Lithuania Plans to Withdraw Residence Permits for Individuals of Russian Descent Frequently Visiting Their Native Land
Hitting Back Hard: Lithuania's New Travel Restrictions for Russian Citizens Explained
Starting from May 3, Lithuania has tightened the screws on Russian citizens residing in the country. Here's the lowdown on what this means for those with a residence permit in Lithuania.
First off, if you're a Russian citizen, be mindful of your travels to Russia or Belarus. The new regulations state that if you make more than one trip to either country in a three-month period without a solid reason, you risk losing your residence permit. But don't worry, if you're a carrier or truck driver passing through these countries as part of your job or if there's a valid reason for your trip, you're in the clear.
Interestingly, as of April 1, a whopping 14,652 Russian citizens had valid residence permits in Lithuania. Yet, the new rules have a significant impact, as they also cover Schengen and national visa applications for Russian and Belarusian citizens. Applications for temporary residence permits are off the table for Russians, with exceptions made only for those who already possess a valid Schengen or national visa or a residence permit in Lithuania or another EU country.
If you're planning to visit Lithuania without a residence permit, be prepared for extra scrutiny. Russians arriving through non-EU borders are subject to additional checks related to national security, public order, and other state concerns.
Besides travel restrictions, there are other import and purchase prohibitions to consider. Russians without residence permits are not permitted to buy real estate in Lithuania. Additionally, agricultural products and feeds of Russian or Belarusian origin, as well as Ukrainian hryvnias, are off-limits for import and export.
To better understand these new rules, let's break it down:
- Revocation of residence permits: Frequent trips to Russia or Belarus without a good cause lead to cancellation of temporary residence permits for Russian citizens, with rare exceptions made for certain professions and justified trips.
- Suspension of visa applications: Lithuania has put a halt to Schengen and national visa applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens, except when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs steps in. Temporary residence permit applications from Russians are also on hold, except for those who possess valid documents as specified.
- Additional screening: Russians entering Lithuania through non-EU borders are subject to extra checks for national security threats, public order issues, and other state concerns.
- Prohibitions on imports and purchases: Russians without a residence permit are forbidden from purchasing real estate in Lithuania, and there are bans on importing agricultural products and animal feed from Russia or Belarus, as well as restrictions on Ukrainian hryvnias.
In a nutshell, Lithuania's new restrictions aim to limit frequent travel of Russian residents to Russia and Belarus, with exceptions made for certain professions and justified trips. They also enforce a strict visa and immigration policy, as well as border checks, focusing on security concerns.
- The new travel restrictions in Lithuania are part of a policy-and-legislation response to war-and-conflicts, as they aim to limit frequent travel of Russian residents to Russia and Belarus, with exceptions made for certain professions and justified trips.
- These regulations reveal a significant impact on migration, given that the new rules also cover Schengen and national visa applications for Russian and Belarusian citizens, suspending temporary residence permit applications for Russians.
- The tightened travel restrictions can be seen as a political move, with the additional screening at non-EU borders, import and purchase prohibitions, and focus on security concerns, all falling under the broader category of general-news.
