If you wish to carry out scientific research and/or experimental development works in Lithuania, you must have:
- an employment or an author’s contract concluded with a science and higher education institution registered in the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter – research agency);
- a national long-term visa or a temporary residence permit.
Where and how to apply | You can use either a specific admission procedure for researchers or a regular admission procedure for workers who do not need a work permit. In case of specific admission procedure for researchers you must conclude an employment contract with the research agency, and you must obtain a temporary residence permit. In case of regular admission procedure you can conclude either an employment or an author’s contract with the research agency, and you can obtain 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 (Vilnius, Kaunas or Klaipeda). Please note that from the 1st of September 2019 you are allowed to apply for a temporary residence permit only at the Migration department. National long-term visa 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. A temporary residence permit The decision to issue the residence permit is taken within 3 months at the latest. For an additional fee, the decision will be taken within 45 days at the latest. 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. 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. 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 the 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 national long-term visa you must show the following documents:
To obtain a temporary residence permit you must show the following documents:
In order to issue the document, your fingerprints will be taken – all hand fingerprints in case of national long-term visa, 2 fingerprints and the face image in case of temporary residence permit. |
Further requirements | 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. To collect your residence permit you must contact:
When you obtain a temporary residence permit, you must declare your place of residence. 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 | Temporary residence permits are granted for 2 years or for the period 3 months longer than the duration of the research project, if this is less than 2 years. National long-term visas are granted for one year or for the total duration of the research project if this is less than a year. |
Conditions for renewal | If you continue your research project, you may apply for the renewal of the temporary residence permit on the same conditions. Please note that the national long-term visas cannot be renewed. An application for the renewal of a temporary residence permit must be submitted to the Migration department’s territorial division. The decision to renew the residence permit is taken within 2 months at the latest. For an additional fee, the decision will be taken within 1 month at the latest. 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 |
Employment during research | If you obtain the residence permit according to the specific admission procedure for researchers, you can teach during the research period at the higher education establishment, in accordance with the procedure established by the laws of Lithuania. You are exempt from the requirement to obtain a work permit. |
Stay and employment after research | After completing your research, you have the opportunity to apply for a temporary residence permit for 12 months for job search and self-employment. For more information visit here |
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. |
Family members | Your family members can apply for a national long-term visa at the same time as you and arrive to Lithuania together with you. If you obtain a temporary residence permit under the specific admission procedure for researchers, you are immediately entitled to family reunification and do not need to wait for the two-year period of legal residence to be completed. Your family members may immediately apply for a temporary residence permit at the same time as you. Your family members will be issued a national long-term visa or a temporary residence permit for the same period as your national long-term visa or the temporary residence permit. Family members include: spouse, registered partner, unmarried and dependent minor children, your dependent parents if you have retained them for at least 1 year and they cannot benefit from other family members living abroad. Your family members are entitled to work in the Republic of Lithuania during the period of validity of the temporary residence permit. They are exempt from the obligation to obtain a work permit. |
Long-term residence | If you have been residing continuously and legally for five years in Lithuania, you can obtain a permanent resident’s status. Your stay as a researcher is counted in the period of residence. Basic knowledge of the language and of the Lithuanian Constitution will be tested. |
If you have a permit/visa for research in an EU country, you may conduct research and teach in Lithuania if you fulfil certain requirements. If the duration of your stay in Lithuania is shorter than 180 days in a 360-day period, you are subject to short-term mobility rules. If the duration of your stay in Lithuania is longer than 180 days, you are subject to the rules governing long-term mobility.
Short-term mobility | Procedure If you have a valid temporary residence permit issued by another Member State or a national visa issued for the purpose of conducting scientific research, you may enter and stay in the Republic of Lithuania without a visa for no more than 180 days in any 360-day period in order to conduct scientific research and experimental development work in the science and research institution without the need to go through the notification procedure. You are exempt from the obligation to obtain a work permit. Family members Your family members holding a valid temporary residence permit issued by another Member State or a national visa issued on the basis of family reunification, have the right to enter and stay in the Republic of Lithuania for the same period as yours. |
Long-term mobility | Procedure If you hold a permit/visa in another EU country and would like to carry out research and teach in Lithuania for a period longer than 180 days, you must apply for a temporary residence permit. Please note that from the 1st of September 2019 you are allowed to apply for a temporary residence permit only at the Migration department. The decision to issue the residence permit is taken within 3 months at the latest. For an additional fee, the decision will be taken within 45 days at the latest. 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.
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 Documents required To obtain a temporary residence permit you must submit the following documents:
In order to issue the document, your biometric data will be taken – 2 fingerprints and the face image. Family members Your family members have the right to apply for a temporary residence permit. Family members include: spouse, registered partner, unmarried and dependent minor children, your dependent parents if you have retained them for at least 1 year and they cannot benefit from other family members living abroad. Your family members can apply for a temporary residence permit at the same time as you. They will be issued a temporary residence permit for the same period as your temporary residence permit. Your family members must fill in the application for a temporary residence permit, pay the state fee and submit the documents, listed in the section Family members – Documents required. Your family members are entitled to work in the Republic of Lithuania during the period of validity of the temporary residence permit. They are exempt from the obligation to obtain a work permit. Other information After completing your research, you have the opportunity to apply for a temporary residence permit for 12 months for job search and self-employment. |