Higher qualified specialists migration to Lithuania : win-win situation for employer and employee

Central-Eastern Europe, in specific the Baltics are fast growing both in terms of technological developments and in terms of standard of living. Since July the 1^st, 2022 some changes in the Law on Employment of the Lithuanian Republic come into force, according to which highly skilled biotechnology, engineering, IT and physical sciences’ specialists attracted from abroad, as well as companies employing them, will be allocated lump-sum payments.

The amendments to the Law on Employment are aimed at attracting not only highly qualified foreigners, but also highly qualified Lithuanian citizens who have left the country and war refugees from Ukraine.

The one-off compensation to cover part of the relocation costs for a newcomer to Lithuania will amount to around €3,000 (4.1 monthly minimum wages, Lith. MMA). For companies, the cost of recruiting highly qualified workers abroad will be covered up to €5,200 (7.1 MMA).

The following is required to be considered to be eligible to apply for this scheme:

• Is not a permanent resident of Lithuania for the last five years;
• To have a secure open-ended employment contract with a company based or registered in Lithuania;
• Profession is listed as a highly qualified position in the shortage list of occupations (order published TAR8-08-30, i. k. 2019-13766 );
• Receive gross monthly salary of at least 2993 EUR (4.1 times the minimum Lithuanian monthly salary.

The following qualify to apply for this incentive:

• Highly-skilled professionals that qualify as per the order– both foreign nationals and Lithuanian expats;
• Can apply for the reimbursement of incentive only after living and working for a period of 6 months in Lithuania.
• The reimbursement for such qualified resource person would be EUR 3000.

Special and relaxed privileges for Ukrainian nationals:

• To have a secure open-ended employment contract with a company based or registered in Lithuania
• Receive gross monthly salary of at least 1752 EUR (2.4 times the minimum Lithuanian monthly salary)
• Eligible Ukrainians can apply for the relocation reimbursement within three months relocating and working in Lithuania.

Conclusive remarks:

The idea of migrating is made easy by the Government of Lithuania. The cost of living in Lithuania is 36% lesser than most western European countries. The benefits are many in number – from enjoying the perks of Schengen zone to exceptional social security system and other EU protections. The Baltic countries specifically Lithuania is developing vastly in fin-tech solutions, hence migrating to Lithuania not just ensures better career opportunities but also enables  incentives and average competitive salary of 23% higher than most countries in European Union. The employers further need not bear the cost of relocation of the employee as the Government of Lithuania in view to promote and encourage tech and other skilled worked cover the relocation costs, moreover the barrier of foreigners wanting to migrate to Lithuania and the additional costs or burden exists no more for both employers and employees. Migrating and working in Lithuania thus is a win-win situation for employers and employees. To know more on migration and receiving relocation cost, contact immigration and foreign expert : k.velickiene@glimstedt.lt, p.damodaran@glimstedt.lt.

Published by “Glimstedt” Associates Kseniya Veličkienė and Pooja Damodaran