Background information

The aim is to limit the immigration of cheap labor to Lithuania and encourage employers to employ Lithuanian workers, as well as to retain foreigners already living and working in Lithuania. Restrictions have been introduced on the import of cheap labor, but the possibility remains to bring in the necessary number of workers. The arrival of highly qualified specialists is not limited. The law stipulates that the quota for the employment of foreigners must not exceed 1.4 percent of the number of permanent residents of Lithuania. The quota applies to foreigners newly arriving to work in Lithuania. The quota does not apply to highly qualified persons who will be paid more than 1.2 times the average national wage

Content of measure

Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Legal Status of Aliens (Official Gazette, 2004-04-30, No. 73-2539) from 2024-06-27 envisage that a proposal for setting a quota for non-EU citizens shall be submitted to the Minister of Social Security and Labour by the Director of the Public Employment Service, based on the monitoring of the labour market carried out by the Public Employment Service, the assessment of the situation, and the forecasts in the labour market. The quota for the calendar year is approved by the Minister of Social Security and Labour, in coordination with the Minister of the Interior. The quota is considered exhausted if the number of foreigners who were issued temporary residence permits for work in that year reaches the quota set for the calendar year. It is possible to obtain a temporary residence permit on the basis of work after the quota is considered exhausted if the employer provides information about the expected monthly salary not less than 1.2 times the average monthly gross salary (2,416 EUR) or the foreigner's profession is included in the List of Professions Creating High Added Value.

Use of measure

The quota for the employment of foreigners must not exceed 1.4 percent of the number of permanent residents of Lithuania announced by the State Data Agency on July 1 of the previous calendar year, which is approximately 40 thousand people. This is the maximum number. In 2025 the quota is set at 24,830.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Public employment service	No special funding required

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

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

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Social partners were involved during the mandatory consultation via the national tripartite social dialogue body.

Views and reactions

No information was identified.

Sources

• 27 June 2024: LR įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (e-seimas.lrs.lt)
• 10 December 2024: LR socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministro įsakymas dėl užsieniečių įdarbinimo kvotos 2025 metams patvirtinim (www.e-tar.lt)