Lithuania Work Permit 2026: Quota, Salary and Shortage Jobs

Last checked: October 2026

We moved to Lithuania ourselves from Cameroon and Zimbabwe, so we know how confusing these rules look from Lagos, Accra, Nairobi or Harare. Below we explain, in plain words, how the system works, what changed this year and how to protect yourself from fake “work visa” offers.

How the Lithuania work permit 2026 system works

Many people search for a “Lithuania work visa”, but for most non-EU workers there is no separate visa that lets you work. Your permission to work comes from the temporary residence permit issued on the basis of employment. In most cases this permit is all you need: there is no separate work permit stamped in your passport.

The main routes are:

• Work-based TRP for regular employees (drivers, welders, warehouse staff, cooks, technicians and so on). This is the route that counts against the annual quota.
• EU Blue Card for highly qualified workers with a degree (or long relevant experience) and a high salary. It does not count against the quota.
• Other routes such as post-study job-seeking permits, family reunification and special schemes. A separate work permit from the Employment Service (Užimtumo tarnyba) is only needed in specific situations, such as some seasonal or posted work.

The key point: your employer starts the process, not you. Without a real job offer from a company registered in Lithuania, you cannot apply.

The 2026 quota: what it is and what happens when it runs out

Since 2025, Lithuania sets one national quota each year for new work-based TRPs for third-country nationals. It covers all professions and all sectors. For 2026 the Minister of Social Security and Labour set it at 24,706 places, and it cannot be increased this year.

The quota filled quickly. The Migration Department reported in late July 2026 that it was almost used up, and by 7 September 2026 it was fully exhausted. In 2025, by comparison, it ran out in mid-October. A proposal to raise the quota was being discussed in autumn 2026, but trade unions opposed it, so do not plan around it.

Two important details:

• The quota applies only when a work-based permit is first issued. Renewing your permit or changing employer does not use a new quota place.
• Once the quota is full, permits are still possible, but only if the salary is high enough. For most Lithuania work permit 2026 applications made after September, salary is now the deciding factor.

Salary thresholds after the quota is full

All thresholds are linked to Lithuania’s average gross monthly salary (BDU) for the previous year, which is €2,411.40 for 2026 applications. They are gross amounts, before tax.

To compare, the Lithuanian minimum wage in 2026 is €1,153 gross a month. Most driver, factory and hospitality jobs pay well below €2,893.68, which is why those employers have mostly stopped hiring new non-EU staff until the 2027 quota opens. Your pay must also be at least what a Lithuanian or EU worker in the same role would earn.

The shortage occupations list in 2026

You may read online that Lithuania has a list of “about 110 shortage occupations”. That was the Employment Service’s old list of professions in demand (it had 110 professions in 2024). From 2025 it was replaced by the single quota.

What matters now is the list of high value-added occupations in shortage, approved by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation. The version in force from 10 June 2026 has about 90 occupations, mostly in engineering, IT and technical manufacturing. Examples include:

• IT: software engineers and developers, data analysts and data scientists, cloud engineers, web developers, software testers, database and network administrators, IT security specialists.
• Engineering: mechanical, electrical, electronics, automation, robotics, mechatronics, chemical, biomedical and aviation engineers, welding technologists.
• Science: chemists, quality-control chemists, microbiologists, genetics engineers.
• Technicians: electronics and aircraft technicians, robotics technicians, industrial machinery technicians, automated assembly line operators.
• Design and management: graphic, multimedia and advertising designers, production managers, chief engineers.

Drivers, construction workers, cleaners and care workers are not on this list. Check the current text on the official legal register (e-seimas), because the ministry amends it during the year.

EU Blue Card basics

The EU Blue Card is for highly qualified employees. You need a higher education diploma related to the job, or at least 5 years of relevant professional experience (3 years for IT specialists). The salary must reach €3,617.10 gross a month, or €2,893.68 for a high value-added occupation.

The big advantages: the Blue Card is outside the quota, and your spouse and children can usually apply to join you straight away. If you are an engineer, developer or scientist with a strong offer, this is often the better route.

Who is exempt from the quota?

