It can be very difficult to get a residence permit in some European countries. Foreigners have to appear personally in their local embassy and submit all sorts of requirements. However, with visa applications now automated, countries like Lithuania are now using these technologies to make their residence permit applications easier.

How Can You Get a Lithuanian Residence Permit Now?

On Monday, October 28, the Lithuanian government said that they are now streamlining their immigration program to help the economy’s growth. They will no longer do its very strict qualification process and made it easier to apply for a residence visa.

The new system now allows foreigners to submit their preliminary applications online and schedule their biometrics at their local Lithuanian embassy. Once their online applications have been received, applicants will receive an appointment confirmation. They will also be able to apply for their Schengen visa with the confirmation given to them.

Visa-exempt nationals and Schengen visa holders are now able to travel to the country, where they can file their biometrics and application with the Lithuanian migration authorities.

Meanwhile, since biometrics and photographs are submitted early, residence cards will be made immediately. Once the temporary residence permit application is ok, applicants will easily get their residence cards without having to apply for it separately.

The new system reduces the waiting time for applicants to get their permits. Previously, they must stay in Lithuania and file their application. They also have to wait in the country until their work permits are active. Supporting documents must be available early with the new system. This can speed up the process in getting their permits ready and waiting for a decision. However, it can be tricky to get a proof of residence early while you are abroad.

This is not the first time online applications became available for the government to streamline applications. As of October 14, all temporary residence permits are now online.

Lithuania Travel Tips

Hoping to visit Lithuania? Check out Tourism Lithuania to find out more about the country. We also have a guide on where you can stay in Vilnius and use the train system.

For those who wish to work in the country, we have a guide on how you can find a job and what you have to know about it. A guide on the cost of living and salary in Vilnius is also available for review.

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Many foreigners wish to get residency to any of the European Union countries because of the benefits it offers. Having a residence permit in the EU allows a person to travel without needing a visa and get access to the country’s services for the people. These benefits clearly made its impact in the latest tally of Eurostat about the number of people who applied for residence permits in the EU.

Eurostat on EU Residence Permit

On Friday, the Eurostat released its latest assessment about the number of people who applied for a residence permit in the region. In their assessment, Cyprus issued a total of 20,999 first residence permits to non-EU citizens last year. It places them as the second highest issuer of the permit in the EU.

Out of these numbers, 3784 are Indians, 3,402 are Russians and 2,087 are Syrians. Most of the applicants, or 9,771 of them, applied for professional reasons, while others are for family, education and others.

The Eurostat also said that last year, the region gave 3.2 million residence permits to non-EU citizens. The numbers increased by 0.4%, which is in line with the growing trend in the past three years. Almost 28% of the region’s numbers are for family applications, followed by employment, education and asylum. In comparison to 2017, education was the top reason why residence permits were given to non-EU citizens.

Malta has the highest rate of first permits issued to non-EU citizens in 2018. They gave 36 permits per thousands of population. Cyprus (24), Poland (17), Slovenia (14) and Luxembourg (13) were next in the list. Overall, the EU gave 6 permits per thousand population for 2018.

Meanwhile, Poland became the EU country with permits issued for employment for last year. Around 328,000 permits are available to non-EU citizens aiming to work in the country. For education, the UK gave out 190,000 permits. Germany has the highest number of permits issued for other reasons with 219,000 permits given to refugees and those seeking humanitarian protection.

Cyprus Travel Tips

Cyprus has a lot of great destinations for tourists to check out when they have a chance to check it out. They can check the official tourism portal of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism for information. Visa details can be checked in the visa page of Cyprus in this link.

For those who wish to work in the country, we have an article on the average and minimum salary in Nicosia.

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A good way for foreigners to get a residence permit is by giving an investment to the country. It could vary in terms of how much it will be and how the investment can help the country. Some require it to be placed in a bank, while a few have to be given to a specific industry. In Uzbekistan, new rules are established for these foreign investments.

How to Avail the 10-Year Residence Permit

On Tuesday, the country’s Justice Ministry changed some of the government’s regulations for foreign citizens to get the permit. If a foreign citizen invests $3 million US dollars in the Uzbek economy, they will qualify for the 10-year permit.

Previously, residency permits only covered 5 years.

Aside from the investor, their families will get several benefits from the visa once the new regulations are active. Children will now be able to study at any of the country’s universities, receive scholarships and postgraduate education. 

Last month, Uzbekistan introduced a new three-year investor visa for foreigners and stateless people if they invest $183,000 USD or more to the country’s economy. This is in light of the government’s goal to attract both foreign investment and tourists to the country. Aside from that, they also introduced a new “Silk Visa” this month to help regional trade and investment come into the country and the region.

Uzbekistan has been working on ways to bring more foreign investment to the country. For the last two years, several economic reform projects are helping Uzbekistan reach its goals. For this year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev aims to get the country’s foreign investment volume up to 4.2 billion dollars.

They are also looking for investors who can support their manufacturing, energy, agriculture and infrastructure sectors which is at risk to the growing US-China trade war.

Uzbekistan Travel Tips

If you like to visit Uzbekistan anytime soon, there are a lot of articles online to help you organize your travel plans. A great resource is the government tourism agency of Uzbekistan website.

For those who wish to work in the country, we have a guide on Tashkent’s salary and where you can stay. You may also ask your local Uzbek Embassy to find out how you can work in the country and get your working visa. Licensed job agencies can also assist with your inquiries and documentation.

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