Lithuania Plans to Cancel Residence Permits for Frequent Travelers from Russia
Updated Article:
By May 3rd, a fresh set of rules for Russian citizens residing in Lithuania has been enforced, potentially leading to the revocation of their residence permits if they make more than one trip to Russia or Belarus within a three-month span, barring any compelling reasons.
This information comes from "European Truth," with references to LRT. An exception is made for drivers involved in international freight and passenger transportation, provided they're working for companies traversing EU territories, entering Lithuania from these countries, or simply passing through it.
The Migration Department reported that as of April 1st, there were around 14,652 valid Russian residence permits in Lithuania.
In response to the military conflict in Ukraine, the Lithuanian Seimas adopted the law "On the Imposition of Restrictive Measures in Connection with Military Aggression against Ukraine." This law halts the acceptance of Schengen and national visa applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens, unless the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acts as an intermediary. Russians aren't being accepted for temporary permits to stay in Lithuania, except for those with a valid Schengen or national visa, residence permit in Lithuania or another EU country.
Russians and Belarusians entering Lithuania from territories outside the EU face additional checks for possible security threats, disruptions to public order, or other concerns. They are also prohibited from importing or exporting Ukrainian hryvnias, as well as agricultural products and feed originating from Russia or Belarus.
Russians without a residence permit in Lithuania are barred from purchasing real estate in the country. The law on restrictive measures, initially adopted in 2023, remains active until May 2, 2026.
Recently, the Lithuanian Seimas proposed laws that prohibit Russian citizens from purchasing property near military and strategic sites, and they barred Lithuanian citizens who also hold Russian, Belarusian, or Chinese passports, or non-Lithuanian individuals, from enrolling in the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy.
References:- "European Truth"- LRT
Insights:- The law specifies that exceptions can be made for trips with objective reasons, but the criteria for these reasons are not explicitly stated.- Visa, currency, and import/export restrictions are also imposed on citizens of Russia and Belarus in Lithuania.
Migration policy in Lithuania, due to war-and-conflicts, has led to stricter regulations for Russian citizens residing in the country, as they face potential revocation of their residence permits if making multiple trips to Russia or Belarus within a three-month span. This tightened policy-and-legislation is part of a broader political response to the military conflict in Ukraine. In general-news, it has been reported that Russian citizens are further prohibited from purchasing real estate in Lithuania and face additional checks upon entering the country. These immigration changes are amid ongoing discussions in Lithuanian politics and various proposed laws that aim to restrict certain activities of Russian citizens.
