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Every year the number of vacant rental apartments is decreasing in the Vilnius market. In 2019 there are a bit more than 1000 free apartments to rent, while in previous years it was more than 1500. Around half of the contracts are being signed in September and October due to the study season and new job assignments. 7 Tips for Home Search 1. Furnished or not? Unfortunately, unfurnished apartment is offered in very rare cases, so better to stay flexible. 2. The prices you see in the advertisements are before the personal income tax that is 15% so be ready to pay more. 3. In many cases, there is a note in the advertisement "agency tax is applied” which is usually 150-200 Euro. We see that as unfair tax although due to high demand on good apartments it is hard to avoid that. 4. The deposit (advance payment) in Lithuania is approximately 2-3 months of the rent price. At the end of the rent period, the deposit is returned to the tenant if an apartment is not damaged or there are no debts. 5. Some of the apartments are not likely to be rented to foreigners. Especially those with the lowest rent prices. We see several reasons for that. Despite the growing numbers of foreigners in the country that increases every year the overall percentage of foreigners remains low - a bit above 2% of the Lithuanian population. Therefore Lithuanians are not used to rent for foreigners especially with cultural differences. Besides, the landlords of cheap apartments usually do not speak English and it is more convenient for them to rent for Lithuanian students. Finally, negative publications in the media about the foreigners who damaged the apartment were throwing parties or did not pay the rent on time impacts the attitude and behaviour of the landlord. 6. The utilities of rented apartment remain in the name of Landlord (the owner) and there is no need to resign the contracts. The internet and phone contracts may be rewritten in the name of the Tenant. 7. While entering in rent agreement, carefully read the contract especially clauses related to periodic checks, utility payment, damages and penalties. The Price Ranges of the Apartments in Vilnius STUDIO Studio in the neighbourhood outside the city centre: Not renovated studio: 200 euro - 250 euro Renovated studio: 320 euro - 350 euro Studio in the city centre: Not renovated: 250 - 350 euro Renovated: 360 euro - 500 euro 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT 1-bedroom apartment outside the city centre: Not renovated: 250 euro - 300 euro Renovated: 380 euro - 500 euro 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre: Not renovated: 300 - 400 euro Renovated: 450 euro - 700 euro 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT 2-bedroom apartment outside the city centre: Not renovated: 320 euro - 450 euro Renovated: 500 euro - 800 euro 2-bedroom apartment in the city centre: Not renovated: 500 - 800 euro Renovated: 600 euro - 1000 euro Luxury apartments in the prestigious neighbourhoods 2-3-bedroom apartment in the city centre or prestigious neighbourhoods such as Senamiestis (Old Town), Užupis, Žvėrynas, Naujamiestis (New Town), Antakalnis of the size over 100 square meters may cost from 1000 euros to 2000 euros per month also depending on the location, design, view and quality.

According to the Migration Department of the Republic of Lithuania immigration is growing in 2019 and foreigners are choosing Lithuania as their destination country for many reasons: to study, work or start a new business, reunite with their family and etc. Recently, more and more foreigners are coming to the country for work purposes and the number of immigrating people of the professions that are lacking in the Lithuanian labor market is rapidly growing. During the 7 months of 2019, 19 884 temporary residence permits were issued, of which 14 965, 68% - were issued for foreigners who came to work and they were in the list of missing professions. These are foreigners who have come to work as drivers of international freight transport vehicles, bricklayers, concrete workers, plasterers, welders, tailors and others. Compared to 2018, the number of foreigners who immigrated to Lithuania for work purposes increased by 65% - from 9 084 to 14 965, while the number of incoming specialists whose profession was included in the list of missing professions increased by 61% from 6333 to 10 228. source: https://www.migracija.lt/index.php?2105566305

