In response to criticism made by the Lithuanian Industrialists Confederation about the restrictions that took effect in January, the ministry said that the changes to the visa procedures for foreigners coming to Lithuania on business “will allow more independence, transparency and simplicity in receiving a visa without mediation services of third parties.”
“It is important to note that foreigners applying for a business visa do not need an invitation. Therefore, the limitation of the invitations will allow bringing more transparency to the document submission procedure and reducing the shadow in economy, as an unlimited number of invitations allowed establishment of sham mediation companies aiming to make profit from the actions,” the ministry said in a press release.
The changes proposed by the ministries of interior affairs and foreign affairs suggest that companies working in Lithuania can each issue up to 50 invitations for business visas per year instead.
Just like before, businessmen can purchase visas without mediation for 60 euros for document processing services.