|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners was amended and states that all asylum-related decisions must be issued within 6 months. When the court returns the case, the deadline is 3 months. The examination of an asylum application is terminated without prior suspension when the applicant absconds. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
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 |
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 |
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 |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The State Border Guard Service (SBGS) and the Lithuanian Red Cross Society signed a cooperation agreement to provide psychological, social, legal and other assistance to foreigners, regardless of their legal status. Lawyers from the Lithuanian Red Cross Society can also access the Foreigners Registration Centre Pabrade to provide legal assistance, when the SBGS is informed in advance. Upon request, lawyers can also provide legal assistance in border control areas. Also upon request, specialists provide support for family reunification for foreigners residing in the FRC. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Applications in the accelerated procedure are processed within 10 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
Training on working with unaccompanied minors was offered to reception centre staff. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
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 |
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 |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners aimed to speed up the appointment of a legal guardian for an unaccompanied minor, due to the influx of unaccompanied minors from Ukraine. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
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 |
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 |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
A questionnaire was developed and is provided to rejected applicants to assess their willingness for voluntary return. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The right to appeal directly to the Vilnius Regional Administrative Court and thereafter to the Supreme Administrative Court was reinstated in Lithuania. The preliminary stage of disputing a Migration Department decision before the Migration Department Commission was abolished. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
New criteria were added for assessing whether there was a risk of absconding. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
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 |
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 |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The amendments guaranteed free legal aid throughout the asylum procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The time limit for lodging an appeal against a decision in the accelerated procedure was reduced to 7 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
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 |
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 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Ministry of Social Security and Labour signed a cooperation agreement with the Mykolas Romeris University to provide English or Lithuanian language courses for selected beneficiaries of international protection. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The decision on which procedure the applicant follows must be made within 2 working days and no sperate decision is issued on this, but the case officer communicates this during the interview. The decision on admissibility is issued within 3 working days from the registration of the application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Internal guidelines on the conduct of interviews and information-gathering in the asylum procedure were implemented. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
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 |