64K foreigners have moved to Vilnius. What did facilitate their integration?

Around 64,000 foreigners have chosen to live in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, out of 100,000 foreign citizens currently residing in the country. One of the draws of relocating to Vilnius is a rapidly-advancing technology ecosystem, international startups and two unicorns, and other work opportunities. Global talents from over 100 countries have chosen Vilnius as their base to pursue careers in IT, Fintech, laser technologies, biotechnologies, video game development, business, and social work.

To expedite their relocation and integration into the workforce and social life, International House Vilnius, a foreigner relocation and integration services center, provides foreign talents and their families with an opportunity to handle all relocation, work, and living situation affairs in one place. The newcomers can work together with specialists from the Migration Department, the State Tax Inspectorate, the Lithuanian Employment Service, “Renkuosi Lietuvą,” a migration information center, the State Insurance Fund Board, and Go Vilnius, the official tourism and business development agency of Vilnius.

Since opening last year, the International House Vilnius has helped over 15,000 foreigners to set up in the capital. Together with filling out essential paperwork, foreigners have been able to attend informational seminars, and free Lithuanian language courses—over 4,000 newly relocated foreigners came to the seminars, and hundreds signed up for the language courses.

“Thousands of foreigners who came to Vilnius have successfully blended into our country’s economic life—they work in international companies, launch their own businesses, and bring their families here,” said Inga Romanovskienė, Director at Go Vilnius. “They need various services to aid with relocation and adaptation of the entire family in Lithuania so that they’d be able to go to school, work, and become part of the Vilnius’ community.”

With help from the International House Vilnius, skilled global workers can focus on creating a new life in the capital. Speaking of foreigner integration-wise on a national level, Lithuania also offers a financial incentive to highly qualified foreign talents and Ukrainians. The means are intended to help with relocation costs and expedite the integration into the country’s economy.