Essential Employment Paperwork in Lithuania
Despite the blow it took from the 2008 to 2010 financial crises, Lithuania still managed to decrease its significant unemployment rate. The local economy is undoubtedly geared towards full recovery and job opportunities are available for expats from all parts of the globe. Working in this Baltic country is an enticing idea but before anything else, aspiring applicants should first obtain the relevant employment paperwork.
Foreign nationals who plan to get employed in Lithuania are legally required to secure a work permit. All work permits given to foreign nationals are issued by the Labour Exchange under the regulation of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. It is the duty of the employer to register a particular job vacancy in the local labour exchange where the company is registered. Issuance of this permit hugely depends on the local labour market demand and it will only be granted to an expat if there is no Lithuanian, found within one month, who can meet the qualification requirements of the employer.
Work Permit
After establishing that there is no qualified Lithuanian for a job post, the employer will be allowed to submit an application for the issuance of a work permit to a foreign national. It takes about two months for the Labour Exchange to process the request. Work permits are usually valid for up to two years and are specific to a particular job and employer.
Requirements for Work Permit
The Labour exchange will examine the qualifications of the expat and it is imperative that the prospective employee have at least one year of work experience (in a particular job post) within the last two years. It is also important for a foreign national to keep in touch with the Lithuanian Embassy/Consulate to get the latest immigration procedures. Some of the documents that are required for the application of the work permit are:
- Copy of the expatriate’s passport
- Document/s confirming the employee’s permanent place of residence
- Certificates (educational and professional) supporting the qualifications of the expat
- Employment Contract
- Description of the job post
Keep in mind that the employment contract issued to an expat should have a fixed term and can not exceed the validity period of the work permit. The employer should also provide at least two copies of the contract written in Lithuanian and in the language that the employee understands. It is also important that the foreign assignee’s salary is not lower than the wage paid to a resident/citizen of Lithuania who performs the same type of work.