Permanent residence in Lithuania is an indefinite permit for permanent residence in the country, which is granted to foreigners in accordance with the law “Lietuvos Respublikos įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties”. As a general procedure, the document is issued for those who have been legally staying in the country for at least 5 years, are self-supporting, know the national language and constitutional norms, are law-abiding, have health insurance and local residence registration. Accelerated granting of residence permits is provided for refugees, persons of Lithuanian origin and relatives of local citizens.

The Republic of Lithuania is a member of the European Union, so permanent residents receive an EU-style residence permit. With this status you can travel freely in the Schengen zone countries, work under the same conditions as residents of the state, do business in the European market and beyond. Moving to Lithuania for permanent residence gives you the opportunity to later apply for citizenship and get the 7th strongest passport in the world. It is also a chance to settle in a safe country with strong social guarantees, to give your children a prestigious European education, to increase your income.

What gives the status of permanent residence in Lithuania?

Foreigners mainly decide to move to Lithuania because of the high standard of living in the country, as well as a number of other significant advantages, among which are:

• official employment in the country with an average salary of 2200 EUR per month (before taxes);
• Support from state authorities, e.g., receiving benefits or attending free integration courses;
• service in the best European clinics under a single insurance policy without additional fees;
• protection of rights and freedoms of the population regardless of gender, race, religion, nationality;
• prospect of obtaining a European Union passport by naturalization after 10 years of residence in the country;
• the possibility of reuniting with close relatives and obtaining residence permits for them;
• doing business in new markets, receiving financial support from the state and private investors;
• visa-free travel within the Schengen zone and simplified travel to other EU countries;
• the right to leave the Republic for up to a year and return without the threat of status revocation and additional visa opening.

Permanent residents of Lithuania must know, respect, comply with national laws and constitutional norms. At the request of authorized (law enforcement) authorities, an immigrant must provide documents confirming his/her identity and the legality of his/her stay in the country. Permanent residence permit is issued for permanent residence - if you leave the European Union for more than 12 months without a valid reason, the status is canceled.

You can get more rights on the territory of the European Union, if you get a passport of any of the countries of the association. In a number of EU countries there are simplified programs, under which you can acquire a second citizenship in just 4-12 months with the help of specialized lawyers Immigrantinlaw.

Ways to immigrate to Lithuania

Moving to Lithuania for permanent residence without additional requirements is possible for those who have ethnic belonging to the people of the Republic or who plan to restore here the lost citizenship. Permanent resident status is immediately granted to recognized refugees and relatives of local citizens. In other cases, you will first need to live in the republic with a national visa and/or residence permit for 5 years without interruption. To move and start the naturalization process, you can open a residence permit on one of the following grounds:

• Official employment.
  Lithuania allows foreigners to work subject to annual quotas and only if the vacancy has not been occupied by locals. In this case, you will receive a residence and work permit after approval by the national Employment Service. In order to submit an immigration request, you must sign a work contract with a local employer for a period of six months or more with a guaranteed salary of at least the national minimum wage.
• Work in certain professions.
  It is possible to move to the country to work not as an employee, but as a self-employed person or within the framework of a cooperation agreement. For example, immigration to Lithuania is available to researchers, representatives of church organizations, members of volunteer missions, foreign athletes, coaches, journalists and artists. However, you need to prove by documentation that your activity in the country is legal.
• Reunification with family members.
  You can immigrate to the Republic to join your spouse, children or parents who are Lithuanian temporary or permanent residents. Your residence permit will be valid for as long as a similar document of the receiving party. You prove your family ties with metric documents (marriage/birth).
• Humanitarian circumstances.
  Lithuania provides asylum to those who have been forced to leave their home country because of a threat to their life or health. Depending on the situation, you can count on refugee status (and immediately apply for permanent residence), additional or temporary (now relevant only for Ukrainians) protection.
• Relocation with the EU Blue Card.
  Lithuania welcomes highly qualified foreign specialists who sign an employment contract with a local company for at least 6 months. You must prove your work experience and education in your specialty, as well as receive a salary not lower than one and a half average rates in the country. The Blue Card gives you special rights like family relocation and expedited processing of your residency request.
• Starting an innovative company.
  Foreign startup entrepreneurs can obtain a residence permit with the approval of the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation. The residence permit is granted if your business plan is recognized as promising for the country and you have the necessary experience and/or education, as well as the financial means to implement it.
• Education.
  You can go to live in Lithuania as a student of a local university within the framework of international student exchange programs, for internship or advanced training. For holders of this type of residence permit, the period of residence is only half-counted when applying for a permanent residence permit (exception - if you have received a university degree). To move, you will need to pay tuition fees at once and get approval from your parents if you are under 18 years of age.
• Starting and running a business.
  You can apply for a visa for commercial activities, register a company in Lithuania and employ locals, and after 6 months apply for a residence permit. The size of the authorized capital of your organization should be from 28 to 500 thousand EUR (the final amount depends on the salary of employees, their number, citizenship and related conditions).
• Investing in the local economy.
  If you are ready to invest in Lithuania from 20 000 000 EUR, you can count on obtaining a residence permit. There are also simplified programs that contribute to the development of the state economy, in which the amount of investment is reduced to about 1,500,000 EUR - they have accompanying conditions such as the creation of new jobs for the citizens of the country. But even large investments do not entitle to accelerated naturalization.
• Obtaining a passport or permanent residence in the EU.
  You can move to Lithuania as a citizen or resident of another European Union country. In this case, you can immigrate together with close relatives and do not have to look for any reason to stay living in the Republic (e.g., to work or study).

