The 2024 report on the implementation of Lithuania's migration policies and monitoring of migration processes covered among others, asylum matters:
Preparations have been launched for the implementation of the European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum: by Order No. 10 of the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania of 10 May 2024 1V-336 an inter-institutional working group was established, tasked with assessing the capacities, gaps and needs of the migration and asylum system of the Republic of Lithuania, taking into account the regulations established by the Pact, preparing a national plan for the implementation of the Pact and coordinating its implementation and other activities related to the Pact.
On 10 December 2024, the Order of the Ministers of the Interior and Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania No. 1V742/AI-895 approved the National Implementation Plan for the European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum, and prepared a draft Contingency Plan 11 December 2024, the EC Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on combating hybrid threats arising from the use of migration as a weapon and strengthening security at the EU's external borders was submitted;
Amendments to the Law "On the Legal Status of Aliens" have been adopted, the system of reception and accommodation of migrants has been reorganized - from 1 January 2025, an institution ensuring reception has started its activities - the Reception and Integration Agency, ensuring the centralisation of accommodation of migrants in one institution, as well as the provision of social and other essential services to them;
In order to ensure uniform standards for the reception of asylum seekers, the amendments to the aforementioned law also established the right of asylum seekers living in their chosen place of residence to use the same reception conditions as asylum seekers accommodated in temporary accommodation places managed by the Reception and Integration Agency. In 2024, 362 applications for asylum were received, i.e. 37 percent less than in 2023 (575).
A total of 572 decisions were made on asylum applications by foreigners in the Republic of Lithuania (37.6 percent less than in 2023), including: 190 decisions to grant asylum, 242 decisions to refuse asylum.
Applications for asylum in the Republic of Lithuania were submitted by citizens of Belarus - 240, Russia - 71, Iraq - 39, Tajikistan - 34, and the Republic of Cuba - 23 The amendments to the Law "On the Legal Status of Aliens", which entered into force on 1 July 2024, established that asylum seekers who have submitted a subsequent asylum application that does not contain new essential information, are not granted the right to remain in the territory of Lithuania upon filing a complaint with the court, unless the regional administrative court decides on the adoption of measures to secure the claim.
This means that after a decision on a subsequent asylum application is made, a foreigner may be returned or sent to the country of origin immediately, except in cases where the first instance administrative court applies individual protection measures to him/her during the appeal examination period. These amendments will help combat abuse of asylum procedures in Lithuania
The number of requests to assume responsibility for examining an asylum application or to take back a foreigner under the Dublin Regulation has decreased, 432 requests were submitted to the Republic of Lithuania (738 in 2023).
The largest number of requests came from Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden and Belgium. Infrastructure conditions for reception and accommodation of foreigners have been improved;
AMIF projects were implemented, which further promoted the social activity of asylum seekers and provided them with necessary services;
Training of specialists working in the field of asylum was organized; Monitoring of reception conditions and asylum procedures was carried out;
The validity of temporary protection was extended until 4 March 2026;
The provisions of legal acts related to temporary protection were amended; EU-funded project activities are being implemented to strengthen capacities, prepare for migration crisis management, improve reception conditions and service provision, and improve data management, exchange and analysis systems.