US companies say Lithuania’s migration system slowing down investment

Over 90 percent of the respondents that hire workers from other countries said they faced difficulties when employing people from third countries. The polled believe that the existing procedures restrict business development in Lithuania and that arising issues are solved ineffectively.

The investors indicated that the main problems are the inflexibility of Lithuania’s existing migration system, bureaucratic burden, long and complex procedures, the lack of information and inconsistent interpretation of the law. This is said to be slowing down attraction of strategically important investment and creation of jobs.

“Lithuania’s migration system must be reformed. The current system was shaped to protect the labour market from foreigners but not to expand it. We believe that exemptions would significantly mitigate and stimulate migration processes. This would increase Lithuania’s attractiveness to foreign investors,” said Chairman of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce Tadas Vizgirda.

US business representatives have suggested that migration procedures should be simplified for highly skilled employees from trusted countries, such as the US. In addition, migration procedures should be centralised and opportunity provided for foreigners to register at the migration service in advance or submit applications online as this would allow to manage administrative tasks faster. The possibility to use simplified procedures when registering the place of residence, to receive information and advice in English would also be just as important.