Hire workers from India & Asia in Lithuania
Employers in Lithuania hire non-EU workers through a temporary residence permit for employment. Since 2025 there is no labour-market test — instead an annual quota applies to newly issued permits for non-highly-qualified workers, and once it is used up only roles paying above set salary thresholds can be approved. Typical time from signed order to worker on site is 8–14 weeks.
Talk to Sales8–14 weeks
Typical lead time
None (abolished 2025)
Labour-market test
Annual, set by ministry
Quota
5,000+ drivers
ManBe placements
Permit routes in Lithuania
Temporary residence permit for work, issued by the Migration Department; annual quota for non-highly-qualified workers.
| Route | Who it's for | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit (work) | Non-EU workers hired directly by a Lithuanian employer | 6–10 weeks after the Migration Department accepts the application; the worker may start once a national visa or permit is issued | Subject to the annual quota for non-highly-qualified workers. Renewals and employer changes are outside the quota. |
| National visa (D) for work | Workers whose permit is in process or short assignments | 2–4 weeks at the consulate | Often used so the worker can travel and start while the residence permit is finalised. |
| High-value-added occupations route | Roles on Lithuania's shortage / high-value list | As above | Exempt from the quota at a lower salary threshold (national average gross wage) — useful for supervisors, engineers and some technical trades. |
How hiring in Lithuania works
- Order and job description. You sign ManBe's order form with the role, headcount, pay and start date. Lithuanian law requires a written employment contract and pay at least equal to the minimum wage; we advise on the salary level needed if the quota is exhausted.
- Sourcing and assessment (2–6 weeks). We run walk-in interviews and skills tests in the source country — usually India, Nepal, Sri Lanka or the Philippines — and send you a shortlist with test videos.
- Employer registration and mediation letter. The employer's mediation letter (tarpininkavimo raštas) is filed through the Migration Department's MIGRIS system. Since the 2025 reform there is no Employment Service labour-market decision to wait for.
- Residence permit application. The worker applies through the Lithuanian consulate; the Migration Department decides within its statutory period, typically 6–10 weeks. If the annual quota is already used, the application can still proceed at the higher salary threshold.
- Arrival and onboarding. We arrange travel, registration of the place of residence, bank account, and — for drivers — licence exchange, Driver CPC (Code 95) and the tachograph card. Our Kaunas office stays in contact through the first months.
The quota, explained. Lithuania's 2025 quota for non-highly-qualified workers was 24,830 permits and was exhausted in October 2025; the ministry sets a new figure each year (the law caps it at 1.4% of the resident population). Applications lodged after the quota is used can be approved only for jobs paying at least 1.2× the national average gross wage, or 1× the average for high-value-added occupations. We track the running total and advise whether to file early in the year.
Sources: www.lrt.lt, www.deloitte.com. Rules change — we verify the current position before every order.
OUR PROCESS
A transparent, four-step journey to the perfect hire:
Brief & Blueprint
We kick off with a detailed intake role specs, culture fit, KPIs.
Search & Shortlist
Our talent network and AI-driven matching deliver a hand-picked shortlist.
Interview & Validate
We coordinate interviews, administer assessments and finalize compliance.
Place & Support
From offer acceptance to relocation logistics, we stay by your side.
Sectors we place in Lithuania
Truck & Trailer Drivers
Long-haul and regional C+E drivers are the roles ManBe has placed most: over 5,000 drivers have gone to work in Lithuania through our network.
Bus & Coach Drivers
City-bus and coach operators across the Baltics and Poland are short of D-category drivers.
Construction Workers
Formworkers, steel fixers, masons, plasterers, tilers and general operatives for residential, commercial and infrastructure sites.
Manufacturing & Factory Workers
Production operators, machine operators, assemblers, quality inspectors and packers for food processing, plastics, metal, furniture, textiles and electronics plants.
Welders & Metalworkers
MIG/MAG, TIG and stick welders, fitters and fabricators for shipyards, steel structures, pressure equipment and heavy machinery.
Warehouse & Forklift Operators
Order pickers, forklift and reach-truck operators, loaders and inventory clerks for logistics hubs, e-commerce fulfilment and cold storage.
Skilled Professionals
Site supervisors, production engineers, maintenance technicians, fleet managers and other mid-level professionals who lead the blue-collar teams we place.
Hiring in Lithuania — FAQ
- No. The Employment Service decision was abolished in 2025 and replaced by an annual quota on newly issued permits for non-highly-qualified workers.
- New permits can still be issued for jobs paying at least 1.2 times the national average gross wage — or 1 times the average for occupations on the high-value-added list. Renewals and changes of employer are not affected.
- Typically 8–14 weeks end-to-end: 2–6 weeks for sourcing and a supervised driving assessment, 6–10 weeks for the residence permit, then licence exchange and Code 95 on arrival.
- Often yes, on a national (D) visa issued while the permit is in process, provided the employer's mediation letter is approved.
- Mainly India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Recruitment is done in person at walk-in sessions in the source country.
“ManBe Group helped us hire skilled professionals quickly and without complications. Their screening, compliance and onboarding support was amazing.”
Peter Hangsby
HR Head
HIRING IN LITHUANIA?
Tell us the roles, headcount and start date. We reply within 24 hours with the Lithuania permit route, a realistic timeline and a shortlist plan.
- ✓ Reply within 24 hours on working days
- ✓ Walk-in interviews and skills tests in the source country
- ✓ Permits, visas, travel and onboarding handled end-to-end