Decisions on visas made twice as fast, Lithuania's InterMin says

  • 2018-04-23
  • LETA/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Lithuania's Migration Department made decisions on 700 national visa applications in March, compared to around 300 a month earlier, the Ministry of the Interior says.

A similar situation is regarding residence permits, with over 2,000 decisions made last month, compared to around 1,000 on average earlier.

The ministry says the change was a consequence of measures it proposed and put into effect in cooperation with the Migration Department, including a list of approved companies, the transfer of services online and an increase in staff at the department.

"The numbers reflect the situation. The list of approved companies, more staff and the transfer of services online are only a few solutions that are already producing results and ensure faster and better services", Interior Minister Eimutis Misiunas was quoted in a statement.

The ministry continues looking for ways to step up decisions on issuing documents to foreigners and earlier this week submitted to the government bills on the reform of migrations functions.

The Migration Department has come under criticism for its failure to adjust to changes amid growing immigration.