|
Latvia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The State Border Guard's internal regulations were amended to determine the procedure for children accompanied by an adult applicant who is ordered to be detained. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Latvia |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Asylum authorities considered that there was no need to provide the personal interview if the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs had proof to grant refugee status. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Latvia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Two video tutorials were developed with information for applicants on everyday issues at the Asylum Accommodation Centre. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Latvia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued humanitarian visas for Belarusians in a shorter timeframe and applicants were required to contact the embassy only once instead of twice. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The amendments guaranteed free legal aid throughout the asylum procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
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 |
|
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 |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Migration Department introduced measures to address the high-level of staff turnover. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
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 |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new project on alternative accommodation was under development in Lithuania with AMIF co-funding, which would include all reception services. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The concept for a new reception and accommodation model (the idea of creating a new model) was approved in Lithuania, and the Ministry of the Interior started the preparations for the necessary legislation. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
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 |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
Amendments clarified that an applicant has the right to free oral interpretation related to the asylum application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
An amendment to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners entered into force in January 2020, which granted applicants the right to work if the Migration Department had not taken a decision on their application within 6 months of the lodging and the applicants were not responsible for the delay. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
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 |
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 |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
New guidelines were issued on evidence assessments. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
A new definition was adopted for subsequent applications to align it with the recast Asylum Procedures Directive. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
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 |