On July 1, 2019, the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania changes its structure and law. The changes will be in: Structure Electronic Migration Services Registration to the appointment in Migration Department and its territorial units Visa procedures Merging residence permit issuance procedures Application forms Working hours Changes in Structure The Migration Department becomes the main institution providing migration services in Lithuania. The Department was reorganised by consolidating the resources and functions of the three institutions - Police Department, State Border Guard Service and Migration Department under the Ministry of Interior. Changes in Electronic Migration Services After the transformation, Department will be able to provide more electronic services by upgrading the information system EPIS service portal: https://epis.vrm.lt/epis/ and initiating system MIGRIS. Individuals and legal persons will be able electronically provide mediation letters to obtain a national visa, issue or change a temporary residence permit, change employer or job function. At the moment MIGRIS is not available due to programming issues. The date when the system MIGRIS will be available is uncertain. The registration for migration services is still being provided through ePolice website: www.epolicija.lt Changes in Registration for the appointment in Migration Department and its Territorial Units For Non-EU citizens registration in Migration department and its territorial units for services is still provided through the ePolice portal: www.epolicija.lt. After 1st of July it is possible to register in any territorial unit in spite of the city of declared residence. It means that person who is going to declare residence in Vilnius can go to Kaunas, Šalčininkai or other territorial unit where the services are provided to apply for residence permit. The change intended to reduce queues in main Migration territorial units. Changes in Visa Procedures According to the department, people inviting a foreigner will no longer be required to confirm the invitation at the migration service as all procedures related to the confirmation of a foreigner's invitation will be automated. The inviter will no longer have to submit a request to confirm the invitation as well as the accommodation owner's consent to accept the foreigner. To get a Schengen visa, the inviter will only submit an intermediary letter that will confirm the inviting person's commitment to take care of the incoming person's needs. Invitations for foreigners to come to Lithuania are free and their number is not restricted. Changes in Merging residence permit issuance procedures From July 1 procedures for the examination of the application for the issue or amendment of the residence permit and the issue of the residence permit will be merged. This will reduce the number of necessary visits to the Migration Department and its territorial units. Person applying for residence permit will now need to come to the Migration Department or its territorial unit two times instead of three to obtain the document. Important! Going first time to submit the application is important for foreigner to participate in person since a foreigners' biometric data will be taken once an application to issue or amend a residence permit will be submitted, and once a positive decision is made, the permit's production will be initiated automatically. After the production of residence permit it can be taken by the person with Power of Attorney or the lawyer with representation agreement. A foreigner will be required to pay a state-set fee before submitting an application to issue or amend a resident permit, excluding cases when people are exempt from such a fee pursuant to a procedure defined by laws. The Migration Department also warns that payments for document formalisation will have to be made when submitting an application for a residence permit or its amendment. Changes in application forms There website www.migracija.lt is still being updated and forms in the page are removed or not valid. To get a valid necessary form it is possible only from the website where the new law is published. NOTE: the website and the law is in Lithuanian. The forms are in English and Lithuanian. https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/73f79710999a11e9ae2e9d61b1f977b3 Changes in working hours The working hours that can be found in different websites may be not valid at the moment. In the official website the information is still being prepared. The information about working hours will be provided under this link: https://www.migracija.lt/index.php?1606005753 Until the information will be provided please check working hours by calling the information number: 8 700 60000. Photographed by Auguste Užpelkytė. The article will be updated as soon as other clarifications will be provided. Sources: Migration Department under the Ministry of Interior Official website: www.migracija.lt Official website of Register of Legal Acts of the Republic of Lithuania: https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/73f79710999a11e9ae2e9d61b1f977b3

According to the statistics of Migration Department of The Republic of Lithuania more than 58 thousand foreigners lived in Lithuania in the beginning of 2019 and this number is a record since the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. Comparing to 2017 the number of foreigners living in Lithuania increased by 15 %. In 5 years the number increased by 31 %. Regardless of the increasing number of the foreigners in the proportion to Lithuanian citizens living in the country the percentage of foreigners still remains low since it is 2,08 % of the whole population. The vast majority is third country nationals - 51 387. EU citizens and their family members are only 6 635. The number of foreigners coming to Lithuania as labour immigrants is also increasing. In 2018 foreigners who immigrated due to the work reasons consists of 12 996 according to decisions to issue temporary residence permit (TRP). Comparing to 2017 where the number was 9 292, the growth is by more than 34 %.

When relocating to a new country, it is not only the employee who has to adapt to the new environment, but also his/her family. There is a clear notion that the success of a relocation is heavily influenced by the spouse’s/family’s well-being. When relocating, not only is there a high risk of the spouse being unhappy, but this will also lead to pressure on the entire family. In fact, in 50% of cases, failure of relocation is due to family disfunction rather than any job-related issues. The general consensus holds that spousal satisfaction is essential for ensuring successful relocation. Specifically, it is difficult for the spouse to adapt to a new environment, especially as they are unlikely to have a job. We have specifically identified an issue with the language barrier. International expats are extremely unlikely to speak Lithuanian, which is often a requirement when seeking employment in Lithuania. Spousal support is one of the many services offered by ReloKon. Our aim is to identify which factors are crucial in delivering an effective support service beneficial to expatriate spouses relocating to Lithuania. We therefore have identified different alternatives to overcome the language barrier, integrate better into social and cultural life in order to maximize our client satisfaction. #spousesupport #relocationservices #ReloKon #languagebarrier

