Lithuania residence permit in 2026: how to get one
The fee starts at $180, but a company used for residence must operate for six months and pay its staff two average salaries. Grounds, costs and 2026 limits.
A foreigner gets a Lithuania residence permit, formally a temporary residence permit, on the grounds of work, business, a startup, study, family or Lithuanian descent. The issue fee is about $180, or about $360 for urgent processing. By law the decision is taken within 4 months of filing.
Citizens of Russia and Belarus apply under special rules, covered in a separate section below. The country overview is on the Lithuania page.
What grounds for a Lithuania residence permit exist in 2026
| Ground | Main condition | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Work | A work permit or an EU Blue Card | Specialists with an offer from a Lithuanian employer |
| Own business | Company equity from EUR 28,000, six months of operation and local staff | Owners or managers of an operating company |
| Startup | Endorsement of an innovative project by a government agency | Founders of technology companies |
| Lithuanian descent | A certificate of Lithuanian descent | Descendants of Lithuanians |
| Study and family | University enrolment, marriage or kinship with a resident | Students, spouses, children |
How to get a Lithuania residence permit through a company
The business route in Lithuania is built for a working company, not a registration made for the sake of status. The company's equity must be at least EUR 28,000. The applicant is its manager or holds at least a third of the shares with a nominal value of at least EUR 14,000.
The company must have operated under its business plan for at least six months. Its full-time staff are citizens of Lithuania, other EU countries or foreigners with permanent residence, and their combined salaries are at least twice the national average wage. Without six months of operation and local staff this route is closed, so newcomers usually go for employment or a startup. Formation and banking are covered on the Lithuania company registration and Lithuania business account pages.
How much a Lithuania residence permit costs
The state fee for issuing the permit is about $180 in the standard procedure and about $360 for urgent processing. On top come translations into Lithuanian, apostilles, health insurance and housing, and on the business route the company's capital and staff salaries.
Government fees for one adult start from $180. The total for your family with translations and insurance: Get an online estimate. A manager will quote Murblz support in the chat.
Fees from $180, but the business route needs six months of operation
The law does not prevent applying for a Lithuania residence permit on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: a company without six months of operation and local staff is not a ground, an incomplete special questionnaire stops the application for citizens of Russia and Belarus, and uncertified translations are sent back. Murblz support removes these risks: we check which ground is open to you, set up the company, capital and staff to the requirements, translate documents into Lithuanian and handle the filing until the card is issued. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.
The support fee depends on your ground, citizenship and family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Restrictions for certain nationalities
- Russian citizens. Until 31 December 2027 they are not issued new permits on general grounds. Exceptions are family reunification, work and study under EU rules, humanitarian reasons and national interest.
- Questionnaire. Citizens of Russia and Belarus fill in a special questionnaire. Applications with an incomplete questionnaire are not accepted.
- Trips home. Russian citizens lose their permits for travelling to Russia or Belarus more than once every three months without a valid reason.
- Belarusian citizens. From 1 November 2026 their residence applications abroad are accepted by visa centres in Armenia and Georgia.
- Ancestry. The restrictions do not apply to restoring citizenship or to the certificate of Lithuanian descent: see Lithuanian citizenship by descent.
What a Lithuania residence permit gives and what comes next
The permit gives the right to live in Lithuania and travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180. Permanent residence comes after 5 years on a temporary permit, with exams in Lithuanian and the basics of the constitution. Citizenship comes after 10 years in the country and requires giving up your previous passport.
You become a tax resident after 183 days in the country in a year, and income tax runs from 20% to 32%. Count your days with the tax residency calculator; rates are on the Lithuania taxes page.
How we help
Murblz specialists choose the ground for your Lithuania permit, set up the company and staff to meet the business route requirements, translate documents and handle the filing with the Migration Department until the card is issued. A manager will quote the support fee in the chat.
Company in Lithuania
Company formation and capital that meet the business route rules.
Learn more →Business account in Lithuania
A bank for the company, salaries and proof of capital.
Learn more →Citizenship by descent
Restoring citizenship for descendants of Lithuanians.
Learn more →We will pick the right ground for a Lithuania residence permit. Tell us about your citizenship, work and family. We will show which route is open to you and what to prepare first.
FAQ
How can a foreigner get a residence permit in Lithuania?
How much does a Lithuania residence permit cost?
Can you get a Lithuania residence permit by opening a company?
Are Lithuanian residence permits issued to all nationalities in 2026?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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