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Republic of Lithuania · entrepreneur · Leads to settlement

Temporary Residence for Business or Self-Employment (Lithuania)

By · Last reviewed:

If you set up or run your own company in Lithuania, this route gives you residence tied to that genuine business activity.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyCommonly issued for up to two years and renewable while the business stays genuine and active - confirm current validity on the official page.
Processing time
Indicative only - the Migration Department decides complete MIGRIS applications within a published period; confirm current processing on the official page.
Government fees
Indicative only - company-registration and state fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official page.
Typical duration
Commonly issued for up to two years and renewable while the business stays genuine and active - confirm current validity on the official page.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior (Lithuania) ↗

In short

As of 12 July 2026, the Temporary Residence for Business or Self-Employment (Lithuania) for Republic of Lithuania is an unsponsored Lithuania immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Lithuania government pages, reviewed 12 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/lithuania/business-self-employment-residence#answer

What is the Temporary Residence for Business or Self-Employment (Lithuania) in Republic of Lithuania?

Temporary Residence for Business or Self-Employment (Lithuania) is an unsponsored Lithuania route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - company-registration and state fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - the Migration Department decides complete MIGRIS applications within a published period; confirm current processing on the official page; typical duration is Commonly issued for up to two years and renewable while the business stays genuine and active - confirm current validity on the official page. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior (Lithuania) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

This route is for non-EU nationals who own and run a company in Lithuania, or who are otherwise lawfully self-employed there. You register the business, show it is genuine and operating, and apply through MIGRIS for a temporary residence permit on the basis of your role as owner, manager or self-employed person. Good to know: because Lithuania has no dedicated digital-nomad visa, remote workers and freelancers who want to base themselves here typically use this business or self-employment route, registering a local company or activity rather than relying on a nomad permit. Lawful time on it counts toward EU long-term residence.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm your business plan and register your company, or set up as self-employed, in Lithuania.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather the company documents, evidence the business is operating, and prepare your passport and supporting documents.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply through MIGRIS to the Migration Department for residence on the basis of your role and pay the fees.

  4. After approval

    Collect your permit, keep the business active, renew on time, and track time toward EU long-term residence.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Temporary Residence for Business or Self-Employment (Lithuania), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Temporary Residence for Business or Self-Employment (Lithuania) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Lithuania

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Lithuania. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Temporary Residence for Business or Self-Employment (Lithuania) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Temporary Residence for Business or Self-Employment (Lithuania).

    Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior (Lithuania) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Is there a digital-nomad visa in Lithuania?+

No - Lithuania has no dedicated digital-nomad visa, so remote workers and freelancers who want to be based here typically register a local company or self-employment and use this route. Confirm the current options on the official page.

Is registering a company enough on its own?+

No - the residence is granted for a genuine, operating business, so the company must really trade, not just exist on paper. Confirm the current requirements on the official page.

Should I use the Startup Visa or register my own company to move to Lithuania?+

The Startup Visa is built around an innovative, scalable business idea (typically in technology) assessed by an expert panel, while the business or self-employment route is for owning and running a genuine, operating company and is the route most remote workers use since Lithuania has no digital-nomad visa. Confirm which fits your situation on the official page.

How long does the Lithuanian business or self-employment residence permit last?+

It is commonly issued for up to two years and is renewable while the business stays genuine and active, with lawful time counting toward EU long-term residence. Confirm the current validity on the official page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Lithuania

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior (Lithuania)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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