|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Country of origin information |
A three-year project to update the information portal of the Asylum Division of the Migration Department was completed. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Access to information |
The Refugee Reception Centre launched lectures for refugees and asylum applicants on the differences in status, rights and responsibilities, as well as general information on Lithuania (history, geography, education labour law, domestic violence, medical services, etc). With the use of new technologies, the Rukla Refugee Reception Centre also provided similar information through its new Facebook social network account. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The “Description of the Procedure for Accommodation of Asylum Applicants” clarified that costs exceeding the rates defined in the document might be covered by funds from international organisations, the European Union, non-governmental organisations or private entities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
An amendment to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners granted applicants the right to work if the Migration Department had not taken a decision on their application within six months of the lodging and the applicants were not responsible for the delay. |
LT LEG 02 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Institutional |
|
The Dublin procedure |
The transfer of asylum applicants to the responsible Dublin state became the task of the State Border Guard Service. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Institutional |
|
Access to procedure |
The Migration Department became the main institution for migration-related activities. The functions related to asylum procedures, previously performed by police units, were transferred to the Migration Department and the State Border Guard Service (SBGS). |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Migration Department may take joint decisions on asylum applicants of the same family (previously they were always taken jointly), provided that a joint decision does not disclose personal circumstances of an applicant which could pose a threat to best interests. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The Migration Department took over some tasks from the police and, for example, applicants can now lodge an application directly with the institution rather than the police. The initial interview with the applicant is obligatorily recorded (video or audio) and attached to the personal file. The department can now also issue a Certificate of Acceptance of an Application for Asylum, confirming an applicant’s status and serving as a Foreigners’ Registration Certificate, pending the issuance of the latter. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Non-cooperation with authorities during the asylum application became a ground for detention. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Information related to the lodging and examination of an application for asylum may be classified in accordance with the procedure established by the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on State Secrets and Official Secrets. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
The Dublin procedure |
The transfer of asylum applicants to the responsible Dublin state became the task of the State Border Guard Service. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
No separate justification in the Migration Department’s decision is required when extending the period for examination of an application (up to six months). |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A separate decision in writing on issuing or renewing a foreigner’s registration certificate is no longer required. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
A new ground was added to withdraw subsidiary protection: when there is a serious ground that the person’s stay in the country would represent a threat to national security or the community. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
Authorities declared a state of emergency applicable to the entire border section with Belarus and 5 kilometres from it. Measures included the substantial closure of the border, limited access to emergency areas to permit holders, and limited access by foreigners. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The Law on the Legal Status of Aliens was amended, establishing at the end of a 6-month border procedure, the Migration Department and the State Border Guard Service will decide on the accommodation and restriction of freedom of movement based on the individual situation of each person and the possibility to refuse the lodging of an asylum application in exceptional situations. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens changed second instance procedures for decisions pronounced in an accelerated procedure. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens stipulate that the right to work would be acquired 12 months after the date of registration in the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS). |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens prolong detention for an additional 6 months (up to 1 year in total) and limits the freedom of movement to specific geographical areas. An asylum seeker may be detained or movement restricted to the place of accommodation if entering the territory illegally in the event of a war, an emergency or an emergency due to a mass influx of foreigners. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens allow restrictions to be placed on contact between legal services providers and asylum applicants during a state of emergency. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens clarified the scope of free legal assistance as covering solely asylum procedures at the national level and thus excluding cases submitted before European courts. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens stated that, in the event of a declaration of martial law, a state of emergency or an emergency due to a mass influx of foreigners, some rights provided to asylum applicants, including interpretation, may be temporarily and proportionally restricted. However, this article was repealed on 1 January 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
After the declaration of the state of emergency all centres were transformed to provide accommodation for applicants under the accelerated procedure, with strict limitations on freedom of movement. Filming, photographing and sound recordings were prohibited in accommodation centres, access to the facilities was restricted, and gatherings in centres were limited. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Interpretation services |
The Ministry of the Interior signed a memorandum of understanding with the Red Cross to organise translation services in various dialects, share their expertise with social workers working with migrants, and act as intermediaries between municipal communities and government representatives to ensure effective communication with illegal migrants. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
To facilitate resettlement in Lithuania, as of April 2021 travel documents issued to refugees by the International Committee of the Red Cross were recognised as valid. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |