There are several ways of moving to Lithuania, however, all of them imply obtaining a residence permit which can be temporary or permanent. Once the residence permit is obtained, an individual is also entitled to apply for Lithuanian citizenship after a period of time.
The Lithuanian temporary residence permit is issued to non-EU citizens for a period of 1 year or 2 years, while the permanent residence permit has a 5-year validity period. There is also the possibility for foreign investors to apply for a residence permit for Lithuania based on a residency by investment program. Our company formation agents in Lithuania can offer information on the residency by investment program.
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Documents related when applying for a Lithuanian residence permit in 2026
Foreign citizens from non-EU states who want to obtain residence permits in Lithuania must comply with a few requirements. The following documents are required when applying for a temporary or permanent residence permit in Lithuania:
- an application form which is issued by the Lithuanian embassy or consulate in the applicant’s home country;
- a valid passport and a copy (the passport must be at least 3 months valid at the moment of the application);
- proof that the applicant has the financial means to support him or herself during the stay;
- a rental agreement for a property in Lithuania in order to prove that the applicant has a place to stay;
- a health insurance is also mandatory, however, it must be obtained after the approval of the issuance of the residence permit;
- the receipt proving the fee for the issuance of the visa was paid.
Concerning the 3rd point – the financial means matter, it must be noted that the applicant must show evidence of having a minimum income. For instance, as of 1st of January 2026, full-time degree students bank present a bank statement in which they have a minimum deposit of at least EUR 6,918.
For those who do not come here through employment in 2026, a bank statement that attests having the necessary means to live (covering the needs for 1 year of stay) can also be shown. Please mind that if you arrive here with minor children, other financial requirements must me met. This requirement is available for the issuance of all types of residence permits.
We remind investors they can get help from our company registration advisors if they want to open a company in Lithuania.
Please mind that the law regulating the procedures through which foreigners can relocate to Lithuania and obtain various legal statuses (such as temporary residents, permanent residents, citizens) has recently been modified.
There are significant changes that are applicable to foreigners living in Lithuania in 2026, as per the new provisions of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens of the Republic of Lithuania; under the new law, those who are the holders of temporary residence permits are no longer required to provide a written consent of the owner of property where they currently reside, for instance.
If you want to obtain a temporary residence permit, you are required to pay a processing fee of EUR 160. In the case of urgent situations, there is the possibility of expedite issuance, which, as of 2026, is charged with a processing fee of EUR 320, according to the Lithuanian Migration Information Centre. Those who want to apply for expedite services for the issuance of a permanent residency permit in Lithuania in 2026 must know that the procedure can be completed in 45 days. Although it may not seem a short amount of time, it is considerably lower than in the case of the standard procedure, which is 3 months.
Please know that the processing fees mentioned above are charged in 2026 for processing any type of residency permit application (temporary, permanent residency).
One of the new regulations, available starting with 2 January 2023, states that foreigners can apply for temporary residence permits before arriving in this country. The application is conducted through the official partner of the immigration institutions in Lithuania, which sends the applications to the Migration Department, the sole institution in charge with the issuance of a decision concerning the application.
The application for the issuance of the permit or the renewal of the permit is conducted online initially, through the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS). Here, applicants will provide the required data and will book an appointment with the representatives of the institution. The appointment must be held in-person and it must be completed in maximum 4 months since the date when the online application was made.
We also mention that in the case your personal data has been modified, you can renew the residency permit.
The Schengen visa in Lithuania
Citizens of EU countries which are also in the Schengen area are allowed to travel to Lithuania by applying for a single visa which will grant them the right to move freely in all EU countries in Schengen. They will only need a valid ID or passport, two passport-size photographs, health insurance and the receipt showing they paid the state fee for issuance of the visa.
This visa is also available for foreign investors coming to open companies in Lithuania. For assistance in business immigration matters, please contact our Lithuanian company formation consultants.