Lithuania combines Eastern hospitality with Western open-mindedness, and we’ve always strived to be as welcoming to newcomers as possible. Today, Invest Lithuania is here to help you make the best of what Lithuania has to offer.
We want to make relocation as simple as possible. By following our guide, companies that meet certain investment criteria* will be able to relocate to Lithuania within 3 business days and set up business operations in less than 1 month. The procedures are also rather simple for people wishing to relocate. We hope the guide has all the information you need, and if you have more questions – simply reach out to us!
Invest Lithuania is the official agency for Foreign Direct Investment and Business Development. We’ll partner with you to get your business set up and off to the best start possible:
The company planning to relocate its employees to Lithuania shall provide a list of employees and their family members containing the following information should be provided to Invest Lithuania:
Timeline: The Invitation Letter will be prepared within 1 working day after the list of employees with the required information has been received.
*Citizens of Belarus, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea.
The employee and their family members, whose details have been provided in the Invitation Letter, will have to fill in an application form for the National (D) Visa.
The following documents are required for D Visa Application, which can only take place at the Lithuanian Embassy:
Note: The embassy recommends that applicants prepare company statements as they might be easier to obtain than personal bank statements. Each applicant needs to provide an Individual statement at the Embassy (not a single statement for all employees).
Employees should pay the application fee at the Lithuanian Embassy in Belarus. Payments are only accepted in cash and in euros. At the embassy, the applicant will have to provide all the above mentioned documents, together with their passport and fingerprints. Children younger than 12 do not have to submit their visa application in person, their parents or legal guardians can submit the application on their behalf.
Timeline: In urgent cases, the Embassy will issue the visas within 1 or 1.5 days after the employees and their family members have submitted the required documents to the embassy.
Once the National D Visas are issued, employees and their family members can enter Lithuania. The National D Visa allows an individual to stay in Lithuania for 6 months.
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, residents from Belarus are required to self-isolate for:
All persons, arriving to Lithuania by air or naval transport, are obligated to register with the National Public Health Center and show proof of registration; all persons, arriving to Lithuania by land, are obligated to register with the National Public Health Center within 12 hours of arrival.
Before boarding a plane, ferry, bus, or train, the traveller will have to fill in a form on the website of the National Public Health Centre, and present the received confirmation (QR code) at the time of boarding.
Personal protective equipment covering the nose and mouth (masks) is mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public places.
List of private laboratories in Lithuania performing testing for COVID-19 can be found here.
(Please note that self-isolation requirements might change depending on the COVID-19 virus spread in Belarus)
Highly skilled employees can be granted permission to leave their place of isolation during their 14 days of self-isolation on the grounds of performing business related activities. Please note that an official negative COVID-19 test must be provided in order for an individual to be eligible for such permits.
Once the legal entity of your company is established in Lithuania, your employees can apply for the EU Blue Card.
Important information about the EU Blue Card:
Main criteria for the EU Blue Card:
Note: An EU Blue Card can also be issued to the Director of the company, but additional documents must be provided.
Timeline: 15 days (fast track) or 1 month (standard).
State fee: €240 (fast track) or €120 (standard).
More information can be found here: eubluecard.lt
We know relocation can be difficult for many reasons. To make it easier, city agencies (Go Vilnius, Kaunas In and Klaipėda ID) have appointed dedicated persons to consult newcomers on all relocation matters. You can reach out to them with all your questions regarding kindergartens / schools, housing, self-isolation upon arrival and any other aspect of life in Lithuania:
In addition to having these dedicated consultants, the city agencies are also preparing induction workshops for relocating employees. The workshops will touch upon a number of topics, including opening a bank account, getting health insurance, receiving social support, registering a car, finding a place to live, and more. You can find more about the workshops by contacting the responsible person in the relevant city agency.
Additional advice can be found in the closed Facebook group of Belarusians in Lithuania.
*According to the Law on Investment, as specified in Article 13 Paragraph 1 Item 6, foreign companies planning to invest in the Republic of Lithuania should meet the following criteria: creating jobs for at least 20 employees (both relocation and new hires) and maintaining them for at least three years. The average salary cannot be less than the average monthly salary of the municipality where the investment is made.
Information last updated on 4th February 2021
for ease of Doing Business
Source: World Bank, 2019
in the Tech Start-up FDI
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in the National
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Source: International Communications Unit, 2019
Investor requirements
Project requirements
* if the annual revenue is between €2.5M and €10M, the average salary for new positions must be at least 2 times greater than the average salary of the municipality in which the investment will be implemented
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Lithuania is home to a vibrant Belarusian community. Some moved here to study, others – to work, while some have been living in Vilnius for many generations. There are Belarusian and Russian kindergartens and schools, and international companies offer ample work opportunities in English or Russian. Besides, Minsk is only a couple of hours away.
Lithuanians are open and welcoming to newcomers, and we also share many values and a common history that spans hundreds of years. Here, you and your loved ones will feel at home.
The three largest Lithuanian cities – Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda – are compact and smart, cutting your commute times and making your everyday life more manageable. All of them host substantial expat communities and are home to hundreds of international companies that are always hiring. Also, each city has a dedicated agency that helps newcomers with all their questions – from finding a kindergarten for your kids to getting a driving license. Visit one of their pages and get the advice you need!
Want to learn more about the perks Lithuania can provide you? From a vibrant cultural scene to breathtaking spots for nature lovers. Download our latest brochure to get a better sense of what Lithuania is all about!
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Senior Investment Advisor at Technology Team