{"id":156886,"date":"2025-09-24T13:35:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T10:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/156886\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"lithuanian-mps-consider-tying-residence-permit-renewals-to-language-requirements","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/156886\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuanian MPs consider tying residence permit renewals to language requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (TV3)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 24, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>Lithuanian MPs yesterday voted 85 in favor, with three abstentions, to accept for consideration a bill that would tighten language requirements for immigrants from third countries, Delfi <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill proposes to establish a Lithuanian language proficiency requirement for foreigners who have lived in Lithuania for five years and wish to extend their temporary residence permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government will set the required level of language proficiency, while the migration department will assess foreigners\u2019 knowledge of the Lithuanian language and the fundamentals of the Constitution, according to the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MP Laurynas Kas\u010di\u016bnas, deputy chairman of the committee on national security and defense at the Seimas, authored the amendments, arguing that these would help limit the immigration of cheap labor and strengthen national security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parliamentary committees on foreign affairs and human rights will review the bill, which will also be evaluated by the Lithuanian government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill is expected to be returned to the Seimas on October 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current legislation does not require foreigners legally residing in Lithuania to prove their command of Lithuanian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of Belarusians holding Lithuanian residence permits dropped by 10.4 percent this year to 51,520 on September 1,  according to official data from Lithuania\u2019s migration department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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