Lithuania Introduces New Immigration Rules for 2025
Shahzeb Anwer
Investment Migration | Aligning your Aims & Ambitions with a Global Future .
Lithuania has implemented significant changes to its immigration policies, effective from January 2025. These updates impact work quotas, employer regulations, penalties for non-compliance, and visa application processes.
Updated Work Quotas for 2025
In 2024, Lithuania allocated 40,250 work permits for third-country nationals, of which 36,663 were used. For 2025, the government has reduced the total quota to 24,830 and eliminated category-specific allocations. Employers are advised to plan ahead due to the reduced availability. The latest quota availability can be checked through official sources.
Quota Now Applies to Employers of Record
From 2025, the quota system will also cover temporary employment agreements, including those facilitated by Employers of Record (EOR). This change aims to curb illegal employment, which has been prevalent in these arrangements.
Priority for Highly Qualified Professionals (HQPs)
Lithuania is prioritizing highly qualified professionals (HQPs), recognizing their contribution to economic growth. HQPs can secure work permits outside the quota if they meet the following salary thresholds:
Stricter Rules for Changing Employers
Foreign employees with a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) must now work for their initial employer for at least six months before applying to change employers. Previously, no minimum period was required.
Additionally, employees must not terminate their existing contract before submitting their change of employer application. Doing so may result in fines for the new employer and potential TRP cancellation. Once the application is filed, the employee may resign but must wait for approval before starting the new job.
Increased Penalties for Illegal Employment
Penalties for illegal work have risen significantly:
New A1 Certificate Requirement for Posted Workers
Workers posted to Lithuania from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland must now provide an A1 certificate, proving they remain under their home country’s social security system. The certificate is required for:
The Migration Department now requires a digitally signed A1 certificate in PDF format, replacing previous reliance on employer-provided information.
Closure of VFS Visa Centers for Employment Applications
Several VFS Global Centers will no longer accept employment visa applications for Lithuania. Affected locations include:
Applicants from these countries must now apply at alternative locations where VFS accepts submissions from nationals without local representation. However, applications for the following purposes remain eligible:
These changes highlight Lithuania’s commitment to structured immigration, emphasizing skilled migration, compliance, and economic growth. Employers and foreign workers are encouraged to adjust their plans accordingly.
EU & Kazakhstan Advance Visa Facilitation Talks
The European Union and Kazakhstan are actively working towards a visa facilitation agreement, with discussions aligning with Poland’s priorities as the new holder of the Council of the EU presidency.
Key Takeaways
EU-Kazakhstan Dialogue on Visa Facilitation
On January 27, EU Ambassador Ale?ka Simki? met with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to discuss strengthening strategic partnerships and advancing visa facilitation efforts .
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Simki? reaffirmed that while Kazakhstan is not considered a migration risk, progress on visa facilitation has been slowed by geopolitical and migration challenges.
“Kazakhstan is high on the European Commission’s agenda. We hope to start the process soon. I am advocating for it to happen quickly because I would like to see a visa facilitation agreement finalized during my tenure. I know this is of great interest to the people of Kazakhstan, and we are constantly communicating this to Brussels.” — EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Ale?ka Simki?
The Ambassador also emphasized the EU’s commitment to expanding educational exchange opportunities, encouraging more Kazakh students to study in Europe and vice versa.
On the Kazakh side, Murat Nurtleu reiterated Kazakhstan’s commitment to strengthening ties with the EU, emphasizing key areas of cooperation such as trade, investment, digitalization, and logistics.
EU Ready to Negotiate Visa Facilitation Agreement
The EU and Kazakhstan first met in October 2024 to explore new cooperation opportunities, reaffirming their commitment to begin formal negotiations on visa facilitation and a readmission agreement.
According to the Council of the EU, both parties have expressed their willingness to move forward with these negotiations.
Additionally, in June 2024, EU International Special Envoy for Sanctions David O’Sullivan confirmed that visa talks had officially commenced, noting that simplifying visa procedures for Kazakh nationals would further strengthen EU-Kazakhstan relations.
With both sides eager to finalize an agreement, discussions are expected to intensify in the coming months as Kazakhstan remains a strategic priority for the EU.
Greece to Increase Visa Issuance for Turkish Nationals in 2025
Key Takeaways
Greece Expands Visa Issuance Amid Growing Demand
With the number of Turkish nationals applying for Greek Schengen visas rising annually, Greek authorities have decided to increase visa issuance in 2025.
According to Konstantinos Kutras, Greek Consul General in Istanbul, the consulate aims to issue more than 200,000 visas, reflecting record-breaking tourism numbers.
“There is a continuous rise in tourism. Every year, we break the previous year’s record.” — Konstantinos Kutras, Greek Consul General in Istanbul
The Istanbul consulate, Greece’s largest in Türkiye, processed 152,778 visa applications in 2023, accounting for 60% of the 254,377 total applications submitted that year,
More Multi-Entry Visas for Turkish Travelers
In an interview with Daily Milliyet, Kutras confirmed that many of the 200,000 visas planned for 2025 will be multi-entry, allowing Turkish travelers greater flexibility.
“Greece is also a great destination for winter tourism. I predict that 2025 will be a record year.” — Konstantinos Kutras
Turkish Demand for Greek Schengen Visas on the Rise
In 2023, Turkish nationals filed over one million Schengen visa applications, with 24.1% directed to Greece, making them the top applicants for Greek Schengen visas.
Breakdown of visa applications submitted in Türkiye:
Visa Expansion to Strengthen Tourism & Relations
To encourage tourism, Greece introduced a special visa program in 2024, allowing Turkish tourists to enter select Greek ports for €60. These visas, valid for seven days, only permit entry into Greece and not the rest of the Schengen Area.
This initiative led to a 50% increase in Turkish tourists visiting Greece, prompting the decision to further ease visa requirements. Greece hopes that these efforts will not only boost tourism but also ease tensions between the two nations, which have been strained due to migration issues.
At the same time, Greek tourists are increasingly visiting Türkiye, with Istanbul, Izmir, and Bodrum emerging as top destinations.
With visa demand at an all-time high, Greece’s move to expand visa issuance and introduce more multi-entry options is set to strengthen tourism and bilateral relations between Greece and Türkiye in 2025.