Requirements for the applicant for permanent residence and conditions for moving to Lithuania

The main condition for moving to Lithuania for permanent residence is to have a reason to stay in the country for a long time. You must open a visa and/or residence permit, regularly renew the immigration document, keeping the reason to live in the republic, and after 5 years you will be able to apply for a permanent resident card. The permanent residence card is issued to those who meet the following requirements:

• knowledge of the national language and the basics of the Constitution of the state;
• having a source of legal and stable income to support oneself and dependents;
• registration of place of residence in the country with the calculation of 7 m² of living space per person in a house or apartment;
• honest filling in a questionnaire with detailed information about yourself and your close relatives;
• demonstrating law-abiding behavior, including absence of criminal record and cases of violation of Schengen migration laws;
• submission of a complete set of documents to the authorities and payment of an administrative fee.

EU citizens can go to Lithuania for permanent residence without additional requirements. Check your chances of obtaining a second EU passport for immigration and other purposes at a free legal consultation.

How to move to Lithuania for permanent residence

To move to Lithuania for permanent residence you need to:

1. Choose the immigration reason and create a dossier.
   You consider each way of moving, taking into account the pros and cons of each of them, choose the best option, check the list of conditions for granting the right of temporary residence in Lithuania and prepare documents.
2. Obtain a national visa or residence permit.
   You apply to a consulate, embassy or visa center to obtain a permit to enter and reside in Lithuania. You will need to submit a dossier according to the grounds, pay administrative fees and wait for a decision of the authorities for up to 3 months. After the request is approved, you move to the Republic, rent or buy accommodation, organize the route and transportation of your personal belongings, register your address.
3. Reside in Lithuania and renew your immigration document.
   If you immigrate in the usual way, you need to keep the reason to stay in the country for five years and periodically (on average - every 2-3 years) re-issue a temporary residence permit. For renewal of the status, you should apply to the Department of Migration before the expiration of the current document.
4. Request a permanent resident card.
   After fulfillment of the residence norms and accompanying conditions, you can start the procedure of applying for a Lithuanian permanent residence permit. You need to apply electronically through the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS) and book a time for your visit. Then on the appointed day you visit the Migration Department, provide biometric data (face image, two fingerprints) and a package of documents.
5. Receive a permanent residence.
   Decisions on requests for issuance of a permanent resident card are made within 90 days in the regular order or 45 - in the accelerated order. You personally pick up the ready-made permanent residence card at the territorial office of the Migration Department.

Collecting and submitting documents    

You should start collecting documents for permanent residence several weeks before the planned submission of your request to the Lithuanian state authorities. The basic dossier consists of:

• a valid travel document (usually a passport);
• a personally completed application form with detailed information about yourself;
• certificates proving your knowledge of the Lithuanian language and constitutional norms;
• proof of your permanent residence in the country for the previous five years;
• receipt of payment of the administrative fee;
• a current temporary residence permit;
• proof of stable income in the amount not lower than the minimum monthly salary in the country (about 1000 EUR in 2025).

Foreign documents must be translated into English or Lithuanian and notarized.

Validity period and extension of the Lithuanian residence permit     

The status of permanent resident in Lithuania is granted indefinitely. Every 5 years you need to re-issue the resident card itself by applying to the territorial office of the Migration Department. You pay the state duty and within 15-30 days you expect a new document, which you pick up in person. There are cases of revocation of permanent residence, the main reason - leaving the European Union for more than a year. Also, the status of permanent resident can be revoked if it turns out that it was obtained fraudulently, or you are recognized as persona non grata in the republic.

You can apply for Lithuanian citizenship in the general naturalization procedure after 10 years of total legal residence in the country (with visa, temporary and permanent residence permit). You need to pass a language exam and a test on the knowledge of constitutional norms, have a stable and legal source for living, provide a certificate of no criminal record, in most cases - to renounce your passport in the home country.

Peculiarities of moving to Lithuania for permanent residence

Before emigrating from your native country to Lithuania, you should learn more about the socio-cultural features of the country, choose a city to live in, determine the future source of income. Families with children need to clarify information about the education system, availability of schools and kindergartens.

