Temporary protection is extended for Ukrainians in Lithuania

The Lithuanian government has extended until March 2025 the temporary protection status for Ukrainians who moved to this country because of the Russian military invasion. LRT reported this on Wednesday, February 21.

The period for learning the Lithuanian language was also extended by one year.

According to the government order, foreigners who have been granted temporary protection in Lithuania are exempt from the requirement to speak the state language for work within three years after the granting of temporary protection.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of Lithuania states that this provision will apply both to those who receive temporary protection and to those who have already received it, but have obtained a new status, for example, a work permit in Lithuania.

“Opportunities for Ukrainians to study the Lithuanian language will continue to be provided with the help of funds financed by the Employment Service or through a system of individual study accounts,” the ministry explained.

In mid-March last year, the State Language Inspectorate informed politicians that from March 2024 it will start checking the Lithuanian language knowledge of Ukrainians working in the country.

The letter states that if employers do not provide a certificate of their employees passing the language test, “the language inspector and municipal language managers will be forced to act.”