Open a Liaison Office in Lithuania: Registration Steps

Find here how to open a liaison office in Lithuania. Please rely on us for company registration services in Lithuania.

Quick Facts
What is a liaison office	A liaison office (or a representative office) is a business establishment of a foreign company that can be used only for non-commercial purposes.
Incorporation obligations	Investors who will open a liaison office in Lithuania must conclude several standard incorporation formalities, such as: – signing and drawing up the regulations of the liaison office, – appointing the management body, – register with the Register of Legal Entities, – submit the incorporation documents of the parent company, – translation and certification of the documents of the parent company, etc.
Types of activities it can undertake	The liaison office can develop only non-commercial activities, such as: – marketing research, – establishing new partnerships with local businesses, – analyzing the characteristics of the local consumer market, etc.
Have a registered office in Lithuania (yes/no)	Yes
Registration costs	The basic registration procedure is bound by the payment of a registration fee of EUR 41,75 (paid to the Register of Legal Entities).
Capital requirements	Not applicable
Duration of the registration process	It takes approximately 1 month to open a liaison office in Lithuania (the standard registration formalities take around 3-5 business days).
Tax obligations	The liaison office is required to pay certain taxes, such as employment taxes, but it is exempt from paying the corporate income tax, since the purpose of the establishment is a non-commercial one.
Reporting formalities (yes/no)	Yes
Institution in charge with the registration formalities	Register of Legal Entities
Law applicable to liaison offices	The Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania (Book Two)
Documents that must be submitted by the parent company	– the incorporation documents, – the articles of association/memorandum, – the financial statements issued in the last financial year, – the certificate of registration issued by the authorities of the country where the parent company is a tax resident, – the decision to open a liaison office in Lithuania, – completed application forms.
Licensing requirements	They can be imposed only when the liaison office develops an activity that requires a license, as per the Lithuanian law.
Appointing an accountant (yes/no)	Yes
Services offered by our team	Our consultants can assist foreign business with the following services: – preparing the documents for the incorporation, – find a notary public in Lithuania where the documents of the parent company can be notarized, – represent the foreign company during the registration formalities, – represent foreign clients in front of Lithuanian institutions, – find a suitable office space, – assist in employment matters, etc.

How can you assist me in opening a liaison office?

Our team of consultants is ready to provide all the necessary legal services required for the registration of a liaison office in this country. For this, we will:

gather the documentation required for the incorporation;
assist clients in finding suitable office space;
represent clients in signing a rental agreement;
submit the registration file with the Lithuanian authorities;
complete any formalities deriving from the employment of local workforce;
offer business immigration services.

What is the definition of a liaison office?

A liaison office (or a representative office) is a type of establishment that can be incorporated in Lithuania by foreign companies operating overseas, if they intend to carry out non-commercial activities. The liaison office is not allowed to engage in operations from which the investors obtain profit.

When is it recommended to opt for a liaison office?

The liaison office is the ideal solution for foreign companies interested in analyzing the potential of a new market and the characteristics of the local consumer market. Thus, when the foreign entity decides to open a company in Lithuania, it will have a very clear image based on the information previously gathered through the representative office.

Is the liaison office a separate legal entity?

No, the liaison office does not have separate legal personality from its parent company. Instead, it is considered a subdivision, similar to the branch.

What are the liability rules in a representative office?

Considering that this structure does not have separate legal personality, the parent company is fully liable for any debts.

What is the rule of law applicable to the liaison office?

According to the Centre of Registers, the main governing law applicable to a representative office is the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania, Book Two.

What are the main s teps to open a liaison office in Lithuania?

filing the resolution for opening the representative office in Lithuania;
finding a business address which will be used as the liaison office’s official address in Lithuania;
appointing a local representative who will keep in touch with the Lithuanian authorities;
obtaining registration in the Register of Legal Entities to start its operations.

Below, you can read our infographic on how to set up a Lithuanian liaison office:

Do investors need to be physically present during the registration?

No, it is possible to open a liaison office in Lithuania without the need to be physically present in this country during the incorporation formalities (the same rule also applies for the registration of a legal entity created for commercial purposes).

As mentioned above, a Lithuanian liaison office is subject to certain restrictions which are shown in the table below:

Activity	Restrictions
Commercial activities	No
Signing contracts on behalf of the parent company	No
Completing marketing activities	Yes
Representing the foreign company in relation to business partners	Yes
Acting as a contact point for clients	Yes

What documents are necessary for the registration of the liaison office?

In the list below, our consultants, who are specialized in company formation in Lithuania, present some of the main documents you should prepare for the registration of the liaison office:

the incorporation documents of the parent company must be added to the file, along with documents which attest to the physical place where the liaison office has set up its registered address;
the parent must also prepare its financial documents, attesting the current financial situation of the applicant;
the decision through which the parent company has established to open a liaison office in Lithuania;
the statute document of the representative office;
please know that foreigners must also prepare translations of their corporate documents;
all the papers must be translated by an authorized translator - notarization and legalization of documents is also mandatory, as per the legal requirements applicable here.

We also invite you to watch a short video on how to register a Lithuanian representative office:

How long does it take to complete the registration formalities?

It can take around 3 to 4 weeks to open a liaison office in Lithuania (the standard steps for company formation in Lithuania can take around 5-6 days, but all other procedures, up to employment, can take around 1 month).

Do I need to submit tax returns?

No. Given that the liaison office is not a structure that can engage in economic activities, it is not necessary to submit tax returns. Some obligations can arise from the employment of local workforce. You can address our specialists in company incorporation in Lithuania for further details on the employment obligations you will have here, such as:

employ several workers;
sign employment contracts;
pay social contributions for the salaries of the employees, etc.

For assistance in opening a liaison office or a new company, please contact our company formation advisors in Lithuania.