Migration trends (1/)
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The main Lithuanian institutions shaping and implementing migration policy are as follows:

  • Ministry of the Interior is the main institution responsible for formation and supervision of implementation of migration policy.
  • Migration Department is the main central institution implementing state policy in the area of migration (with the exeption of economic migration).
  • Migration Services are the main territorial institutions dealing with the issuance of residence permits and control the legal stay of foreigners in the country. 
  • State Border Guard Service protects the state border and exercises control of illegal immigration.
  • Foreigners' Registration Center is an institution which houses detained foreigners and provides accommodation for asylum seekers.
  • Refugees Reception Center in an institution which provides accommodation for migrants who have been granted asylum in Lithuanian and for unaccompanied minors.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs participates in the formation and implementation of visa policy. Lithuanian diplomatic mission and consular posts issue visas, receive documents for issuance of residence permits, legalise documents.
  • Ministry of Social Security and Labour shapes labour market policy and Lithuanian Employment Service issues work permits for foreigners.

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Functions

Functions

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Functions

Functions

  • formulates and implements Lithuania's position on the common visa policy of the European Union;
  • organizes the strengthening of relations between Lithuania and the Lithuanians abroad.

Diplomatic missions and visa services

Functions

Functions

  • issue Schengen and national visas;
  • issue FTD and FRTD to nationals of the Russian Federation;
  • issue identity cards and passports.

Ministry of the Interior

Functions

Functions

  • forms state policy in the area of migration, as well as organizes, coordinates and controls its implementation;
  • in cases stipulated by legal acts, makes decisions regarding citizenship.

Migration Department

Functions

Functions

  • organizes the issue and renewal of passports, identity cards, service passports, temporary certificates to citizens of the Republic of Lithuania;
  • organizes the issue of and issues the documents attesting to the right to reinstate citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania and certifying Lithuanian descent;
  • organizes the issue of Schengen and national visas, certificates attesting to the right of a citizen of an EU Member State to reside temporarily or permanently in the Republic of Lithuania, temporary residence permits in the Republic of Lithuania, permits of a long-term resident of the Republic of Lithuania to reside in the EU, residence cards of a family member of a Union citizen to reside in the country (temporarily and permanently), as well as travel documents of a stateless person and a refugee, an foreigner’s passport, an foreigner’s registration certificate, and e-resident cards;
  • together with other state authorities, carries out resettlement of foreigners to the Republic of Lithuania;
  • in cases stipulated by legal acts, takes decisions on the acquisition of citizenship by children, confirms the fact of holding citizenship by a child, organizes the procedure of taking of individuals’ oath to the Republic of Lithuania at the Ministry of the Interior;
  • within its remit, resolves the issues of the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania;
  • within its remit, takes decisions on the issue of temporary residence permits in the Republic of Lithuania, permits of a long-term resident of the Republic of Lithuania to reside in the EU and foreigners’ passports;
  • implements the asylum-granting procedure and takes relevant decisions, organises the implementation of decisions taken on asylum issues;
  • controls the stay and residence of foreigners in the Republic of Lithuania;
  • takes decisions regarding the return or expulsion of foreigners from the Republic of Lithuania, organizes the enforcement of the decisions taken regarding the expulsion of foreigners from the Republic of Lithuania, issues a temporary travel document;
  • grants the status of transferee;
  • implements the procedures of transfers from other states to Lithuania;
  • draws up and manages the National List of Foreigners Who Are Banned from Entering the Republic of Lithuania.

State Borders Guard Service

Functions

Functions

  • controls the stay and residence of foreigners in the Republic of Lithuania;
  • accommodates detained and illegally staying foreigners;
  • conducts the initial asylum procedure;
  • organizes and carries out returns and expulsions of foreigners to countries of origin;
  • issues Schengen visas;
  • performs the control of persons entering to the Republic of Lithuania;
  • takes decisions regarding the refusal of entry of foreigners to the Republic of Lithuania.

Ministry of Social Security and Labour

Functions

Functions

  • submits to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania proposals regarding the labour market and employment measures and employment of third-country nationals in the Republic of Lithuania;
  • coordinates and supervises the provision of state support for the integration of the aliens who have been granted asylum in Lithuania;
  • analyzes foreigners‘ integration processes, drafts and submits to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania legal acts concerning the integration of foreigners.

Lithuanian Employment Service

Functions

Functions

  • issues work permits to foreigners;
  • takes decisions on conformity of a foreigner’s employment to needs of the labour market of the Republic of Lithuania.

Refugees Reception Center

Functions

Functions

  • provides temporary accommodation to: asylum seekers; foreigners who have been granted asylum; unaccompanied minors; foreigners who have been relocated to the Republic of Lithuania; persons of Lithuanian ethnicity; as well as former or current victims of trafficking in human beings who have been granted a reflection period during which they can take a decision as to whether cooperate with the pretrial investigation body or court in the investigation of crimes related to trafficking in human beings;
  • implements the provision of support for the social integration of foreigners who have been granted asylum.

Migration issues are also addressed by non-governmental organizations. The following NGOs are among the most active ones in Lithuania:

  • Internation Organization for Migration (IOM) Vilnius office implements programmes for informationand consultation of migrants, assistance to migrants in voluntarily returning to the countries of origin, conducts research on the issues of migration. IOM Vilnius office also performs functions ot LT EMN NCP.
  • Migration information centre (MIC) “I Choose Lithuania” provides consultations to Lithuanian migrants who are returning, who are contemplating a return or anyone wishing to come to Lithuania.
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Regional office per representatives in Lithuania carries out trainings and disseminates information related to rights of refugees.
  • Lithuanian Red Cross Society carries out projects to support asylum seekers and refugees in Lithuania.
  • Institutes for Ethnic Studies and Demographic Studies conducts research in the field of migration.
  • Caritas Lithuania aims to reduce poverty and social distinct of the most vulnerable groups of society. Caritas Lithuania also provides integration support for asylum seekers and refugees, provides assistance to victims of trafficking.