Skip to main content
European Commission logo
enen
EU Immigration Portal

Lithuania - International service provider

Are you a non-EU citizen wishing to come to the EU for short-term business visits or to provide services in the framework of an EU Trade Agreement with a partner country? You can find information below on the conditions, procedures, and your rights.

                                                                       

Conditions

 

Business visitors for establishment purposes (BVEPs)

Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay

  • You can apply for a residence permit at the Lithuanian embassy or, in case you are legally staying in Lithuania (e.g. with a visa), at the Migration department.
  • You may arrive in Lithuania by visa-free movement, visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen State or apply for a visa at the Lithuanian embassy.
  • With the visa or residence permit issued by another Schengen State, you are allowed to stay in Lithuania for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Work permit requirements

  • In order to gain temporary residence permit, you must introduce new technologies or other innovations significant for the economic and social development of the Republic of Lithuania.

Documentation required and conditions to be met

To obtain a national long-term visa you must present the following documents:

  • an electronically filled in application for issuing a national long-term visa ;
  • a valid travel document (passport);
  • a photo;
  • the number of a mediation letter (invitation) that was electronically filled in and submitted by your host entity;
  • sufficient financial resources;
  • a document confirming health insurance (insurance sum 30 000 euros).

To obtain a temporary residence permit you must provide:

  • an application number;
  • a valid travel document;
  • a letter from the state enterprise Versli Lietuva, approving that legal activity that the third-country national intends to engage in is related to the introduction of new technologies or other innovations of economic and social importance to the Republic of Lithuania and that the third-country national has necessary qualification, financing and business plan to carry out this activity;
  • a document confirming sufficient means of subsistence;
  • a document confirming the place of residence;
  • a police clearance certificate issued by the country of origin affirming that you were/were not convicted therein;
  • a health insurance document (sum insured – EUR 6,000);
  • a document certifying the legal stay if you apply while residing in Lithuania.

Where and how to file an application

Application fees and indicative processing time

  • You must pay a state levy for accepting, examining the application for the issue/renewal of a temporary residence decision-making permit and issuing a temporary residence permit:
    • in accordance with the general procedure – EUR 120;
    • urgently – EUR 240.
  • Decisions on the issue/renewal of temporary residence permits are made and temporary residence permits are issued:
    • in accordance with the general procedure – within 2 months;
    • urgently – within 1 month.

The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation

  • National-long term visa is issued for a period of at least 91 days and for a maximum of one year.
  • Temporary residence permits are usually issued for 2 years.

Conditions for any available extensions or renewal

  • National-long term visa cannot be renewed.
  • An application for the renewal of a temporary residence permit in general procedure with the accompanying documents must be submitted at least 2 months in advance and an application for changing a temporary residence permit and supporting documents must be submitted at least 1 month before the expiry of the temporary residence permit, but not earlier than 4 months in advance.

Rules regarding accompanying dependents

  • Family members and dependents may also apply for national visas on the same basis, if that possibility is provided for in an international agreement.
  • You can bring your family members and they can apply for a temporary residence permit with you immediately.

Available review and/or appeal procedures

  • Decisions can be challenged before the Vilnius District Administrative Court within 14 days from the receipt of the decision and further before the Supreme Administrative Court.

Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons

 

Short-term business visitors (STBV)

  • You need to have legal ground (visa-free movement, visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen State, etc.) to arrive in Lithuania or apply for a short-term Schengen visa at the foreign mission of Lithuaniain your country of origin.
  • With the visa or residence permit issued by another Schengen State, you are allowed to stay in Lithuania for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

 

Contractual service suppliers (CSSs)

Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay

  • You can apply for a residence permit at the Lithuanian embassy or, in case you are legally staying in Lithuania (e.g. with a visa), at the Migration department.
  • You may arrive in Lithuania by visa-free movement, visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen State or apply for a visa at the Lithuanian embassy.
  • With the visa or residence permit issued by another Schengen State, you are allowed to stay in Lithuania for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Work permit requirements

  • You must be a company manager.
  • You must confirm that the purpose of your arrival is work in the company.

Requirements for the company:

  • a business plan according to which the activities are carried out for at least 6 months;
  • part-time work is required for the citizens of Lithuania and other EU or EFTA Member States or third-country nationals with permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania, whose salaries in total are at least 4 monthly average gross earnings of the employees of the country’s economy in the last quarter published by the Lithuanian Department of Statistics (including the information on earnings in private enterprises);
  • equity value not less than EUR 28,000;
  • activities are carried out for at least 6 months according to the business plan in the Republic of Lithuania.

Documentation required and conditions to be met

To obtain a national long-term visa you must present the following documents:

  • an application for issuing a national long-term visa that was electronically filled in;
  • a valid travel document (passport);
  • a photo;
  • the number of a mediation letter (invitation) that was electronically filled in and submitted by your host entity;
  • sufficient financial resources;
  • a document confirming health insurance (insurance sum 30 000 euros).

