Working in Lithuania from India: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Is Lithuania a realistic choice for Indian workers in 2026?

Lithuania has become a popular European destination for skilled trade workers and manual laborers from India. The country has a strong demand for qualified transport drivers, welders, and construction specialists. However, getting a job in Lithuania from India requires navigating stricter rules than in previous years. Lithuania has established annual recruitment quotas for non-EU workers in specific manual sectors, and visa processing windows in India can be busy.

If you find that quota limits for your trade in Lithuania are full for the current year, or if appointment slots in India are delayed, you should also look at nearby countries like Poland or Slovakia. These neighboring countries often have higher quotas and similar trade demands. However, if a Lithuanian company sponsors you directly, moving from India to Lithuania is a straightforward, fully legal process. You must follow every official step carefully to ensure your visa is approved.

The official work permit and visa route

To work legally in Lithuania as an Indian citizen, you cannot simply buy a visa or arrive as a tourist. The legal process always starts in Lithuania, where your future employer must initiate the application before you submit anything in India.

Your employer in Lithuania must contact the Employment Services (known locally as Užimtumo tarnyba) or use the official online migration portal called MIGRIS (Migracijos departamentas). The employer submits a request to issue a work permit (Leidimas dirbti) or a decision on compliance with labor market needs. Once the migration authority approves the request, your employer receives an official mediation number (Tarpininkavimo raštas).

With this mediation number, you can apply for your entry document from India. Depending on the duration of your contract and the specific trade, you will apply either for a National Visa D (a long-stay work visa) or directly for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP, or Laikinas leidimas gyventi). Both options allow you to live and work legally in Lithuania for the duration of your contract.

Where to apply in India and key documents

Once your employer in Lithuania provides your official MIGRIS mediation number, you must submit your application in India. Applications are handled through official VFS Global visa application centres serving Lithuania in major Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai.

You must gather a complete file of documents before your appointment. Submitting incomplete files is the primary reason for visa delays or rejections for Indian applicants. You will need:

• Valid passport: Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned stay in Lithuania and have at least two blank pages.
• Signed employment contract: An official, signed employment contract or binding job offer from the employer in Lithuania.
• MIGRIS mediation number: The official reference number generated by your employer through the Lithuanian migration system.
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): An official PCC issued by the Passport Seva Kendra or Regional Passport Office in India showing a clean criminal record.
• Proof of qualifications: Trade certificates, diplomas, or official work experience letters proving you can perform the job.
• Travel and health insurance: A policy valid for Schengen countries covering medical emergencies.
• Biometric submission: Your fingerprints and facial photograph taken at the VFS centre.

An essential step for Indian applicants is document legalisation. Because both India and Lithuania are members of the Hague Convention, your Indian Police Clearance Certificate and official trade diplomas must receive an Apostille stamp from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India. Un-apostilled documents will be rejected by Lithuanian migration authorities.

Official fees and real costs on the Indian side

Understanding the costs involved helps you plan your budget and avoid being taken advantage of by dishonest agents. Costs are divided into official government fees and preparation expenses in India.

The official processing fee for a Lithuanian National Visa D or Temporary Residence Permit is set by the government of Lithuania and is approximately 120 to 200 EUR. In addition, VFS Global charges a service handling fee of approximately 25 to 40 EUR at the centre in India.

On the Indian side, you will carry direct costs for preparing your application file. These expenses include:

• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): Approximately 500 to 1,000 INR (6 to 12 EUR) at the Passport Seva Kendra.
• MEA Apostille certification: Approximately 1,500 to 3,500 INR (17 to 40 EUR) per document when processed through recognized service agencies.
• Medical check and insurance: Approximately 3,000 to 8,000 INR (33 to 90 EUR) depending on your age and medical provider.
• Document translation: Approximately 2,000 to 5,000 INR (22 to 55 EUR) if your trade certificates require certified English translation.
• Flight ticket to Lithuania: Approximately 35,000 to 65,000 INR (380 to 710 EUR) depending on the airline and season.

It is crucial to know that under European Union and Lithuanian labor regulations, no employer or agency may legally charge a worker a fee for providing a job placement. The employer in Lithuania carries all recruitment costs and work permit government fees on the European side. You should only pay for your personal documents, official visa fees, and travel expenses. Be extremely cautious of local recruitment agents in India asking for large upfront processing fees or promising guaranteed job visas.

Trades in demand in Lithuania right now

Lithuanian companies regularly recruit international workers from India for key technical and trade roles. Here are three major fields hiring foreign talent:

• Long-haul truck drivers: Logistics companies in Lithuania actively hire international drivers holding valid heavy vehicle licenses (CE category) for freight routes across Europe.
• Welders and metal fabricators: Industrial manufacturing facilities and shipyards in port cities like Klaipeda frequently seek certified MIG/MAG and TIG welders.
• Construction workers and scaffolders: Commercial building projects across Vilnius and Kaunas regularly hire experienced concrete workers, bricklayers, and scaffolding specialists.

Myths vs facts

There is a lot of incorrect information shared among workers in India regarding work opportunities in Eastern Europe. Here are the facts you need to know:

• Myth: You can pay an agency in India to guarantee you a Lithuanian work visa.
• Fact: Only the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania can approve work permits and visas, and no agent can guarantee an outcome.
• Myth: You can travel to Lithuania on a tourist visa and convert it to a work permit after arriving.
• Fact: Working on a tourist visa is illegal in Lithuania and will lead to immediate arrest, deportation, and a multi-year ban from entering the Schengen zone.
• Myth: A Lithuanian work permit allows you to work legally in Germany, France, or any other European country.
• Fact: A Lithuanian work permit and residence card only allow you to live and work legally for your specified employer inside Lithuania.
• Myth: You must pay thousands of Euros to your employer to cover your work contract creation.
• Fact: Charging job placement fees to workers is illegal in Lithuania, and legitimate employers pay their own hiring expenses.

Before you sign

Before you sign a contract or transfer money for your visa appointments, go through this safety checklist:

• Verify the MIGRIS mediation number: Ask your employer or agent for the official Lithuanian migration registration number and verify that it exists.
• Check the minimum salary: Ensure the monthly salary written in your contract meets or exceeds the official Lithuanian minimum wage requirements for foreign workers.
• Confirm accommodation terms: Ensure your employment contract or offer letter clearly states where you will live and whether accommodation costs are deducted from your pay.
• Complete your MEA Apostille early: Apply for your Indian PCC and document Apostille early to avoid missing your VFS appointment deadline.
• Keep your original passport: Never surrender your original passport to an agent or middleman for temporary holding.

Put your trade skills on Workuro

If you are an Indian worker with experience in driving, welding, construction, or manufacturing, make sure European employers can find you easily. Create your free profile on Workuro and include your specific trade skills, your heavy vehicle license details, your English language ability, and whether your PCC and passport are ready for visa processing.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.