The quota does not apply to:

• Graduates of Lithuanian universities or vocational schools, within 5 years of graduation.
• EU Blue Card holders.
• People with temporary protection (mainly Ukrainians) or a humanitarian residence permit.
• Family members and students, as long as their permit is based on family or studies rather than work.

This is one reason studying in Lithuania can be a smarter long-term path than chasing a work permit from abroad. See our guide to the post-study temporary residence permit.

Step by step: from job offer to residence card

1. Get a genuine job offer. The employer must be registered in Lithuania, usually active in that business for at least 6 months, and offer full-time work for at least 6 months. You need either relevant qualifications, at least 1 year of related experience in the last 3 years, or pay of at least the average salary.
2. The employer files a mediation letter in MIGRIS. This is the Migration Department’s online system. The employer pays a fee of €50 and gives you the letter number.
3. You apply for the TRP in MIGRIS. You fill in the form, enter the mediation letter number, upload documents (passport, contract, qualification proof, criminal record certificate with apostille or legalisation, health insurance) and pay the state fee of €160.
4. Book and attend your biometrics appointment. Appointments are booked through MIGRIS. If you apply from abroad, you go to an external service provider centre (VFS Global) in a country on the Migration Department’s list, submit originals, give fingerprints and pay a service fee of €30–120. You may have a short online interview.
5. Wait for the decision. The standard processing time is up to 3 months, plus waiting time for appointments and courier delivery.
6. Collect your card, travel and declare your address. Within 1 month of collecting your permit you must declare your place of residence in Lithuania.

A new rule from 1 November 2026 says TRP applications can only be submitted if you have a valid legal basis to be where you are, so always check the latest rules before you apply. Our work visa and immigration support team can check documents and translations with you.

Can you bring your family?

With a regular work-based TRP, family reunification usually requires that you have lived in Lithuania for the last 2 years, hold a permit valid for at least 1 year and have real prospects of permanent residence. Blue Card holders can usually bring their family immediately. More detail is in our article can I bring my family to Lithuania.

Be honest with yourself about money too. Rent, deposits and childcare in Vilnius are not cheap, and the first year is often the hardest.

Warning: fake job offers and “work visa” agents

This is the part we care about most. Every week we hear from people across Africa who paid an “agent” for a Lithuanian or European work visa that never came. Please remember:

• There is no Lithuanian work visa you can buy. Only the Migration Department issues permits, and the official state fees are listed on its website.
• A real employer pays its own costs. Be very suspicious if someone asks you to pay for a “job slot”, a “work permit certificate” or a “quota place”.
• The quota is full in 2026. Anyone promising a factory, driving or farm job “with visa guaranteed” this year, at a salary under €2,893.68, is very likely lying.
• Check the company. Look it up in the Lithuanian Register of Legal Entities, check its website and phone number, and ask for a written contract in a language you understand.
• Never send your original passport or pay into personal bank or mobile-money accounts.

Read our full guide on how scammers target people who want to move abroad before you pay anyone, including us. You can also check official information on the Migration Department website.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still get a Lithuania work permit in 2026 now the quota is full?

Yes, but only if your salary is at least €2,893.68 gross a month, or €2,411.40 for a high value-added occupation, or if you are exempt (for example a Lithuanian graduate or a Blue Card applicant).

Is there a separate work visa for Lithuania?

For most workers, no. The work-based temporary residence permit is your permission to live and work. A national D visa or separate work permit is used only in specific cases.

How long does a Lithuanian work permit take?

Plan for about 3 months from your application, plus time for the employer’s paperwork and your appointment. Delays at busy VFS centres are common.

Are truck drivers on the shortage list?

No. Drivers are not on the high value-added list, so after the quota is full they need a salary of at least €2,893.68. Most driver vacancies will reopen with the 2027 quota.

When does the 2027 quota start?

A new quota is set for each calendar year, usually from 1 January. Watch the Migration Department’s quota tracker and expect it to fill fast.

Working in Lithuania is possible from Africa, but the Lithuania work permit 2026 route is narrower than many agents admit. If you want an honest view of your options, whether that is a skilled job, a Blue Card or studying first, explore our work abroad support or book a free consultation with us.