Lithuanian legislation foresees a possibility of family reunification for aliens lawfully residing in Lithuania. The parents of a stateless minor who has been granted refugee status and was issued a permanent residence permit can be granted a temporary residence permit.244 However, stateless beneficiaries of temporary protection have no right to family reunification.245 A stateless person can be joined by his or her minor children if he or she, or the spouse who is a guardian of the child, holds a residence permit.246 If the stateless person or persons concerned lives or live in Lithuania with a permanent residence permit and are incapable of work due to age or disability, the child or children can obtain a temporary residence permit.247 A stateless person’s spouse or civil partner can be granted a temporary residence permit248 if both are at least 21 years old.249 Parents and children are also eligible for family (re)unification.250 Those seeking a Lithuanian residence permit through family reunification must meet the conditions of possessing valid health insurance, sufficient financial means, a place of residence and a valid travel document.251 The permits are issued for the same period as the stateless person who is joined.252 In case of family reunification with children, a spouse or a civil partner and other first-degree relatives in the direct ascending line, the inviting stateless resident shall have lived in Lithuania for at least two years, hold a temporary residence permit valid for at least one year and have reasonable prospects of obtaining the right to permanent residence in Lithuania.253 This provision, however, is not applicable to stateless persons who: nn have been granted asylum; nn have moved to Lithuania to carry out scientific research or to perform a highly-qualified work requiring high professional skills; nn are teaching or taking part in internship programs at institutions of education and science under international treaties or EU academic exchange programs with third countries; nn are directly involved in projects “of importance to the State” or have financial investments in Lithuania.254 Stateless persons are afforded no special protections with regard to withdrawal of a residence permit, but rather are subjected to the same regulations applicable to other aliens. A temporary residence permit is to be withdrawn if: 60 nn the circumstances for which the permit was issued no longer exist;255 nn it was obtained by fraud;256 nn the person concerned departs to reside or has been residing in a foreign country for a period longer than six months;257 nn their residence in Lithuania constitutes a threat to State security, public order or public health;258 or nn they have repeatedly failed to fulfil the duties of reporting to the authorities set out in the law.259 244 Ibid, Article 43(1) (4). 245 Ibid, Article 43(8). 246 Ibid, Article 43(1) (2). 247 Ibid, Article 43(1) (7). 248 Ibid, Article 43(1) (5). 249 Ibid, Article 43(7). 250 Ibid, Article 43(1) (6). 251 Ibid, Article 43(3). 252 Ibid, Article 43(5). 253 Ibid, Article 43(6). 254 Ibid. 255 Ibid. Article 50(1) (2-12, 16, 17). 256 Ibid. Article 50(1) (1). 257 Ibid. Article 50(1) (13). 258 Ibid. Article 50(1) (14). 259 Ibid. Article 50(1) (15). M A P P I N G S TAT E L E S S N E S S I N L I T H UA N I A