Mantas Jersovas Overview of the Lithuanian immigration policy 2013 – 06 – 26

Starting points High emigration: creates imbalances in the national labour market High expectations on return migration: creates a vicious circle (zero-sum game) Low immigration flows (including intra-EU mobility) High unemployment: but unemployed people cannot be easily included into the labour market Xenophobia and distrust into immigration control, lack of good examples

Main policy documents Economic Migration Regulation Strategy (2007): ensure that Lithuania does not lack qualified labour force as the economy grows. Terminated in 2009 Immigration Guidelines (2008): immigration as a temporary and secondary measure to fill existing labour shortages from priority regions Internationalization of Higher Education (2008, 2011): attraction of foreign students in order to promote the internationalisation of higher education Global Lithuania strategy (2011): how to include dispora into state’s development; diaspora engaged while abroad Lithuania 2030 (2012): implement a purposeful immigration policy Lithuanian Migration Policy Guidelines (2013): prepare comprehensive migration policy guidelines Main drivers: employers’ interests and EU directives

Law on the legal Status of Aliens (2004): -one immigration scheme for all labour immigrants; - only qualified workers can be addmitted List of understaffed occupations (2007): simplified immigration procedures for TCNs who have a profession in demand in Lithuania (work permit, D visa and residence permit after 1 year), 2008 – 60, D visa (2011): possibility to arrive with the national visa for all groups of workers and students (work permit, D visa, residence permit after 1 year) Blue Card (2013): a special residence permit, facilitated arrival Business: liberal scheme → cases of abuse → changes in legislation Development of immigration policy

Immigration schemes CriteriaWorkersBlue cardBusinessStudents Pre- requisite Vacancy (1 month), average salary (≈580€) Vacancy (21 days), 2xsalary (≈1160€) edu./exp. Head and owner of a company, € capital + 3 work places Mediation letter, resources (≈150€ per month), language EntryWork permit, D visa/ residence permit Decision on needs, D visa / residence permit Residence permitD visa Residence permit Average time 3-4 months2-3 months4-5 months1 month FlexibilityD visa /no possibility to change employer, leave 2+2 years D visa / possibility to change employer (after 2 years) Flexible, stricter requirements discussed D visa / working 20 hours after 1 st year; no possibility to stay after studies FamilyNoYesYes/NoNo Flows (2012) (2013, half year)≈ States (2012) Belarus, Ukraine, Russia china Ukraine, BelarusRussia, Belarus, China, Georgia Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Israel

Business: Workers: work permit and residence permit should be issued for the same time period (2 years); Highly qualified workers: labour market test should be abandoned; emphasis on professional experience, not education Government Business: stricter requirements (establishment of work places, criteria to revoke a residence permit when no activity is performed) Students: stay after studies, residence permits issued for 2 years period or renewal procedure facilitated Proposals for improvements from interested groups

Flows (workers)

NationalityJob positionDuration Salary UkraineAssistant to Director / Translator 2 yearsLTL UkraineImport / Export Manager 2 yearsLTL UkraineComputer Systems Engineer 2 yearsLTL UkraineComputer Systems Engineer 2 yearsLTL BelarusSales Manager2 yearsLTL BelarusOtorhinolaryngologist2 yearsLTL BelarusEchoscopy specialist2 yearsLTL Russian FederationDeputy Director2 yearsLTL BelarusDeputy Director2 yearsLTL USADirector2 yearsLTL IndiaDeputy head of institution 2 yearLTL Blue card holder (2013)

EU citizens

Flows (students)

Development of LT labour immigration system was driven by economic reality/pressure from business and by EU directives (less) Lithuania chooses minimal permitted level of harmonization when transposing EU migration directives Immigration policy is being amended while it should be revised At the moment there are no clear priorities in migration. Immigration policy is not connected with state’s future development goals No integration policy Immigration is not a sensitive issue therefore politicians tend to avoid the topic Policy reacted to reality (D visa) Migration is a priority for the government (working group to develop Migration policy guidelines ) Conclusions

Mantas Jersovas Programme Coordinator International Organization for Migration (IOM) Vilnius Office European Migration Network (EMN) National contact point in Lithuania Jaksto 12, 4th floor Tel: Fax: Contacts