Moving without knowing the language

The official state language in the republic is Lithuanian. However, according to the International Organization for Migration, about 80% of the population also speak foreign languages. Until 1991 the state was a part of the USSR. For this reason, about ⅔ of the population still knows or at least understands Russian. Young people more often master foreign languages of international communication - English, French. Polish and Belarusian are also partially widespread in the country. For comfortable adaptation in the country, it is desirable to be fluent in Russian or Lithuanian, or to know English at a conversational level.

Social security

The Ministry of Social Protection and Labor of the Republic of Lithuania provides a wide range of benefits and allowances for residents of the country, including permanent residence permit holders. Depending on the situation, you may receive child allowances, incapacitation allowances, allowances for persons with disabilities and their caregivers. There is a monetary support for low-income families - on average 200 EUR per month per person. In addition to providing payments, the Ministry provides psychological assistance.

Labor market and salary

The minimum salary in Lithuania is 924 EUR, the average salary is 2238 EUR per month. The unemployment rate is decreasing, but it is still quite high - about 7%, with a significant share of young people. The list of highly paid professions includes representatives of the IT sector, doctors, teachers, top managers, judges, engineers. Their salary can reach 4000-5000 EUR per month. It can be difficult for foreigners to find a good vacancy, especially without knowledge of Lithuanian or English.

Kindergarten and school

Like other EU countries, Lithuania provides compulsory schooling for children up to the age of 16. Education is conducted in Lithuanian, and English, German, Ukrainian or Russian (less frequently) is usually studied as a foreign language. Municipal schools are free of charge, but there are also private educational institutions. Kindergartens are also divided into public and commercial. Permanent residents can choose any of the options, but in municipal institutions you usually have to wait in line. The cost of private kindergartens is about 500 EUR per month.

Relocation of pensioners

Lithuania is not interested in the influx of migrants, so there are no special conditions for moving pensioners, as, for example, in Bulgaria. Also, there is no residence permit for self-supporting foreigners, as in Portugal or Spain. But the republic easily approves family reunification with elderly parents who are dependent on a local citizen or resident. A foreigner can count on a Lithuanian pension only if he or she has worked in the country and accumulated the appropriate length of service. Quiet, measured life in Lithuania suits many people of the older generation.

How much money you need to move?

To move to Lithuania, you will need to pay state fees, notary and legal services, rent and realty agent assistance. You will also have to pay for transportation of your stuff, flight or travel to the country, and health insurance. The table below shows the current rates of administrative fees for immigrants.

With the help of international law specialists, you can find the cheapest way to immigrate to Lithuania. The specialized lawyers of Immigrantinlaw will recommend you the best options for moving to Lithuania taking into account your wishes and peculiarities of your dossier.

Why move to Lithuania

In Numbeo's World Quality of Life Index, Lithuania ranks 23rd with an individual score of 170 points - a very high position. The country's strengths include developed health care and education systems, low cost of living (the ratio of income to expenses of the population), good environmental conditions, political and economic stability. One can also note a lot of social guarantees for residents and gradual improvement of infrastructure.

To the disadvantages of Lithuania immigrants refer long naturalization, which takes from 10 years in the usual order and requires renunciation of the current citizenship. The labor market here is limited, there is not a lot of work and mostly it is vacancies for people with high qualifications. Real estate is expensive: on average 2500-4000 EUR per square meter, which does not quite correspond to the level of salaries. Also among the negative points are high tax rates and mediocre quality of the roads.

Feedback from immigrants who have moved to Lithuania for permanent residence

According to the reviews of foreigners who have moved to Lithuania, it is quite comfortable to live here. It is not difficult to obtain local documents, the main thing is that the reason to stay in the country should be long-term. Integration into society as a whole is easy due to the multi-lingual nature of the population. Those who are looking for a job, it is better to move to one of the big cities, for example Vilnius or Kaunas. Lovers of tranquility and a measured way of life usually choose picturesque places on the sea coasts like Klaipeda.

To qualify for permanent residence, you will have to learn the Lithuanian language, which is quite difficult. Migration services carefully check the legality and stability of income, monitor fake marriages and generally do not allow uncontrolled movement of foreigners. But the state authorities support those who really want to integrate - they organize language courses and provide benefits according to their status. However, the awaiting of permanent residence and citizenship will be long.

Individual selection of immigration program

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Available options for legal relocation to Lithuania

Many immigrants are not satisfied with the necessity to live in Lithuania for 5 years before obtaining permanent residence permit and fulfill a number of related conditions. The simpler and more affordable ways of moving to the country include obtaining an EU passport under one of the accelerated programs. For example, in Romania, Slovenia and Bulgaria, you can obtain a second passport within 4 to 14 months without having to invest in the economy or demonstrate income. Your current citizenship remains with you. As an EU citizen, you can easily immigrate to Lithuania for permanent residence with your family.

International law experts will help you determine the best way to formalize citizenship or residency in the European Union. Immigrantinlaw's dedicated lawyers will tell you about simplified immigration programs and will choose the best option for you. Specialist support at every stage is a guarantee of successful relocation and obtaining the desired status in the EU. You can sign up for a free legal consultation to start changing your life for the better without delay.

About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.