Lithuania
Lithuania EU free movement
EU free movement (EU, EEA and Swiss citizens)
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
EU free movement is a long-stay route for Lithuania. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Only for passports from 31 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland can live in Lithuania without a visa or residence permit.
- Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid passport or national ID card.
What you must show2
- After 3 months, work, self-employment, study, or sufficient resources with health insurance is needed.
- Self-sufficient residents must have enough resources for themselves and accompanying family members, and valid medical insurance.
Documents2
- Registration needs a valid ID or passport plus proof of work, study, or resources and insurance.
- Students must show enrolment in an educational institution or an invitation for a traineeship, as well as resources and medical insurance.
Steps3
- Anyone coming to live in Lithuania for over 3 months within half a year applies to the Migration Department for a certificate of the right of residence.
- The Migration Department must decide on the application within one month of submission.
- The certificate is issued for 5 years, or for the intended period of residence if shorter.
After you arrive2
- Permanent residence is acquired automatically after 5 years of continuous lawful residence.
- After 5 years of lawful residence the right of permanent residence is attested by a certificate valid for 10 years.
When you become tax resident
How Lithuania decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a tax periodPresent in Lithuania, continuously or with breaks, 183 days or more in the tax period makes the person a permanent resident.
- At least 280 days in a two successive tax periodsPresent 280 days or more over successive tax periods, with at least 90 days in one of them.
- Foreign-source income
Worldwide, treaty exception
Permanent residents of Lithuania are taxed on income from Lithuanian and foreign sources: 20% up to 36 average wages, 25% from 36 to 60 average wages and 32% above 60 average wages (average wage as set for state social insurance contributions).
All tax rules for Lithuania Tax records checked
Full official text
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and work in Lithuania without a visa or work permit. Stays over 3 months require a certificate of the right of residence issued by the Migration Department. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Requirements
- Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland can live in Lithuania without a visa or residence permit. 1 8
- Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid passport or national ID card. 1 3
- After 3 months, work, self-employment, study, or sufficient resources with health insurance is needed. 3 9
- Self-sufficient residents must have enough resources for themselves and accompanying family members, and valid medical insurance. 9
- Registration needs a valid ID or passport plus proof of work, study, or resources and insurance. 2
- Students must show enrolment in an educational institution or an invitation for a traineeship, as well as resources and medical insurance. 9
- Anyone coming to live in Lithuania for over 3 months within half a year applies to the Migration Department for a certificate of the right of residence. 9
- The Migration Department must decide on the application within one month of submission. 9
- The certificate is issued for 5 years, or for the intended period of residence if shorter. 9
- Permanent residence is acquired automatically after 5 years of continuous lawful residence. 4
- After 5 years of lawful residence the right of permanent residence is attested by a certificate valid for 10 years. 9
Stay
- No time limit; a certificate of the right of residence from the Migration Department is issued for 5 years or the intended period of stay.
- First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
- After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance; registration of residence.
Nationality
Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Work
Nationals of EU states and their family members do not need a work permit to take up employment in Lithuania.
Family
Spouse or registered partner, descendants under 21 or dependent, and dependent ascendants may join, whatever their nationality; non-EU family members obtain an EU residence card.
Official sources
- Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Work permits · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Work in the public sector abroad · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- The European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the North · European Parliament · checked 2026-10-10
- Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners, Chapter V: Legal status of nationals of EU Member States · Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (e-seimas) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2004-04-29
EU free movement and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU free movement | – | – | – |
| EU free movement Portugal | – | – | Yes |
| Free movement by treaty Spain | – | 5 yr | Yes |
| Visa-free stay (12 months) Georgia | – | 1 yr | – |
| EU free movement Italy | – | – | Yes |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the EU free movement?
No time limit; a certificate of the right of residence from the Migration Department is issued for 5 years or the intended period of stay.
Can I work on the EU free movement?
Nationals of EU states and their family members do not need a work permit to take up employment in Lithuania.
Can I bring my family on the EU free movement?
Spouse or registered partner, descendants under 21 or dependent, and dependent ascendants may join, whatever their nationality; non-EU family members obtain an EU residence card.
Who can apply for the EU free movement?
Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
How are EU free movement holders taxed in Lithuania?
No special regime in our records is tied to the EU free movement. The standard rules apply: Permanent residents of Lithuania are taxed on income from Lithuanian and foreign sources: 20% up to 36 average wages, 25% from 36 to 60 average wages and 32% above 60 average wages (average wage as set for state social insurance contributions).
Similar visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 9 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Work permits · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Work in the public sector abroad · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
- The European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the North · European Parliament · checked 2026-10-10
- Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners, Chapter V: Legal status of nationals of EU Member States · Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (e-seimas) · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.