Background information

On 17 March 2022, Government Resolution No 224 On granting temporary protection to aliens in the Republic of Lithuania entered into force. According to the resolution, refugees from Ukraine shall be granted temporary protection in Lithuania, entitling them to reside free of charge in a place determined by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, to work, and to receive social and other support. The Government has adopted the Resolution in compliance with the EU Temporary Protection Directive activated for the first time with the Council Implementing Decision.

Content of measure

According to the Resolution, temporary protection in Lithuania shall be granted to all Ukrainian citizens and their family members who have left Ukraine since 24 February 2022 due to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, as well as to those who left the country right before the outbreak of the war. Protection shall also apply to stateless persons and third country nationals, as well as to their family members, who were enjoying international or national protection in Ukraine before 24 February 2022.

Foreigners granted temporary protection shall have the right to reside in Lithuania free of charge, to work, to receive cash allowances if they have no other income in Lithuania, to receive essential medical care and social services, and minors shall have the right to education.

The temporary protection will remain in place until 4 March 2023 and may be extended for another year if necessary.

Use of measure

According to Statistics Lithuania (SL), as of 15 April 2022, 45.5 thousand war refugees from Ukraine have been registered in Lithuania, of which 18.6 thousand are minors.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government EU (Council, EC, EP)	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Informed	Informed
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

No information available.

Views and reactions

No information available.

Sources

• 16 March 2022: Government Resolution No 224 On granting temporary protection to aliens in the Republic of Lithuania (LR Vyriausybės nutarimas No 224 dėl laikinosios apsaugos Lietuvos Respublikoje užsieniečiams suteikimo) (www.teisesakturegistras.lt)
• 16 March 2022: Temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees has been approved (Pritarta laikinosios apsaugos suteikimui Ukrainos pabėgėliams) (vrm.lrv.lt)