Today our blog entry is unusual. We have found something very interesting and we cannot keep it to ourselves. In October, we started cooperation with​ London Strategic Consulting. It is a non-profit run by students who have a keen interest in consulting and entrepreneurship. The organisation pick best students from London universities to work with business. It is a great opportunity to both businesses and students to gain much experience in consulting. In addition to that, the students get to work with mentors from world-renown international companies. Talking about ReloKon experience, we were introduced to great team of consultants: Lukas Karpavicius (Lead Consultant), Allegra Hohn-Honari, Ashmi Shah, Mihir Gupta, Samuel Ching. In January they have started to work on our case. Just in two months we have met in London for a presentation of the research they made. The moment the presentation started, we realised how highly skilled, enthusiastic and motivated a team they were. Research and recommendations delivered to us contained 67 pages of valuable information. It was far beyond our expectations. We are particularly thankful to Greta Butkeviciute, associate principal of LSC, for the opportunity to be part of this cooperation and to the team of consultants. We are proud to work with this great team and would like to encourage businesses to apply for London Startegic Consulting projects. Whether you are a new business or a well-known international company, we are sure that you will get a lot from this experience. And the best part is that it is all free. Do not hesitate to contact them: London Startegic Consulting #LondonStartegicConsultin #team #consultants #UnitedKingdom #students

The Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania and the Migration Department under the Ministry confirmed that even in case of no-deal Brexit, all UK citizens and their family members will be able to stay in Lithuania. All the UK citizens will be able to stay in Lithuania in case of a no-deal Brexit. Nonetheless, residence registration in Lithuania is very important for ensuring legal stay in the case of any scenario for the future relations between the European Union and the UK. The Ministry of the Interior and the Migration Department will continue to keep the UK citizens informed of any further developments. Source: Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania For your convienience the Migration Department prepared FAQs on UK citizens status change in relation with BREXIT #BREXIT #Immigration #Lithuania #expats #movingtoLithuania #UnitedKingdom #Policy

Recently the Department of Migration released preliminary statistical data on migration of the second half of 2018 (available only in Lithuanian). According to official data the number of foreigners, who live in Lithuania, has increased 17,5% in 2018 in comparison with 2017 and currently they constitute 2,08% of all Lithuanian residents. Within five recent years the number of foreigners living in Lithuania increased 38,8% from 35 500 in 2014 to 58 021 in 2018. According to latest numbers of Migration department in Lithuania available for residence permits issued for employment reason, from total 12 044 permits issued in 2017, 77% are issued for Employment reason and 7 731 from these are from the list of professions which are in demand in Lithuania. The number of Highly Qualified Employees still remains low - only 179 residence permits. I #relocation #immigration #numbers #statistics #Lithuania

A number of private international schools and kindergartens available for foreigners and locals are mainly located in Vilnius. Although fees may be above those of private Lithuanian-language schools, it takes time and effort to enrol due to high demand. Here is a list of schools and kindergartens for children of expatriate employees. Kindergartens Lycée International Français de Vilnius www.efv.lt French The American International School of Vilnius www.aisv.lt English Vilnius International School www.vischool.lt English British School Vilnius www.britishschool.lt English International Montessori Pre-school in Vilnius www.vms.lt English Private Schools Lycée International Français de Vilnius www.efv.lt French The American International School of Vilnius www.aisv.lt English Vilnius International School www.vischool.lt English British School Vilnius www.britishschool.lt English #internationalschool #internatonalkindergarten #frenchschool #britishschool #americanschool #montessoripreschool #Lithuania #relocation #expatriatechildren

​preparing (immigration permits, scouting) moving (transportation of belongings, temporary home, permanent home) settling in (banking, taxes, schooling, healthcare, social) departing (closing of contracts, deposit return) More details can be found on our blog posts and website here. Also you could contact us for more information here: info@relokon.lt #employee #relocation #RelocationServices #HumanResources #globalmobility

