--- title: "Lithuania Spouse of a citizen requirements 2026: 2-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/spouse-of-citizen/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Lithuania · Spouse visas # Lithuania Spouse of a citizen **First stay:** 2 yrs Temporary residence permit on the basis of family reunification (spouse of a Lithuanian citizen or permanent resident) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Record corrected 13 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-lt-spouse-of-citizen) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 2 yrs (Issued for 2 years; a changed permit is issued for 4 years.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport - **Work:** Yes (Family members with a permit on this basis may work in Lithuania.) ## Key facts Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Lithuania. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Government fees:** €220 ≈ $250 - **Processing:** Up to 90 days - **First stay:** 2 yrs ## Cost, time and long term To apply: government fee €220 ≈ $250; decision: up to 90 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: €220 ≈ $250** - EUR 220 (≈ $250) State fee under the general procedure (decision in 3 months); EUR 440 (≈ $490) under the urgent procedure (45 days). **Renewal: Renewable** Issued for 2 years and changed for 4 years. [Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania](https://www.migracija.lt/service/uzsienieciams?lang=lt#lgtsp-ls-prasau-isduoti-leidima-laikinai-gyventi-seimos-susijungimo-pagrindu) **Permanent residence: After 5 years of residence** A permanent residence permit is available after 5 years of lawful, uninterrupted residence in Lithuania; the state language and Constitution exams are required. [Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania](https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/rs/actualedition/TAIS.232378/RZsVWVTDPS/) **Citizenship: After 7 years of marriage** A spouse of a Lithuanian citizen who has lawfully lived in Lithuania together with the spouse for the last 7 years can be naturalised with the right of permanent residence, the state language and Constitution exams, and giving up other citizenship unless it is lost automatically (Law on Citizenship XI-1196, Art. 19); the general rule is 10 years (Art. 18). [Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania](https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/TAIS.387811/asr) **Processing: Up to 90 days** A first temporary residence permit decision is due within 3 months of the application. [Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania](https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/rs/actualedition/TAIS.232378/RZsVWVTDPS/) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Only from age 21 ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - Applicant is the spouse, or registered partner under a partnership agreement, of a Lithuanian citizen or of a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit; both are at least 21. #### What you must show - Means of subsistence of one minimum monthly wage per month, covering the whole permit period or at least one year. - The state fee is EUR 220 (≈ $250) under the general procedure or EUR 440 (≈ $490) under the urgent procedure. #### Documents - Digital copy of the valid passport and digital copies of documents proving the family tie, translated and apostilled where required. - Family-tie documents are not needed if the marriage was registered in Lithuania or when converting an existing temporary permit. - A criminal record certificate for applicants over 14 from the countries of residence in the last 2 years, only for a first permit. - Health insurance covering emergency care and repatriation for the whole permit period or at least one year, unless mandatory health insurance contributions are paid. #### Steps 1. The application is filed through MIGRIS; documents and biometric data are presented at a booked Migration Department visit. 2. A person applying from within Lithuania must be there lawfully. 3. A permit application is decided within 3 months under the general procedure or 45 days under the urgent procedure. #### After you arrive - The permit is issued for 2 years, and a changed permit is issued for 4 years. ## When you become tax resident How Lithuania decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **2 years at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in a tax period** Present 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 periods** Present 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/tax/) Tax records checked 11 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Health insurance** Health insurance covering emergency care and repatriation for the whole permit period or at least one year, unless mandatory health insurance contributions are paid - **Police certificate and civil documents** A criminal record certificate for applicants over 14 from the countries of residence in the last 2 years, only for a first permit Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Temporary residence permit for the spouse or registered partner of a Lithuanian citizen or of a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit, issued for 2 years. (sources 1, 2) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of EUR 220 (≈ $250) · State fee under the general procedure (decision in 3 months); EUR 440 (≈ $490) under the urgent procedure (45 days). (source 3) #### Requirements - Applicant is the spouse, or registered partner under a partnership agreement, of a Lithuanian citizen or of a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit; both are at least 21. (sources 1, 2) - Means of subsistence of one minimum monthly wage per month, covering the whole permit period or at least one year. (source 1) - The state fee is EUR 220 (≈ $250) under the general procedure or EUR 440 (≈ $490) under the urgent procedure. (source 3) - Digital copy of the valid passport and digital copies of documents proving the family tie, translated and apostilled where required. (source 1) - Family-tie documents are not