To obtain a temporary residence permit you must present:

  • an application number;
  • a valid travel document;
  • a business plan;
  • documents confirming the activity of the enterprise according to the business plan for at least 6 months in the Republic of Lithuania;
  • employment contracts for company employees;
  • documents submitted to SE Centre of Registers;
  • if one financial year has not passed since the company was established: the balance sheet or the statement of changes in equity of the company, in which the value of the equity (in the case of non-AB or UAB – assets) amounts to at least 28 thousand EUR;
  • your employment contract;
  • a document about sufficient means of subsistence;
  • a document about the place of residence;
  • a police clearance certificate;
  • a health insurance document (sum insured – EUR 6,000);
  • a document certifying the legal stay, if you apply while residing in Lithuania.

Where and how to file an application

Application fees and indicative processing time

  • You must pay a state levy for accepting, examining the application for the issue/renewal of a temporary residence decision-making permit and issuing a temporary residence permit:
    • in accordance with the general procedure – EUR 120;
    • urgently – EUR 240.
  • Decisions on the issue/renewal of temporary residence permits are made and temporary residence permits are issued through:
    • in accordance with the general procedure – within 2 months;
    • urgently – within 1 month.

The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation

  • A national-long term visa is issued for a period of at least 91 days and for a maximum of 1 year.
  • Temporary residence permits are usually issued for 2 years.

Conditions for any available extensions or renewal

  • National-long term visa cannot be renewed.
  • An application for the renewal of a temporary residence permit in general procedure with the accompanying documents must be submitted at least 2 months in advance and an application for changing a temporary residence permit and supporting documents must be submitted at least 1 month before the expiry of the temporary residence permit, but not earlier than 4 months in advance.

Rules regarding accompanying dependents

  • Family members and dependents may also apply for national visas on the same basis, if that possibility is provided for in an international agreement.
  • You can bring your family members and they can apply for a temporary residence permit with you immediately. Family members are: your spouse, registered partner, unmarried and dependent underage children, your dependent parents if you have been supporting them for at least 1 year and they are unable to use the assistance of other family members living abroad.

Available review and/or appeal procedures

  • Decisions can be challenged before the Vilnius District Administrative Court within 14 days from the receipt of the decision and further before the Supreme Administrative Court.

Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons

 

Independent professionals (IPs)

Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay

  • You can apply for a residence permit at the Lithuanian embassy or, in case you are legally staying in Lithuania (e.g. with a visa), at the Migration department.
  • You may arrive in Lithuania by visa-free movement, visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen State or apply for a visa at the Lithuanian embassy.
  • With the visa or residence permit issued by another Schengen State, you are allowed to stay in Lithuania for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Work permit requirements

  • You must be a professional athlete, coach, performer, a journalist, etc.

Documentation required and conditions to be met

To obtain a national long-term visa you must present the following documents:

  • an application for issuing a national long-term visa that was electronically filled in;
  • a valid travel document (passport);
  • a photo;
  • the number of a mediation letter (invitation) that was electronically filled in and submitted by your host entity;
  • sufficient financial resources;
  • a document confirming health insurance (insurance sum 30 000 euros).

To obtain temporary residence permit you must present:

  • an application number;
  • a valid travel document;
  • an accreditation card if you are a journalist;
  • a mediation letter of posting (inviting) public legal entity registered in the Register of Legal Entities, if you are an athlete or a performer;
  • a document confirming that you are coming to the Republic of Lithuania to engage in an artist’s activity, if you are a performer;
  • a document about sufficient means of subsistence;
  • a document about the place of residence;
  • a police clearance certificate;
  • a health insurance document (sum insured – EUR 6,000);
  • a document certifying the legal stay, if you apply while residing in Lithuania.

Where and how to file an application

Application fees and indicative processing time

  • You must pay a state levy for accepting, examining the application for the issue/renewal of a temporary residence decision-making permit and issuing a temporary residence permit:
    • in accordance with the general procedure – EUR 120;
    • urgently – EUR 240.
  • Decisions on temporary residence permits are made and temporary residence permits are issued through:
    • decision to issue:
      • in accordance with the general procedure – within 4 months;
      • urgently – within 2 months;
    • decision to renew:
      • in accordance with the general procedure – within 2 months;
      • urgently – within 1 month.

The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation

  • National-long term visa is issued for a period of at least 91 days and for a maximum of 1 year.
  • Temporary residence permits are usually issued for 2 years.

Conditions for any available extensions or renewal

  • A national-long term visa cannot be renewed.
  • An application for the renewal of a temporary residence permit in general procedure with the accompanying documents must be submitted at least 2 months in advance and an application for changing a temporary residence permit and supporting documents must be submitted at least 1 month before the expiry of the temporary residence permit, but not earlier than 4 months in advance.

