Republic of Lithuania · entrepreneur · Leads to settlement

Startup Visa (Lithuania)

By · Last reviewed:

If you are a non-EU founder with an innovative business idea, Lithuania's Startup Visa is a fast route to residence to build your company.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyCommonly issued for one year first and extendable while the startup progresses - confirm current validity on the official page.
Processing time
Indicative only - the business-idea evaluation is processed quickly, in roughly fifteen working days, before the residence step; confirm current processing on the official page.
Government fees
Indicative only - state fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official page.
Typical duration
Commonly issued for one year first and extendable while the startup progresses - confirm current validity on the official page.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes

In short

As of 11 July 2026, the Startup Visa (Lithuania) for Republic of Lithuania is an unsponsored Lithuania immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Lithuania government pages, reviewed 11 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/lithuania/startup-visa#answer

What is the Startup Visa (Lithuania) in Republic of Lithuania?

Startup Visa (Lithuania) is an unsponsored Lithuania route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - state fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - the business-idea evaluation is processed quickly, in roughly fifteen working days, before the residence step; confirm current processing on the official page; typical duration is Commonly issued for one year first and extendable while the startup progresses - 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

The Startup Visa is a Lithuanian government route for non-EU entrepreneurs launching innovative, scalable businesses, typically in technology. An expert panel assesses your idea, and on a positive evaluation you receive a temporary residence permit to set up and run the company in Lithuania. Good to know: this route is known for being fast - the evaluation of your business idea is processed in roughly fifteen working days - and it does not require you to put up a large fixed capital sum in the way an ordinary company route can. 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 idea is innovative and scalable and prepare it for the expert-panel evaluation.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Submit the business idea for evaluation, which is processed quickly, and gather your supporting documents.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    On a positive evaluation, apply through MIGRIS for the startup residence permit and pay the fees.

  4. After approval

    Build the company in Lithuania, extend while it progresses, and track time toward EU long-term residence.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Startup Visa (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.

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 Startup Visa (Lithuania) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Startup Visa (Lithuania).

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

Matches these professions

Also explored by

Compare Republic of Lithuania with

Related routes

Frequently asked questions

How fast is the Startup Visa?+

The evaluation of your business idea is processed quickly - in roughly fifteen working days - which makes this one of Lithuania's faster founder routes. Confirm the current timeline on the official page.

Do I need a lot of capital?+

The Startup Visa is built around an innovative idea assessed by an expert panel rather than a large fixed capital sum, unlike an ordinary company route. Confirm the current requirements on the official page.

Does the Lithuania Startup Visa need an employer or sponsor?+

No - the Startup Visa does not require employer sponsorship; an expert panel assesses your innovative business idea, and on a positive evaluation you receive a temporary residence permit to set up and run the company yourself. Confirm the current process on the official page.

How long is the Lithuania Startup Visa valid and do I have to renew it?+

It is commonly issued for one year first and is extendable while the startup progresses, so you renew it as your company develops, and lawful time on it counts 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