Migration information Center I Choose Lithuania
Lithuania: Emigration and net migration rates highest in Europe; Population decrease 80% due to emigration; 1,3 million Lithuanians are estimated to be living abroad. Including diasporta second+ generation much more Government priority Nr. 1 : Reduce emigration and promote return migration 1990: 3,7 million 2018: 2,8 million Almost 1 million loss
Net-migration rate/ per 1000 (2017) Lithuania Croatia Latvia Bulgaria Romania Greece Hungary Portugal Italy Poland Slovenia Slovakia Finland Netherlands EU (28 countries) Estonia Spain Czech Republic France Germany Belgium Austria Denmark United Kingdom Norway Switzerland Liechtenstein Cyprus Ireland Sweden Luxembourg Iceland Malta -13,8-11,8-8,1-7,3-6,2-2,7-2 -1,8-1,7 0,1 0,5 1,4 1,8 2,1 2,2 2,7 2,8 2,9 3,5 4 5,4 5,6 5,6 6,5 7,1 7,4 8 11 11,2 12,4-20 -10 0 10 20 30 19 29,4 32,9
Government of Lithuania. Demographic, Migration and Integration strategy 2018-2030 Demographic and family Migration and return migration Integration of elderly people Create a family-friendly environment Encourage return migration and ensure migratory flows in line with the needs of the state Provide better opportunities for older people to integrate into society
Migration Encourage return migration and ensure migratory flows in line with the needs of the state Encourage return migration and proportionate foreign nationals immigration meeting the interests of the state To strengthen the economic wellbeing of Lithuanian people Prevents emigration To strengthen the social security of Lithuanian residents and their psychological (emotional) wellbeing Strengthen Lithuanian population connection with the country and the living environment Run an effective diaspora policy
Two main government goals for diaspora: 1. Retain contacts with diaspora: Lithuanian World Community / Parliament Global Lithuania (MFA) Promotion of Lithuanian Sunday schools abroad (Ministry of Education) Global Lithuanian Leaders (Ministry of Economy) Global Regions (Association of Local Authorities) 2. Promote and assist return migration: Work in Lithuania Create for Lithuania Talents for Lithuania Back to LT Global regions Migration information center (MIC)
Migration information Center: WHY is it necessary Return can be (and is) more difficult than emigration Necessity to solve numerous issues simultaneously: (job, housing, children education, welfare and healthcare issues, etc.) Information scattered among many institutions Information is in non-friendly bureaucratic language, long paragraphs of legislation No informal support mechanism as in emigration; no social networks of returned migrants
Migration Information Center: WHAT is it One stop shop for all information related to return and living in Lithuania Network 1. Relevant Lithuanian institutions 2. Regional coordinators (60) 3. Lithuanian communities abroad (46 countries / 192 communities) Contributions Possibility to contribute to various causes in Lithuania while being abroad through Virtual Lithuanian section Information and Consultations Portal www.renkuosilietuva.lt Personal consultations: Telephone, email, skype, Facebook, face-to face (office or events) Redirection to specific institutional contacts (when matter is outside MIC competence) Redirection to specific municipality coordinator (on specific local matters)
MIC service areas Migration Information Center (MIC) Renkuosi Lietuvą Information in various languages: LT; EN; RU Assistance on return planning; what first steps should be? Necessary documents to be brought home Assistance on problematic issues upon return: Social welfare; Healthcare; Education, children adaptation towards Lithuanian educational system; third country national family members integration questions. Transfer of social benefits, pensions and work experience Detailed information on regions Analysis, research, workshops
Growth of MIC Website visitors: 26 570 Consultations: 215 Website visitors: 36 692 Consultations: 453 Website visitors: 70 871 Consultations: 1050 Website visitors: 119 020 Consultations: 1430 2015 2016 2017 2018
Website visitors by country (2015 2018) Visitors form Lithuania: 170 038 40000 35000 33770 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 7374 6489 6366 6264 3868 2434 2301 2084 1990 1454 0 United Kingdom Norway United States Ireland Germany Russia Sweden Denmark Netherlands Spain France
Most popular topics on the website 30000 25000 20000 24887 20887 18995 18146 15000 14425 12057 10000 8073 8018 8002 5000 0 Acquiring unemployment benefit Employment in Lithuania Lithuanian language courses Registry place of residence Mixed marriages Social benefits Terms for unemployment benefits Migrant stories FAQ
Most popular personal queries by category Most important question: where do we start our return planning. What are the first steps? 30% 25% 24% 20% 18% 15% 10% 5% 12% 11% 8% 6% 5% 4% 12% 0% Foreigners in Lithuania Documents Social wellfare First steps Healthcare Marriages / Mixed Education Employment Other
MIC query analysis : what is being asked Need informational help on preparation to return: Where to begin? What are the first steps? Which documents and forms to acquire before return? How to transfer job experience and other social benefits? How to bring foreign family members? Help on encountering actual situations while already in Lithuania What to do, how to do: job, housing, kids education, social benefits, healthcare etc. Just to speak, talk, vent things out (i.e. psychological help is in high demand) Various other claims: Lithuania owes me (requires services and benefits that does not belong: child allowances, social benefits, free education in foreign languages, free housing etc.) A cry of despair / help (came back, does not have any money, has no idea what to do) All queries shows problematic areas, where help is the most necessary. By solving them, there is a chance to tame emigration.
Changing attitude to MIC Emigrants and re-emigrants: Decreasing skepticism and criticism: from unnecessary, just a waste of money" (disbelief that can get quality information and services) to "need to advertise more and; there is actual help available Demand is growing, a variety of questions / topics are expanding; questions become more complicated Foreign nationals / immigrants are increasingly turning for answers / help Lithuanian nationals: Increasingly addressing on behalf of their relatives and friends abroad Institutions: From sure you can give a try... to really positive evaluation of work, desire to expand cooperation, consolidate the services of different institutions to avoid duplication, Turn MIC into national informational entry point to Lithuania
Governmental award 2017 For providing best consultations for returning migrants
How to get in touch www.renkuosilietuva.lt Lithuanian, English, Russian Email: mic@iom.lt Social Media Facebook, Twitter During events Toll-free info numbers: 8-800-22-9-22 (Lithuania) +44-8000-318-521 (UK) +370-5-25-14352 (regular tariff)