Rules regarding accompanying dependents

  • You cannot bring family members.

Available review and/or appeal procedures

  • Decisions can be challenged before the Vilnius District Administrative Court within 14 days from the receipt of the decision and further before the Supreme Administrative Court.

Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons

 

Investors

Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay

  • You can apply for a residence permit at the Lithuanian embassy or, in case you are legally staying in Lithuania (e.g. with a visa), at the Migration department.
  • You may arrive in Lithuania by visa-free movement, visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen State or apply for a visa at the Lithuanian embassy.
  • With the visa or residence permit issued by another Schengen State, you are allowed to stay in Lithuania for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Work permit requirements

You can apply for the temporary residence permit if you are:

  • the manager of the company;
  • a member of its collegial management or supervisory body;
  • a participant who has the right to enter into transactions on behalf of the company;
  • a shareholder of a public limited liability company or a private limited liability company and the nominal value of the company’s shares owned by you is not lower than 1/3 of the authorised capital of the company.

In order to apply for a temporary residence permit you must meet these main requirements:

  • you must be a participant, as defined in the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania, of a private legal entity registered with the Register of Legal Entities, which has been conducting its activities for no less than for the last 6 months prior to your application for issue of a temporary residence permit and
  • the company has established at least three jobs and employed full time three citizens of the Republic of Lithuania or aliens permanently residing in the Republic of Lithuania and
  • the value of the own capital of the company (if the company is neither a public limited liability company nor a private limited liability company – the value of assets) amounts to no less than 28,000 EUR, out of which no less than 14,000 EUR are funds or other assets invested by you, and you are the manager of the company, a member of its collegial management or supervisory body, a participant who has the right to enter into transactions on behalf of the company, or a shareholder of a public limited liability company or a private limited liability company, the nominal value of the company’s shares owned by you is not lower than 1/3 of the authorised capital of the company, you can obtain a temporary residence permit.

Documentation required and conditions to be met

To obtain a temporary residence permit you must present:

  • a passport;
  • a photo;
  • sufficient financial resources;
  • adequate accommodation;
  • a health certificate (you can present it later, before the end of the procedure);
  • articles of association of the enterprise;
  • documents proving your status within the enterprise and confirming that you and the enterprise meet the requirements necessary for obtaining the temporary residence permit.

In order to issue a temporary residence permit, 2 of your fingerprints will be taken.

Where and how to file an application

  • You should apply for a temporary residence permit at the embassy or consulate in your country of residence. If you are staying legally in Lithuania, you can apply for a temporary residence permit at the migration services.
  • Application for a temporary residence permit will be forwarded to the Migration Department under the Ministry of Interior for processing. The decision to issue the residence permit is taken within 4 months at the latest. For an additional fee, the decision will be taken within 2 months at the latest. If you invested at least 260 000 euros, and the company employs at least 5 citizens or permanent residents, decision will be issued within 2 months, and for an additional fee – within 1 month at the latest. If you receive a positive decision and are outside the country, you will be issued a single entry national visa, if necessary, and you will be able to enter Lithuania and collect your residence permit here.
  • Note that in case you apply for extension of your residence in Lithuania, you should apply for a temporary residence permit before your previous temporary residence permit expires. Otherwise, you will have to leave the country and wait for your temporary residence permit while abroad.

Application fees and indicative processing time

  • You must pay a state levy for accepting, examining the application for the issue/renewal of a temporary residence decision-making permit and issuing a temporary residence permit:
    • in accordance with the general procedure – EUR 120;
    • urgently – EUR 240.
  •  The decision on the issue/renewal of a temporary residence permit is made and a temporary residence permit is issued:
    • in accordance with the general procedure – within 1 month;
    • urgently – within 15 calendar days.

The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation

  • A national-long term visa is issued for a period of at least 91 days and for a maximum of 1 year.
  • Temporary residence permits are valid for up to 2

Conditions for any available extensions or renewal

  • A national-long term visa cannot be renewed.
  • If your share within the enterprise is of at least 260 000 euros, and the enterprise employs at least 5 Lithuanian citizens or residents, the residence permit is issued and renewed for 3 years.

Rules regarding accompanying dependents

  • If you, being directly involved in projects of importance to Lithuania, have invested in Lithuania in any property owned, borrowed or managed and used by the right of trust, or if your share within the enterprise is of at least 260 000 euros, and the enterprise employs at least 5 Lithuanian citizens or residents, you are immediately entitled to family reunification, your family members may immediately apply for a temporary residence permit.
  • In other cases, general requirements for family reunification are applied.

Available review and/or appeal procedures

  • Decisions can be challenged before the Vilnius District Administrative Court within 14 days from the receipt of the decision and further before the Supreme Administrative Court.

Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons