In short
US citizens can visit Lithuania visa-free for 90 days in any 180 (Schengen) but cannot work there without a residence permit. Lithuania has no digital nomad visa, no golden visa and no retirement permit. Americans move with a job (EU Blue Card at about €3,940 a month in 2026), through the Startup Visa (an expert committee assesses your plan; €13,836 of living funds) or with an operating business — €28,000 of company equity, €14,000 of it from you, 6 months of activity and staff. Permanent residence comes after 5 years with A2 Lithuanian and a Constitution exam. Citizenship takes 10 more years and you must give up US citizenship, unless you are restoring it through pre-1940 ancestry. Income tax is 20% up to €83,237. A single person in Vilnius spends about €1,300–1,500 a month including rent.
Moving to Lithuania: key facts
Last verified 28 September 2026| Visa-free stay | 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area; the Entry/Exit System registers your entries since April 2026# Source: US Department of State: Lithuania travel information · ETIAS Answers: EES and ETIAS launch tracker |
|---|---|
| Digital nomads | No digital nomad visa or remote-work permit. A national (D) visa is discretionary, lasts up to 1 year and is not a remote-work route# Source: Remote Work Europe: what non-EU remote workers should know about Lithuania · Lithuanian Foreign Ministry: national (D) visas |
| Investor or retiree visa | None — Lithuania has no golden visa and no residence permit for retirees or passive income# Source: Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (consolidated text) · Deloitte Lithuania: residence permits for business and work |
| EU Blue Card | 1.5 times the average gross wage (about €3,940 a month in 2026; 1.2 times for shortage jobs); degree or 5 years' experience; 3 years; decision in 1 month# Source: EU Immigration Portal: EU Blue Card in Lithuania |
| Business residence permit | Company equity of €28,000 (€14,000 from you); you own a third or are the director; 6 months of operation; staff paid at least 2 average wages in total. 2 years — 3 years with €260,000 invested and 5 employees# Source: Deloitte Lithuania: residence permits for business and work · Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (consolidated text) |
| Startup Visa Lithuania | An expert committee scores your innovative, scalable plan — no incubator or investment threshold; living funds of €13,836 for 12 months (2026); 2-year permit, extendable to 5# Source: Startup Visa Lithuania (Innovation Agency): official site · Startup Visa Lithuania: FAQ · Startup Visa Lithuania: guidebook (Aug 2025) |
| Permanent residence | After 5 years with a temporary permit; Lithuanian exam (category I, about A2) and a Constitution exam# Source: Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (consolidated text) · Triniti Jurex: permanent residence in Lithuania |
| Citizenship | 10 years of permanent residence; A2 Lithuanian and a Constitution exam; you must give up other citizenships — the 2019 and 2024 referendums to allow dual citizenship failed# Source: Migration.lt: naturalisation in Lithuania · LRT: the 2024 dual-citizenship referendum fails |
| Citizenship by descent | Descendants of people who were Lithuanian citizens before 15 June 1940 can restore citizenship and, in most cases, keep their US passport# Source: Micenter: Lithuanian citizenship and restoration |
| Income tax | 20% up to €83,237 a year, 25% up to €138,729, 32% above (2026); dividends 15%# Source: PwC Tax Summaries: Lithuania — personal income tax · KPMG Lithuania: Tax Card 2026 |
| US tax treaty | Signed 1998, in effect since 2000; US citizens still file US returns# Source: IRS: technical explanation of the US–Lithuania tax convention |
| Social Security agreement | None between the US and Lithuania — self-employed Americans may owe both US and Lithuanian contributions# Source: SSA: US international Social Security agreements (Lithuania not listed) |
Not American?
Canadians, Australians, Brits and other non-EU citizens: the same rules apply
Lithuanian residence rules are the same for all non-EU citizens, so Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Brits follow the same routes as Americans. Only a few points differ:
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- Japan
- South Korea
- + other visa-free countries
| Social security | There is no US–Lithuania Social Security agreement, so Americans can owe contributions in both countries. Other countries have their own arrangements — check yours. |
|---|---|
| Lithuanian ancestry | Descendants of pre-1940 citizens can restore citizenship whatever their nationality — common among Americans with Lithuanian roots. |
| Home-country tax | US citizens remain taxable in the US on worldwide income; most other nationals who move are taxed only where they live. |
| Documents from abroad | Need an apostille; the US, Canada (since 11 Jan 2024), the UK, Australia and NZ issue them.Source: HCCH: Apostille Convention status table |
Country Overview
Lithuania at a Glance
Key facts Americans need before deciding.
Lithuanian
English is widely used in business and by younger people — the "high" band of the EF English Proficiency Index.
Euro (€)
Since 2015. EU and NATO since 2004, Schengen since 2007.
One stop
No nonstop flights — connect via Warsaw, Helsinki, Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Copenhagen.
PSD + private
State health insurance comes with Lithuanian work or self-employment; others need private cover.
About 2.89 million
Statistics Lithuania.
20% / 25% / 32%
New brackets from 2026; employees also pay 19.5% social insurance.
Level 1
The lowest US travel advisory level.
Pathways to Residency
Which Visa Route is Right for You?
US citizens can visit visa-free for 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area, but since July 2024 you can work for a Lithuanian employer only with a residence permit. You can apply from the US through MIGRIS and VFS Global, or in Lithuania. Permit fees are €160 (€320 urgent).
EU Blue Card
For a job paying 1.5 times the average wage — about €3,940 a month in 2026 (1.2 times for shortage jobs) — with a degree or 5 years' experience. A 3-year permit, decided in 1 month.
