Residence permit in Lithuania

Residence Permit is required if a person intends to stay in Lithuania for more than 90 days within half a year, counting from the day of arrival, as well as to conduct commercial activities, to work for hire or to study. The Residence Permit grants a person the right to reside work and study in the Republic of Lithuania and to use medical and other state-provided services as well as the right of entry to all Schengen countries.

Initially Residence Permit is issued in consular posts of the Republic of Lithuania abroad, as a rule, for a one year term and afterwards it can be extended. After five years there is a possibility to be granted a permanent Residence Permit.

There are 2 types of Residence Permits – temporary and permanent.

When applying for a Residence Permit for the first time, the applicant will usually be granted a temporary Residence Permit.

Reasons for getting a temporary Residence Permit could be as follows:

1. Family reunion (if the applicant’s parents or children are citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and are residing in the Republic of Lithuania; if the applicant’s spouse is a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania or has a permanent residence permit of the Republic of Lithuania).
2. Employment (in case the applicant has a work permit).
3. Education (full-time student at a higher educational institution; secondary school pupil; internship programme, professional training etc.).
4. Business (if the applicant is an owner or CEO of a company registered in the Republic of Lithuania).
5. Scientific work (under contract with a scientific institution).
6. The applicant is a person of Lithuanian descent.
7. The applicant has a retained right to citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania.

A person qualified for Residence Permit under one of the above mentioned reasons must meet the following requirements as well:

1. The travel document (passport) of the applicant has to be valid for at least three months after the expiration date of the temporary residence permit.
2. The applicant has adequate means of subsistence and/or source or regular income, which is sufficient for the stay in the Republic of Lithuania.
3. The applicant has an accommodation (of his/her possession or rented) in the Republic of Lithuania.
4. The applicant has a medical policy.
5. All necessary documents to be submitted must be translated into Lithuanian language.

As it was mentioned above, a holder of temporary Residence Permit can be granted a permanent Residence Permit after having been lived continuously in the Republic of Lithuania for a period of 5 years.

Necessary documents to be submitted:

• Written application of the established form (issued in a diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Lithuania abroad or migration service);
• Valid travel document (passport) and its copy (or ID card in case of submitting an application for the EU Residence Permit);
• Copy of birth certificate if it is necessary to establish family connection;
• Copy of marriage certificate in case of entry with a spouse or to a spouse;
• Copy of a child’s birth certificate in case of entry with a child;
• Travel document (passport) for a child valid for travel abroad (or ID card in case of submitting an application for the EU Residence Permit);
• Documents substantiating a foreigner’s right to obtain a temporary Residence Permit;
• Documents proving that the applicant has sufficient funds for staying in the Republic of Lithuania;
• Documents proving that the applicant has a place of residence in his/her possession or has a rented accommodation or an accommodation of gratis use in the Republic of Lithuania or a commitment letter of a physical or juridical person proving that they grant an accommodation to the foreigner for the period of Residence Permit;
• Document proving health insurance valid for the period of stay in Lithuania and the copy of this document (this document is submitted after receiving the note from the Migration Department on the decision about issuing a temporary permit to the foreigner);
• After entering Lithuania (after the Migration Department’s decision on issuing a permit) the State fee has to be paid (the receipt is submitted prior to issuing of the temporary permit).

Section was prepared with the support of the portal Livingin.LT - immigration to Lithuania.