Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has proposed a temporary work permit system that would require migrant workers to leave the country after a fixed period.
The plan aims to tighten migration rules by limiting foreign workers to specific employers and restricting long-term stay.
Labour migration reset
The proposal was presented on 4 March during a meeting on migration policy at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius. President Gitanas Nausėda’s chief adviser, Deividas Matulionis, announced a proposal for a temporary work permit system during a press conference.
“The president is proposing a new circular migration mechanism, a temporary work permit system,” Matulionis told reporters. The plan would allow foreign nationals to work in Lithuania for a limited period before they must leave the country.
Under the proposal, migrant workers would be allowed to work only for a specific employer. They would not be able to change jobs during the permit period.
Workers would also have to leave Lithuania for at least six months after working in the country for up to two years. Authorities argue that this approach could manage labour demand while preventing long-term migration through work permits.
Tighter job limits
The proposal places strict conditions on migrant employment. Workers arriving under the system would not qualify for family reunification.
They would also not be eligible for permanent residency under the proposed rules. The restrictions aim to keep the permits strictly temporary.
Matulionis explained that migrants admitted under the quota system would fill roles tied to specific employers. “Foreigners within the established quota would be allowed to work for a specific employer only … and would have to leave Lithuania for at least six months after two years at the latest,” he said.
Officials also want to tighten rules around the existing quota system. Companies can currently exceed the foreign worker quota if they offer higher wages, a provision the president wants removed.
“Such a regulation compromises the purpose of setting the quota,” Matulionis stated during the briefing.
Industries facing impact
The proposal mainly targets sectors that employ large numbers of lower-skilled foreign workers. Construction, logistics and social services are among the areas where migrant labour has become common.
Employers in these sectors often recruit abroad to fill labour shortages. The proposed system would still allow foreign recruitment within the quota limits.
Migration numbers rising
Lithuania has recorded a sharp rise in the number of foreign nationals over the past four years. Migrants now account for about 7.5% of the country’s population.
A recent population survey found that 67% of Lithuanians are concerned about increasing migration.
Quota squeeze begins
Lithuania regulates foreign employment through an annual quota. Deputy Interior Minister Gintaras Aliksandravičius confirmed the figures during the same press conference.
The quota stood at 24,830 foreign workers last year and is set at 24,700 this year.
Draft amendments to the law are expected to be submitted to the Seimas, Lithuania’s parliament.
Migration tensions build
Lithuania regulates foreign employment through an annual quota. Deputy Interior Minister Gintaras Aliksandravičius confirmed the figures during the same press conference.
“If this trend continues, we will face a serious problem for both the state and society, especially given the rapidly declining birth rate,” he said.
Borders go digital
The Entry-Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) could affect how Lithuania manages migrant workers under temporary work permits.
The EES records when non-EU travellers enter and leave Schengen countries, replacing passport stamps with digital records to track short stays across the region, while ETIAS will require many visa-exempt travellers to get travel authorisation before entering for short visits.
As these systems tighten border monitoring, Lithuanian authorities may find it easier to track arrivals and departures tied to short-term labour schemes.
More flights, more workers
Long-haul travel patterns could also shape demand for temporary work permits in Lithuania. More flights between Europe and regions such as Asia or the Middle East can increase the number of people arriving for work opportunities.
This may bring a larger pool of foreign workers interested in short-term jobs in sectors facing labour shortages. If travel becomes easier and faster, the country’s proposed permit system could become a tool to manage those flows while keeping employment periods limited.
Migration crackdown on the table
The proposal shows how Lithuania plans to tighten control over migrant labour while still allowing foreign workers to fill shortages in key sectors. The temporary work permits system would limit how long migrants can stay and work in the country.
Lawmakers will now review the proposed changes, which could shape how Lithuania manages migration and employment in the coming years.