Lithuania: all programs

Lithuania at a glance

Lithuania is the largest of the three Baltic states, with about 2.9 million residents. The capital is Vilnius, and the other large cities are Kaunas and the port city of Klaipėda. The country is in the European Union, the Schengen area and NATO, and has used the euro since 2015. The state language is Lithuanian, young people speak good English and the older generation understands Russian.

The economy rests on fintech, IT, laser technology, logistics, manufacturing and service centres of international companies. Vilnius is one of the European Union's fintech hubs, with dozens of licensed payment and e-money institutions.

Who the move suits

• descendants of citizens of interwar Lithuania and people of Lithuanian descent, who have a path to citizenship without a language exam or residence;
• IT, fintech and engineering professionals with a contract from a Lithuanian employer;
• citizens of other countries who want a European Union company with clear taxes;
• families who value safety, the euro and moderate prices by European Union standards.

Rules for specific nationalities

Lithuania applies separate rules to citizens of Russia and Belarus; they do not apply to people of Lithuanian descent or to restoring citizenship.

• Russia. Since 2023 Russian citizens have not been issued visas or residence permits in Lithuania on general grounds, and on 23 April 2026 parliament extended these restrictions until 31 December 2027. Exceptions are narrow and considered individually, and security checks take longer. Since May 2025 a Russian citizen can lose a residence permit for travelling to Russia or Belarus more than once every three months without a valid reason. Russian citizens without a Lithuanian residence permit are banned from buying property, banks do not accept deposits above $120,000 (€100,000) from them without European Union citizenship or residence, and the tax treaty with Russia no longer applies.
• Belarus. Belarusian citizens have not been issued visas or residence permits on general grounds since 2023, the restrictions run until 31 December 2027, and banks check them strictly.

Routes to status and citizenship

• Restoring citizenship - for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who were Lithuanian citizens before 15 June 1940: no language exam and no residence, a fee of about €120, roughly $135, and 6-12 months of processing.
• A certificate of Lithuanian descent - if at least one parent or grandparent was Lithuanian, it gives the right to residence without work or study and a simplified path to citizenship.
• Employment - under a contract, including the EU Blue Card for highly paid specialists.
• Investment - from 260,000 euros, about $291,500, in the capital of a Lithuanian company that has operated for at least 6 months and created at least 5 jobs.
• Start-up visa, study and family - for citizens of other countries.

Lithuania allows dual citizenship only in exceptional cases, for example for descendants of those deported during the occupation. We find the ancestor's documents in the archives, check whether you can keep your first citizenship and file the application.

Taxes

Since 1 January 2026 almost all of a resident's income is added into one annual total: 20% on income up to 83,237 euros a year, 25% up to 138,729 euros and 32% above. Salaries also carry 19.5% contributions to the state social insurance fund. Corporate tax is 17%, 7% for small companies, dividends are taxed at 15% and VAT is 21%. A sole trader with income up to 20,000 euros effectively pays about 5%. You become a tax resident after 183 days a year or 280 days over two years. More in taxes in Lithuania.

Cost of living in Vilnius

Rent in Kaunas and Klaipėda is lower than in the capital. Heating bills rise noticeably in winter.

Property for foreigners

Foreigners buy flats and houses on general terms before a notary, while land purchases are governed by a separate law with restrictions by land type and the buyer's country. A purchase does not by itself grant residence. We find the property, check it against state registers and close the deal.

Companies and banks

A company is registered online in a few days, and small companies pay 7% corporate tax. We register the company and help with a business account and a personal account.

Climate and daily life

The climate is temperate: summers are 20-25°C, winters cold and dark at around minus 5°C, with frosts down to minus 20°C. Public healthcare runs on mandatory insurance, and private clinics are affordably priced. Almost all government and bank services are available online. On the Baltic coast are Palanga and the Curonian Spit.