Employees to be relocated to new locations may receive a lump sum or an allowance budget to cover their transition expenses. It’s not a question of which is better or worse, it’s more about the relocation principles in use and which plan best reflects the employer’s and the employee’s expectations. Structure The lump sum relocation policy allows global mobility departments to establish a fixed cost for relocation services and keep the budget within those guidelines. A simple approach, a clear structure and limited deviations from one assignment to the other. An allowance budget is always broken down into cost categories with allocated maximum amounts. Such an approach provides a clear guidance to employees (especially first-time movers) as they can visualize the necessary expenses they will incur while relocating. Budget planning Using the lump sum policy reduces the administrative burden on global mobility departments. Global mobility (and payroll) only processes a payment(s) and then hands off cost allocation and budgeting to the employee. The tailored allowance budget approach takes into account more factors: specifics of the market, the cost of living, employee profile. Thus it requires more time for planning and consulting with relocation experts to set up a realistic budget for the relocation project, but it keeps the employee more motivated and heard. Generally, any overruns of the budget are covered directly by the employee in both cases, so budget planning is clear and effective, mobility departments can accurately calculate the spending. Resources and support Lump sum packages provide more freedom for employees, but without a structured approach and experience it might lead to overspending, which the employee must cover from her or his own pocket. Moreover, the employee ends up spending more time on the relocation, as most tasks, contract signings and steps are performed without any support from the company. With the tailored allowance approach, the employee receives more support from her or his company and relocation experts, therefore time economy is considerable. Tailored allowance plans are a better fit for employee needs, increasing their satisfaction and motivation. Here you can compare Lump sum and Tailored allowance packages to see which one suits your employee best. #RelocationBudget #HR #FinanceManager

International relocation is a complex and expensive process involving many parties. Companies sometimes underestimate the cost and services it requires. We are here to advise you on the services you can not ignore when it comes to relocating your employees to Lithuania. MOVING & TRANSPORTATION COSTS This is one of the most expensive parts of international relocation. A moving company you hire will ask several questions before making a proposal. What is moved: Wether or not it includes furniture, special equipment or expensive items that have to be specially packaged and insured. Distance: The distance of the move is very important in estimating the costs. The greater the distance, the more expensive it is. Some countries are less well connected with Lithuania, so organising the move may incur higher cost Packing & Unpacking: Packing and unpacking personal belongings requires time and if you leave the task to the movers, they will charge you for the service. You may save some costs by preparing your packages yourself. Method of shipping and timing: It depends on the pick up point, but normally there are three ways to ship one’s belongings: by ship, by truck or by plane. The cheapest option is shipping by sea, whereas the most expensive one is by air. Trucks will almost always perform the pick-up and the delivery, regardless of the modes of transport used in between. Storage Costs & Time: Depending on the the traveling date and shipment date there may be additional service of storage needed. Customs Duty Charges & Taxes: depending on the move within the EU or outside the EU there may result in duty and taxes. There is not possible to know in advance the cost because it depends on goods being shipped. Typical budget: depending on the complexity of the move may be up to EUR 15,000 — 20,000 LEGAL EXPENSES FOR VISA, WORK & RESIDENCE PERMIT Visas, residence and work permits and other customs documents can be filled on your own with an internet research using government website resources from home country and the destination country. However, many companies tend to hire a lawyer or the relocation company to fill in all the complex paperwork, instead of doing things themselves. It takes additional costs, but certainly ensures peace of mind and less mistakes. Typical budget: Depending on whether one is relocating from within or without the EU and the deadline, handling paperwork may cost between EUR 100 and EUR 300 per person Paperwork handling services may cost between EUR 1,000 and EUR 3,000. HOUSING COSTS One of the most important relocation service is finding housing in the new country. Depending on the country, the housing budget may include: Rent for an 85 m2 furnished apartment may vary from EUR 500 to EUR 900 per month. An income tax may apply in some cases. Security deposit is normally equivalent to 1-3 months of rent. One-off agency fee may apply, even if you find the property yourself: between EUR 100 and EUR 200. Utility bills for 1 month (heating, electricity, gas, etc.) may vary seasonally. The heating season starts in October and ends in April. Utility cost for an 85 m2 apartment may vary from EUR 90to EUR 300. Tip: for your own security, you may want to review the contract with a lawyer or a relocation expert to avoid misunderstandings when vacating the property. The service may cost up to EUR 150. Typical Budget: Depends entirely on the property size, location, neighbourhood and building type and mayadd up to EUR 12,000 a year FAMILY COSTS If your employee moves with her or his family, there will inevitably be the need to take care of the children. Due to a limited number of international schools in Lithuania, as well as their varying curricula, the variation of schooling costs may be significant. It is important to know the child’s previous schooling experience so she or he can continue in the same programme as in the home country. To be able to secure a spot in the right school, enrollment has to be arranged as early as possible. Typical Budget: Tuition may vary from EUR 6,000 to EUR 18,000 a year, depending on the level, school reputation, curricula and additional services. #Lithuania #HumanResources #RelocationBudget #FinanceManager