The Government of Lithuania is considering extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 2027. This information is reported by Lithuanian radio LRT. The agency has already prepared the corresponding government decree.
“The overall stance of the European Union is to extend temporary protection, as the war is not over yet. This is a natural decision.”
– Vladyslav Kondratovych, Minister of Internal Affairs of Lithuania
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the Migration Department registers 30-40 new applications each day for a temporary residence permit under the temporary protection mechanism, designed for people who cannot return to their country.
Currently, temporary residence permits issued to Ukrainian citizens are valid until March 4, 2026.
After the government decree is amended, their validity will be extended by another year.
“Extending the term will reduce the administrative burden on Ukrainians and Migration Department staff, and will also ease the management of the flow of applications as March 2026 approaches.”
– Migration Department statement
Furthermore, as the publication notes, extending temporary protection will also extend the period during which foreigners working in Lithuania are not required to know the Lithuanian language.
According to the Migration Department, at present 47,600 people have received temporary protection in Lithuania.
Possible consequences of the extension for the migration regime
It is expected that extending protection until March 2027 will reduce the bureaucratic burden on Ukrainian citizens and on staff of Lithuania’s migration authorities, allowing more efficient management of application flows and ensuring stability of the refugees’ legal status during the protracted situation.
Additionally, maintaining temporary protection aims to support the labor market and social integration, while reducing the financial difficulties for families forced to leave their homes.