Press release, 12 April 2019
The Seimas approved draft laws relating to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) from the European Union (EU) and regulating the legal situation of UK citizens and their family members, both residing in the Republic of Lithuania and arriving in the Republic of Lithuania following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (draft Law No XIIIP-3285(2) and draft Law No XIIIP-3286(2) adopted unanimously by 88 and 84 votes in favour respectively) are aimed at helping to avoid negative legal and practical consequences for UK citizens residing in the Republic of Lithuania after they lose an EU citizen’s status following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU with no deal. The Laws provide for a transition period of nine months, which would enable UK citizens and their family members to replace documents that were issued before the date of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU to confirm the right of a citizen of an EU Member State or his/her family member to reside in the Republic of Lithuania.
The amendments establish a separate framework for granting, and for applying more favourable conditions for granting, temporary residence permits to UK citizens, who intend to work or engage in legitimate activity in the Republic of Lithuania.
A temporary residence permit of up to three years will be issued to UK citizens when they have an employment contract or engage in business activities or other legitimate activities, including activities performed under an individual activity certificate. Residence permits are also foreseen for their families.
UK citizens will be exempt from a requirement to have a work permit. A temporary residence permit for a UK citizen on business grounds will be issued when he/she is a member or manager of an undertaking pursuing an activity in the Republic of Lithuania and when the purpose of his/her arrival is to work at that undertaking. They will be, however, subject to general conditions for granting a temporary residence permit such as the availability of health insurance, sufficient means of subsistence, etc. A temporary residence permit may be withdrawn when an alien loses employment for more than three consecutive months or more than once during the period of validity of a temporary residence permit.
At the same time, the Seimas adopted the accompanying legislation, including draft Law No XIIIP-3287(2) Amending the Law on Benefits for Children, draft Law No XIIIP-3288(2) Amending the Law on the Social Integration of the Disabled, draft Law No XIIIP-3289(2) Amending the Law on Assistance in the Case of Death, draft Law NoXIIIP-3290(2) Amending the Law on Cash Social Assistance for Low-Income Residents, draft Law No XIIIP-3291(2) Amending the Law on Social Assistance Pensions, draft Law No XIIIP-3292(2) Amending the Law on Targeted Compensation.
The above social legislation provides for the right of UK citizens and their family members who have been granted temporary residence permits to benefit from the Lithuanian system of social integration of people with disabilities, including provision of medical, professional and social rehabilitation services, establishment of disability level, working capacity, and special needs level, allocation and payment of targeted compensation for satisfying special needs, and entitlement to social assistance benefits. The framework for regulating entitlement to child benefits, funeral allowance and social benefits for low-income residents was also established.
The aforementioned legislation will enter into force on the date of withdrawal of the UK from the EU.