From the 1st of November, the geographic scope for submitting applications for temporary residence permits and national (D) visas will change, while the acceptance of Schengen visa applications will remain unchanged
From the 1st of November, the geographic scope for submitting applications for temporary residence permits and national (D) visas will change, while the acceptance of Schengen visa applications will remain unchanged
From the 1st of November of this year, following the decision of the Ministry of the Interior to close the external service provider VFS Global’s visa centres in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, citizens and permanent residents of these countries who intend to come to Lithuania for studies or other long-term purposes will be able to submit applications to the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania for the issuance of national (D) visas or temporary residence permits through the VFS Global visa centres that will be indicated on the website of the Migration Department:
Services for the issuance of temporary residence permits and national visas – Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania
The VFS Global visa centres representing Lithuania in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan will continue to accept applications for Schengen visas intended for short-term stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) in the Schengen Area for tourism, business, official visits, family visits, medical treatment, and other similar purposes, which do not provide grounds for long-term residence, studies, or employment in Lithuania. Applications for Schengen visas are examined and decisions on their issuance are taken by diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Lithuania abroad.
It is important to emphasise that a Schengen visa is not an alternative to a national (D) visa or a residence permit in the Republic of Lithuania, and holding a Schengen visa does not grant the right to work in the Republic of Lithuania. Although both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania cooperate with the same external service provider, VFS Global, the procedures for issuing Schengen visas and national (D) visas and temporary residence permits are separate, and cooperation with VFS Global is carried out under separate agreements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible solely for organising the issuance of Schengen visas, whereas the policy concerning the issuance of national (D) visas and temporary residence permits in the Republic of Lithuania, as well as the organisation of application submission, falls within the competence of the Ministry of the Interior.
Please follow the website of the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, www.migracija.lt, for up-to-date information on the procedures for issuing national (D) visas and temporary residence permits and any changes to these procedures.
Persons planning to submit applications after 1 November 2026 are encouraged to familiarise themselves in advance with the updated procedures and document submission requirements.
