More than 22,500 people have signed a petition calling for non-EU citizens to demonstrate basic Lithuanian language skills if they wish to remain in the country long term, Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas said on Monday.
The initiative proposes that non-EU citizens seeking to live in Lithuania for more than three years should be required to have at least A2-level proficiency in Lithuanian. The signature-gathering campaign ran for one month.
Benkunskas said that while the growing number of foreign residents in Vilnius and across Lithuania was an unavoidable reality, those intending to settle in the country should take responsibility for learning the basics of the national language.
He described the proposal as a “common-sense principle” supported by many Vilnius residents and said he had written to Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius seeking a meeting to discuss the issue after the petition attracted significant public backing.
The mayor also noted that the Vilnius municipality is already implementing integration measures aimed at helping foreigners learn Lithuanian, including self-study resources and formal language courses.
The Interior Ministry has previously said it is preparing legislative amendments designed to encourage foreign nationals to learn the language.
Under current rules, foreigners employed in the service sector are required to reach A1-level Lithuanian proficiency, rising to at least A2 level after two years. According to the Migration Department of Lithuania, more than 218,000 foreign nationals currently hold residence permits in Lithuania.
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