Lithuania to extend temporary protection for Ukraine's war refugees for another year

VILNIUS – Lithuania is planning to extend temporary residence permits for war refugees from Ukraine for another year.

The Interior Ministry has drafted a government resolution to extend the temporary protection period, currently set to expire in March 2025, until March 4, 2026.

According to the Migration Department, 30 to 40 new applications for temporary residence permits are registered daily.

Currently, over 44,300 individuals hold valid residence permits in Lithuania under the temporary protection scheme.

"The residence permits issued now are valid until March 4, 2025, but with the proposed amendment, permits could be issued with validity until March 4, 2026," according to a document signed by the Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė.  

She said that extending the deadline would reduce the administrative burden on Ukrainians by providing longer-term residence permits. It would also ease the Migration Department's workload and facilitate the permit renewal process in the run-up to 4 March 2025, as some people would already have longer-term permits.

This extension proposal is in line with an EU-wide decision make in June this year. 

The EU activated the temporary protection mechanism on March 4, 2022, shortly after Russia's forces invaded Ukraine.

The mechanism offers displaced Ukrainians collective protection and grants them rights such as residence, employment, housing, and medical care, and education for their children.