fill in the application form and submit all documents required to apply for a temporary residence permit online. The decision to issue the residence permit is taken within 4 months at the latest. For an additional fee, the decision will be taken within 2 months at the latest (in some cases if you are a family member of an alien who applies for a temporary residence permit on a certain grounds, e. g. researcher, intra-corporate transferee, high-qualification employee, the decision on your application will be adopted in a shorter period). Since you have submitted the application for a temporary residence permit you can apply for a national long-term visa that will be issued for a period of up to 5 months. In this case you may stay in Lithuania while your application for a temporary residence permit is being examined and, in case of issuance, collect your residence permit. If you receive a positive decision and are outside the country, you will be issued a single entry national visa, if necessary, and you will be able to enter Lithuania and collect your residence permit here. National long-term visa If you come to Lithuania together with a lecturer or a researcher, a sportsman or a trainer as their family member, you may apply for a national long-term visa. The application for a national long-term visa is to be lodged at the Lithuanian embassy or consulate, or, if you are already legally staying in Lithuania, you can apply for a national long-term visa at the certain divisions of the Migration department. National long-term visa is issued within 15 days and allows you to enter and stay in the country for up to one year. If necessary, and as long as the national long-term visa is valid, you can apply for a temporary residence permit while remaining in the country. Note that in case you apply for extension of your residence in Lithuania, you should apply for a temporary residence permit before your national long-term visa or previous temporary residence permit expires. Otherwise, you will have to leave the country and wait for your temporary residence permit while abroad.
Documents required	To obtain a temporary residence permit you must submit the following documents: an application for issuing a temporary residence permit to reside in the Republic of Lithuania in the established format; a valid travel document (passport); a temporary residence permit (in case of renewal); a document confirming your legal stay, if you apply in Lithuania; a proof of existence of the family relationship; other documents confirming that you correspond to the requirements for the family reunification; sufficient financial resources; adequate accommodation; a document confirming health insurance (insurance sum 6000 Eur); (a) certificate(s) from (a) competent authority(ies) of (a) foreign state(s) where you lived before coming to the Republic of Lithuania and (or) currently live for the last 2 years, confirming that you were convicted in the corresponding state(s). If you were not convicted in the corresponding state(s), you must submit a written statement that you were not convicted (these documents must be submitted only in case of issuance the first temporary residence permit as a family member of a highly-qualified worker); a list of trips and stays in foreign states. In order to issue the document, your fingerprints will be taken – all hand fingerprints in case of national long-term visa, 2 fingerprints and a face image in case of temporary residence permit.
Further requirements	Having received a residence permit, you must declare your place of residence. To collect your residence permit you must contact: Migration department’s territorial division where you have applied for a temporary residence permit; Migration department’s central office if you have applied for a temporary residence permit at the Lithuanian embassy or consulate. If you hold a temporary residence permit, you must, not later than within 7 days, notify the Migration department in the event of: change of documents confirming your identity or citizenship; change of your family situation; change of your place of residence.
Duration of validity of permits	Residence permit is granted for the duration of the validity of your sponsor’s residence permit and can be renewed. If your sponsor is a Lithuanian citizen or a long-term resident (has a permanent residence permit), your temporary residence permit will be issued for 1 year and renewed for 2 years. National long-term visa is granted for up to 1 year. It cannot be renewed.
Conditions for renewal	A temporary residence permit may be renewed on the same conditions. An application for the renewal of a temporary residence permit must be submitted to the Migration department’s territorial division. Application and required documents for the renewal of a temporary residence permit in general order shall be submitted at least 2 months in advance but not earlier than 4 months before the expiry of the current permit. Application and required documents for the renewal of the temporary residence permit on a matter of urgency shall be submitted at least 1 month before the expiry. You will be notified on the decision via the e-mail address, submitted in your application.
Appeals	Decisions can be challenged before the Vilnius District Administrative Court within 14 days from the receipt of the decision and further before the Supreme Administrative Court.
Further information	More on temporary residence permits More on national long-term visas More on visas

Access to employment	You do not need to obtain a work permit, if you want to work.
Change of employment	You may change your employment or employer without any restrictions.
Access to education	If you want, you may study in Lithuania without any restricsions.
Change of status	If conditions for issuing a temporary residence permit have changed and you are no longer eligible for the temporary residence permit, you must leave the Republic of Lithuania and your temporary residence permit will be revoked. However, if you express a wish to reside in the Republic of Lithuania, you may be granted temporary residence permit on other grounds. In this case, you need to apply for a new temporary residence permit.
Permanent residence	If you have been residing continuously and legally for five years in Lithuania you can obtain a permanent resident’s status. Basic knowledge of the language and of the Lithuanian Constitution will be tested. More on permanent residence permits

Lithuania - Family member

Conditions

Procedures

Rights

Links