In the modern world it is impossible to do without a bank account.. However, in the case of asylum seekers, a number of problems arise, which do not allow or make it difficult to open it.
Despite, that asylum seekers can be paid in cash1, the lack of an account can discourage an employer when hiring a person for a job. Therefore, the majority continues to look for opportunities to expand their financial capabilities.
The main problems along this path are:
- alien registration certificate (hereinafter referred to as URP) is not a document, allowing you to open bank accounts (not equivalent to D visa or residence permit)
- the state itself also does not provide payment cards
- passports are stored at the Migration Department, until a decision is made, or expired, or completely absent
- If you don’t have a passport or it’s expired, then opportunities, Certainly, becomes extremely scarce. If he is, then you can request it2 at the Migration Department for up to 5 working days.
However, for those, who has a valid passport, It is possible to open a bank account in the electronic money institution Paysera.
Although Paysera is not exactly a bank, but this will be enough to open a bank account.
The problem of opening bank accounts is discussed in detail in the study3 Red Cross.
[1] UTPĮ 71 art. 10 d.
[2] 1V-131 Regarding approval of the description of the procedure for granting and canceling Asylum in the Republic of Lithuania (lrs.lt), 5 art.
The originals of identity documents submitted by the asylum seeker, stored in the Migration Department, are issued to the asylum seeker upon a motivated written request of no longer than 5 for the period of working days, when the possession of the original of such a document is necessary for the asylum seeker to exercise the rights granted to him by legal acts.
[3] Lithuanian Red Cross. (2023 m. February). Access to payment services in Lithuania by foreigners without identity documents: challenges and opportunities
