The figure does not include citizens of the European Union (EU) member-states and their family members, as they enjoy provisions of free movement.
The majority of foreigners applied for residence in Lithuania after receiving job permits here, while others intended to engage in lawful activities (855 applications) or had come here for family purposes (843 applications).
According to the press release, last year marked an increase in the number of foreigners who had been allowed to temporarily live in Lithuania after preserving their Lithuanian citizenship or as individuals of Lithuanian origin. The number swelled by a factor of 2.1 last year, as compared with 2010.
Among the foreigners applying for residence permits in Lithuania, the majority were citizens of Belarus (1,403), Russia (1,038) and Ukraine (1,040). The applications from the three countries accounted for nearly three fourths of all applications last year.
