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Schengen member · Vilnius · EUR

Lithuania

Lithuania has quietly become the Baltic fintech hub — with a Startup Visa and Employment residence built for scale-ups.

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Official sources:Migration Department of Lithuania Startup Lithuania

Immigration overview

Lithuania's Employment Residence Permit is the workhorse for non-EU workers; the Startup Visa targets founders and is co-managed with Startup Lithuania.

Economy

€75B economy — fintech (Revolut's EU HQ), lasers, life sciences, shared services and forestry. Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda are the top hiring hubs.

Quality of life

Public healthcare, low cost of living, Baltic climate. Lithuanian is essential outside Vilnius internationals.

Immigration trends

Lithuania issues more fintech e-money and payment institution licences than any other EU state, driving significant financial-services hiring.

Immigration pathways

4 routes into Lithuania

Non-EU workers with a Lithuanian job offer

Employment Residence Permit

Combined work-and-residence permit tied to a specific employer.

  • Job offer at Lithuanian market wage
  • Labour market test (waived for shortage roles)
€120
1–3 months
Official source

Degree-holders with higher-paid roles

EU Blue Card (Lithuania)

Portable EU permit with intra-EU mobility.

  • Higher-education degree
  • Salary ≥ 1.5× Lithuanian average
  • Contract ≥ 12 months
€120
1 month

Non-EU founders launching an innovative startup

Startup Visa

1-year residence for founders backed by Startup Lithuania.

  • Startup Lithuania positive assessment
  • Sufficient personal funds
€120
1–2 months
Official source

Non-EU students at Lithuanian universities

Student Residence Permit

Study permit with work rights during term.

  • Admission letter
  • Proof of funds (~€508/month)
€120
1–3 months

Costs

  • Long-stay national visa (D-type): €80–€120 at consulate
  • Residence permit issuance in-country: €50–€200
  • Health insurance (private for initial period): €30–€120/month
  • Apostille + sworn translation of documents: €150–€400 total

Processing times

  • National long-stay visa: 4–12 weeks at consulate (varies by post)
  • Residence permit card after arrival: 4–10 weeks
  • Family reunification: 3–9 months
  • Permanent residence application: 3–6 months
  • Naturalisation dossier: 12–36 months

Permanent residence in Lithuania

PR after 5 years of continuous legal residence with A2 Lithuanian, stable income and passing the constitutional exam.

Citizenship in Lithuania

Naturalisation typically requires 10 years of legal residence with B1 Lithuanian and passing constitutional/language exams. Dual citizenship is rare; a 2024 referendum on liberalisation did not carry.

Tools for your Lithuania application

Built to save weeks of preparation

AI eligibility checker

Match your profile to the best Lithuania pathway in 60 seconds.

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AI application builder

Country-specific forms, fees and explanation letters for Lithuania.

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AI SOP builder

Structured statements for Lithuania study and work applications.

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AI risk analyzer

Surface refusal risks for Lithuania applications and how to mitigate them.

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AI timeline planner

Week-by-week preparation plan tied to your submission date.

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Cost calculator

Government fees, biometrics, medicals and settlement funds for Lithuania.

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Country comparison

Compare Lithuania side-by-side with other Schengen members.

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Immigration roadmap

Month-by-month plan from intake to landing in Lithuania.

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Cover letter generator

Embassy-ready cover letter for your Lithuania application.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Lithuania immigration

Why is Lithuania a fintech hub?

Lithuania issues more fintech e-money and payment-institution licences than any other EU state; Revolut, Nium, Volt and dozens of others use Vilnius as an EU base.

How does the Lithuania Startup Visa work?

You apply to Startup Lithuania with your business plan; a positive assessment unlocks a 1-year residence for founders and up to 5 core team members.

How long until I can get Lithuanian citizenship?

10 years of legal residence, B1 Lithuanian, constitutional exam, and typically renunciation of prior citizenship.

Does Lithuania allow dual citizenship?

In narrow cases only (descent, spouses of Lithuanian citizens in some situations, EU/NATO nationals). A 2024 referendum to broaden dual citizenship did not carry.

Do I need Lithuanian to work in Vilnius?

Not for fintech, shared-services and international-corporate roles. Lithuanian is required for citizenship.

Is Lithuania in Schengen and the eurozone?

Yes — Schengen since 2007 and euro since 2015.

Can I bring my family on a Lithuanian Employment Permit?

Yes — family members receive dependent residence with work rights.