Lithuania prepares for 2026 language requirement in services amid business concerns

From 1 January 2026, customer-facing workers in Lithuania — including retail staff, couriers, taxi drivers and service employees — will be required to communicate in Lithuanian. The State Language Inspectorate reports a rising number of complaints about service in other languages, while businesses warn of unclear exam procedures and a shortage of Lithuanian-language courses. Large employers such as Rimi have begun internal training, but current national capacity can teach only 5,000–10,000 people a year, against a migrant population of over 215,000. Economic experts expect short-term labour shortages and slightly higher service prices, followed by adaptation as companies invest in training. Diaspora groups broadly support integration through language but stress that access to affordable courses and flexible learning will be crucial for the policy to function as inclusion rather than exclusion.

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