needed if the marriage was registered in Lithuania or when converting an existing temporary permit. (source 1) - A criminal record certificate for applicants over 14 from the countries of residence in the last 2 years, only for a first permit. (source 1) - Health insurance covering emergency care and repatriation for the whole permit period or at least one year, unless mandatory health insurance contributions are paid. (source 1) - The application is filed through MIGRIS; documents and biometric data are presented at a booked Migration Department visit. (source 1) - A person applying from within Lithuania must be there lawfully. (source 1) - A permit application is decided within 3 months under the general procedure or 45 days under the urgent procedure. (source 1) - The permit is issued for 2 years, and a changed permit is issued for 4 years. (sources 1, 2) #### Stay - Issued for 2 years; a changed permit is issued for 4 years. - Initial permitted stay: 24 months. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Work Family members with a permit on this basis may work in Lithuania. Checked 2026-10-12 · partly verified ## Official sources 1. [Temporary residence permit on the basis of family reunification](https://www.migracija.lt/service/uzsienieciams?lang=lt#lgtsp-ls-prasau-isduoti-leidima-laikinai-gyventi-seimos-susijungimo-pagrindu) · Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania (MIGRIS) · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Law on the Legal Status of Aliens No IX-2206, consolidated text valid 2026-07-01 to 2026-10-31 (Lithuanian)](https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/rs/actualedition/TAIS.232378/RZsVWVTDPS/) · Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (e-seimas) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Residence permits](https://migracija.lrv.lt/en/services/state-fees-for-services/residence-permits/) · Official migration authority · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-12 4. [Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania No XI-1196, consolidated text from 2024-01-01, Arts. 2, 18 and 19](https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/TAIS.387811/asr) · Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (e-seimas) · checked 2026-10-12 ## Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Spouse of a citizen | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes | | [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/family/) | – | – | Yes | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/spouse-of-citizen/) Portugal | – | – | – | | [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/family-reunification/) Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes | | [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen? A fee of EUR 220 (≈ $250). State fee under the general procedure (decision in 3 months); EUR 440 (≈ $490) under the urgent procedure (45 days). ### How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen? Issued for 2 years; a changed permit is issued for 4 years. ### How long does the Spouse of a citizen take to process? A first temporary residence permit decision is due within 3 months of the application. ### Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen? Yes. Family members with a permit on this basis may work in Lithuania. ### Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Lithuania? Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in Lithuania, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 7 years of marriage. ### How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Lithuania? No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. 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). ## More in Lithuania [Investor · €260k company](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/investor-260k/) [Entrepreneur D visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/national-visa-entrepreneur/) [Company manager · €500k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/company-manager-500k/) [Company shareholder · €28k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/company-participant/) [Startup visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/startup/) [Work or business · 7 countries](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/nationals-work-business/) [Collective relocation permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/collective-relocation/) [Large-project investor permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/lithuania/large-investor/) ## Spouse and partner visas elsewhere [🇮🇹 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇬🇷 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇫🇷 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇬🇧 Fiancé visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/fiance-visa/) [🇳🇱 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇨🇾 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 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. 1. [Temporary residence permit on the basis of family reunification](https://www.migracija.lt/service/uzsienieciams?lang=lt#lgtsp-ls-prasau-isduoti-leidima-laikinai-gyventi-seimos-susijungimo-pagrindu) · Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania (MIGRIS) · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Law on the Legal Status of Aliens No IX-2206, consolidated text valid 2026-07-01 to 2026-10-31 (Lithuanian)](https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/rs/actualedition/TAIS.232378/RZsVWVTDPS/) · Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (e-seimas) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Residence permits](https://migracija.lrv.lt/en/services/state-fees-for-services/residence-permits/) · Official migration authority · checked 2026-10-12 4. [Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania No XI-1196, consolidated text from 2024-01-01, Arts. 2, 18 and 19](https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/TAIS.387811/asr) · Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (e-seimas) · checked 2026-10-12 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.