Lithuania – New Zealand Working Holiday Scheme
REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA – NEW ZEALAND WORKING HOLIDAY SCHEME
On 1 October 2015, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of New Zealand signed an Agreement on a Working Holiday Scheme (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement) in New York. This Agreement became effective on 1 January 2017.
Pursuant to Article 12(1) of the Agreement, the Parties have agreed, through diplomatic channels, on the number of citizens benefiting from this Agreement, i.e. 100 persons per year.
The purpose of the Agreement is to promote movement of youth seeking to know different traditions and culture, provide the opportunity to the citizens of the states of both Parties to the Agreement, aged between 18 and 30 years, to come to the state of the other Party to the Agreement for cognitive purposes, to have a holiday in the territory of that state for a period no longer than 12 months while also having an opportunity to study or work for up to 6 months.
The text of the Agreement was published in the Register of Legal Acts on 14 June 2016, 2016–16596. The text of the Agreement is also available in the database of legal acts of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (the text of the Agreement in Lithuanian, in English)
What are the conditions of participating in this youth exchange scheme?
Only the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and New Zealand can take part in the Working Holiday Scheme.
A citizen of New Zealand who wishes to come to Lithuania according to the Working Holiday Scheme must submit an application to the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania or the Lithuanian visa services abroad to issue a national visa for multiple entries valid for presentation for a period of up to twelve (12) months from the date of issue.
A citizen of New Zealand must satisfy the following requirements:
- is aged between eighteen (18) and thirty (30) years (both inclusive) on the date of application to the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania or the Lithuanian visa services abroad;
- possesses a valid travel document issued during the past ten (10) years with a validity for at least three (3) months longer than the period of validity of the visa requested;
- indicates that the primary purpose of his/her visit to the Republic of Lithuania is to participate in the Scheme, i.e. to holiday, with employment and study being incidental rather than primary reason for the visit;
- is not accompanied by dependents (e.g. children);
- provides a document confirming sufficient funds and/or that he/she receives regular income to stay in the Republic of Lithuania, and has resources to return to the state of origin or foreign state to which he/she has a right to travel (seeking to ensure that citizens of New Zealand who come to Lithuania according to the Working Holiday Scheme have sufficient funds for housing rental, living and other necessary expenditure, Lithuania has established the minimum amount of one MMW (minimum monthly wage) per month, i.e. 12 MMW, or EUR 4 560 per year);
- holds a document certifying health insurance, conforming to the requirements prescribed by the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania, and valid throughout the period of his/her stay in the Republic of Lithuania;
- has paid a fee prescribed by the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania for the application to issue a national visa for multiple entries;
- has not participated in the Scheme previously.
Analogical conditions apply to citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who wish to go to New Zealand according to the Working Holiday Scheme.
Further information on the requirements from the part of New Zealandfor the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania is available at:
How many times can I participate in the Working Holiday Scheme?
You can participate in the Working Holiday Scheme only once.
Is visa obligatory? Where should I apply for the issuance of a visa?
A citizen of New Zealand who wishes to come to Lithuania under the Working Holiday Scheme must submit an application to the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania or the Lithuanian visa services abroad (a diplomatic mission or a consular office of the Republic of Lithuania) to issue a national visa for multiple entries valid for presentation for a period of up to twelve (12) months from the date of issue.
A foreign citizen who has a valid national visa may travel across the territories of other Schengen States for a period no longer than 90 days within any period of 180 days.
Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania: http://www.migracija.lt/index.php?1577127811
List of the Lithuanian visa services abroad: http://keliauk.urm.lt/en/
http://www.urm.lt/default/lt/embasycontacts
Do I have to pay for the issuance of a visa?
A consular fee of EUR 60 must be paid for the acceptance and examination of documents for the issuance of a visa in the diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Lithuania abroad.
Is there a requirement to obtain a work permit in the Republic of Lithuania?
No. The Agreement sets forth that citizens of New Zealand who have entered the Republic of Lithuania under the Scheme shall not be subject to the requirement to obtain a work permit.
Last updated: 17-01-2024