Even though in and of itself emigration is not a negative phenomenon, the immense emigration and relatively low immigration rates present an array of challenges in Lithuania: the demographic structure is changing (i.e., the population is ageing), the country is starting to lack workforce, in addition, the departure of highly qualified professionals hinders development. However, in the last five years, the opposite trend is emerging - more people are immigrating to Lithuania than emigrating from it.

Statistics show that during the period from 2004 to 2016 immigration flows to Lithuania consisted mainly of returning Lithuanians (about 80 percent) and 20 percent were foreigners from other EU and non-EU countries. In 2017 and 2018, this trend changed: in 2017 both returning Lithuanians and foreigners amounted to 50 percent of all immigration. The trend in foreign immigration in 2018-2020 remained similar, with foreigners accounting on average for 48% of all migrants arriving in Lithuania during this period. According to the statistical data of 2023, returning Lithuanians encompassed around 25 percent, while foreigners comprised 75 percent of total immigration. Ukrainians seeking asylum from the war have received temporary protection in Lithuania and are therefore not considered refugees.

Naturalization is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen in a country may acquire citizenship of that country. In Lithuania, the conditions for this process are quite strict (one must be a resident of Lithuania for the past ten years, have a permanent residence permit, pass the examinations of the Lithuanian language and the Constitution, and have a source of income in Lithuania), thus the number of individuals that have gained Lithuanian citizenship this way is modest (55 persons in 2023).

Loss of citizenship is defined as any mode of loss of the status as a citizen of a country. Usually, Lithuanian citizenship is lost by acquiring citizenship of another state) because dual citizenship is allowed only in exceptional cases in Lithuania.

A reverse trend is being observed when comparing the number of older emigrants and the number of Lithuania’s residents. People that are 65 or older only comprise about 2 percent of the total emigration flow, despite making up about 20 percent of the entire population.

From 2017 to 2021, the number of emigrating children steadily decreased. In 2021, compared to 2017, the scale of emigrating children decreased by almost 83 percent. Since 2022, there has been a noticeable trend of increasing children's emigration. In 2022, children emigration number accounted for 1690, while in 2023, this number reached 4352. 

Between 2017 and 2022, the number of boys and girls who emigrated was roughly equal. During this period, on average, 51% were boys, and 49% were girls.

The survey allows the Ministry to estimate the willingness of Lithuanians living abroad to return to their country of origin and reveals their expectations. 

In 2023, 59% of compatriots did not exclude return to Lithuania, while 21% said they did not want to return. 4% also plan to return this year or the following year. 

Comparing these indicators with the statistics for the period 2016-2021, there is a decline in return migration. 

Between 2016 and 2021, on average 76.9% of respondents said they were thinking about returning to Lithuania. In 2022, this figure dropped to 72.1%. However, in 2023 there was an increase of respondents which were thinking about the return to Lithuania (79%).

The vast majority are third country nationals: 9% are people who have obtained a permanent residence permits (PRPs), which are issued for five years. 88% are people who have obtained a temporary residence permits (TRPs), which are usually issued for 1-2 years. Citizens of the EU and their families amount to 3%.

In 2023, the number of migrant workers in Lithuania had increased significantly: during the year 81 thousand temporary residence permits and almost 6 thousand national D visas on the ground of employment were issued.  

From 2019, data is presented in percentage values. According to this information, in 2023, 83749 decisions were made to issue a work-related temporary residence permit for foreigners whose professions were on the shortage occupation list. Majority of foreigh workers came from Belarus (34 percent) and Uzbekistan (12 percent).

In 2023 Lithuania received 575 asylum applications. In 2022 Lithuania received 1051 asylum application. 

It is important to emphasize that a decision of granting an asylum can be made in the next year after the application of asylum has been lodged. Therefore, in particular cases, the number of lodged applications can be less than the number of asylums granted in the same year.

For the vast majority of irregular migrants Lithuania is a transit state whilst trying to reach West Europe or Scandinavian countries. 4992 foreigners were denied entry to Lithuania in 2023, mainly due to threat to security and public order (38%), because they didn’t have documents justifying the purpose and conditions of their stay (32%) or because they did not have a valid travel document (15%).

These people can leave voluntarily given a certain period of time for voluntary departure. If they do not leave Lithuania within this time period or the period for voluntary departure cannot be given, then they are expelled from Lithuania.

The graphic portrays the number of foreigners subject to a return decision and the number of people expelled from Lithuania. It is worth noting that return decisions also include obligations to leave (when foreigners are returned to other EU Member states where they can stay legally).