- Salary
- ≈ €3,940/month
- Permit
- 3 years
Business Residence Permit
For people running a real Lithuanian company — €28,000 of equity (€14,000 from you), you own a third or are the director, the company has operated 6 months and its staff earn at least 2 average wages in total. 2 years; 3 years with €260,000 invested and 5 employees.
- Company equity
- €28,000
- Permit
- 2–3 years
Startup Visa Lithuania
For innovative, scalable startups. An expert committee scores your plan — no incubator or minimum investment — and you show €13,836 to live on for 12 months. A 2-year permit, extendable to 5.
- Living funds
- €13,836
- Permit
- 2 years (to 5)
No Digital Nomad Visa
Lithuania has no remote-work permit. A national (D) visa is discretionary, lasts up to 1 year and is not designed for remote work; the "€5,460 a month" figure seen online has no legal basis.
- Dedicated route
- None
No Golden Visa or Retirement Permit
Lithuania has no residence by investment and no permit for retirees or passive income. Investment counts only through an operating business.
- Investment visa
- None
Permanent Residence & Citizenship
Permanent residence after 5 years, with A2 Lithuanian and a Constitution exam. Citizenship after 10 years of permanent residence — and you must give up US citizenship, unless you restore citizenship through pre-1940 ancestry.
- Permanent residence
- 5 years
- Dual citizenship
- Only in special cases
Cost of Living
What Does Life in Lithuania Actually Cost?
Lithuania is one of the most affordable countries in the eurozone, though wages and prices have risen fast.
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, Vilnius centre | about €730 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, Vilnius outside centre | about €555 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, Kaunas centre | about €575 |
| Everyday costs without rent (single person, Vilnius) | about €780 |
| Utilities (85 m² apartment) + internet, Vilnius | about €215 |
| Vilnius 30-day transport ticket | €38 |
Estimates from Numbeo (September 2026); fares from Vilnius city transport. Source: Numbeo: Vilnius · Kaunas · LRT: Vilnius fares 2025
A single person in Vilnius spends about €1,300–1,500 a month including rent; Kaunas about €1,150–1,350. Heating costs rose in 2026 when its VAT went from 9% to 21%.
Why Lithuania
What Americans Love About Lithuania
Beyond the visa — the real reasons expats choose Lithuania.
Low Costs in the Eurozone
About €1,500 a month for a single person in central Vilnius — about a quarter of New York.
A Real Tech Scene
About 1,100 startups and five unicorns, including Vinted and Nord Security, plus a large fintech sector.
Startup Visa
A clear founder route with no minimum investment — an expert committee judges the idea and the team.
Baroque Vilnius
Vilnius's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, compact and walkable, with cafés and a lively arts scene.
Restore Your Citizenship
Americans with ancestors who were Lithuanian citizens before 1940 can often restore citizenship and keep their US passport.
Safe and Well Connected
US advisory Level 1, fast internet and short flights to the rest of Europe.
Where to Live
Life in Lithuania's Cities
From the capital to the second city and the coast.
Vilnius
The capital — tech and fintech jobs, a UNESCO-listed Old Town and the largest international community. See our Living in Vilnius guide.
Kaunas
Lithuania's second city and European Capital of Culture 2022, with universities, interwar modernist architecture and lower rents.
Klaipėda
The port city on the Baltic coast, with a free economic zone and the Curonian Spit — a UNESCO site — across the lagoon.
How It Works
From Decision to Your Lithuanian Residence Permit
We guide you through every step — from first consultation to settled life in Lithuania.
Free consultation
We assess your situation and confirm the right route — a job and Blue Card, the Startup Visa, a business permit or citizenship restoration.
Secure the basis
A job offer, a Startup Visa endorsement or an operating company that meets the business-permit tests.
Apply through MIGRIS
File online and submit documents at VFS Global in the US or at the Migration Department in Lithuania. Fee €160 (€320 urgent).
Collect your permit
Bring health insurance and proof of accommodation; decisions take up to 3 months, 1 month for the Blue Card and Startup Visa.
Declare your residence
Within 1 month of collecting your permit, declare your address — at the Migration Department, the municipality or online.
Free Tools
Plan Your Move with Our Calculators
Built specifically for Americans considering a European move.
Golden Visa Calculator
Compare investor residence programmes across the EU — real costs and requirements, not brochure figures.
Open Calculator →Cost of Living Calculator
Enter your current US city — see your monthly budget in Vilnius and 30 other European cities.
Open Calculator →Visa Finder
Answer 7 questions about your situation. Get a personalised ranking of EU visa programmes matched to your profile.
Find My Visa →FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does Lithuania have a golden visa?
No. Lithuania has no residence-by-investment programme. The business residence permit requires a real operating company — €28,000 of equity (€14,000 from you), 6 months of activity and staff paid at least 2 average wages in total.
Does Lithuania have a digital nomad visa?
No. There is no remote-work permit. A national (D) visa is discretionary and not designed for remote work, and figures like "€5,460 a month" quoted online have no legal basis.
How affordable is Lithuania compared to the US?
A single person in Vilnius spends about €1,300–1,500 a month including rent — about €780 for everyday costs plus €555–730 for a 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026).
Does Lithuania allow dual citizenship?
Only in special cases. Naturalised citizens must give up other citizenships; referendums to change this failed in 2019 and 2024. Descendants of pre-1940 citizens restoring citizenship can usually keep their US passport.
What is Lithuania's Startup Visa?
A residence permit for founders of innovative, scalable startups. An expert committee assesses the plan — no incubator or minimum investment — and you show €13,836 of living funds for 12 months. The permit lasts 2 years and can be extended to 5.
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