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, 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.
Documents related when applying for a Lithuanian residence permit in 2023
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.
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 2022, 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 in 2022 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 in 2022, you are required to pay a processing fee of EUR 120. In the case of urgent situations, there is the possibility of expedite issuance, but the applicant must pay a fee of EUR 240.
If the law concerning the issuance of residence permits issued on a temporary basis suffered certain changes in 2022, you should be aware that 2023 has brought new regulations as well. The new regulation, available starting with 2 January 2023, states that foreigners can apply for temporary residence permits before arriving in this country.
The application will be conducted through the official partner of the immigration institutions in Lithuania, which will send the applications to the Migration Department, the sole institution in charge with the issuance of a decision concerning the application.
Please know that for 2023, the application fee has been maintained, but there is a novelty concerning the fee policy for 2023, in the sense that those who will apply for a temporary residence permit issued for study purposes will benefit from a fee reduced by 50%.
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.