To become a country of two thousand startups, Lithuania must become attractive not only for local innovators, but also for startups from other countries. Founded in 2017, Startup Visa aims to attract ambitious foreign startups to develop their products in Lithuania. Entrepreneurs from third countries participating in the program can take advantage of simplified migration procedures and quickly enter the Lithuanian startup ecosystem. Applicants for the Startup Visa Lithuania programme must present an innovative and scalable business concept, demonstrate relevant qualifications and financial resources, and submit a business plan for assessment by the competent institution. A positive evaluation allows eligible non-EU entrepreneurs to apply for a temporary residence permit under Article 45¹ of the Lithuanian Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners. However, approval of the startup project does not automatically guarantee the issuance of a residence permit. The final immigration decision is made by the Lithuanian Migration Department after verifying the applicant’s eligibility and compliance with applicable legal requirements.
If your company intends to carry out lawful activities related to implementation of new technologies or other innovations important for economic and social development of the Republic of Lithuania, you can apply for Startup Visa.
How can I obtain or prolong my temporary residence permit?
Applicants must first obtain a positive assessment of their startup project from the competent institution authorised under the Startup Visa Lithuania programme. They must then submit an application for a temporary residence permit through the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS), upload the required supporting documents and book an appointment. Depending on the applicant’s nationality, residence status and applicable procedural rules, identity verification and biometric data submission may take place at a Lithuanian Migration Department office or an authorised external service provider abroad. The appointment must be completed within the period specified by MIGRIS, and the applicant must comply with the applicable entry and residence requirements. Applications for Lithuanian temporary residence permits must be submitted electronically through MIGRIS. Applicants must attend an appointment for identity verification, biometric data collection and presentation of the required documents. Depending on their eligibility and location, this appointment may take place at a Lithuanian Migration Department office or an authorised external service provider abroad. Applications submitted from outside Lithuania are subject to the applicable nationality, country of submission and procedural restrictions.
- A valid travel document;
- A confirmation letter issued by the competent institution authorised by the Lithuanian Ministry of the Economy and Innovation, following a positive assessment of the startup project under the Startup Visa Lithuania programme. The former Enterprise Lithuania (Versli Lietuva) was incorporated into Lithuania’s Innovation Agency (Inovacijų agentūra) in 2022 and should no longer be identified as a separate operating institution.
The A confirmation letter issued by the competent institution authorised by the Lithuanian Ministry of the Economy and Innovation, following a positive assessment of the startup project under the Startup Visa Lithuania programme. The former Enterprise Lithuania (Versli Lietuva) was incorporated into Lithuania’s Innovation Agency (Inovacijų agentūra) in 2022 and should no longer be identified as a separate operating institution. confirms that the legal activity you intend to carry out is related to implementation of new technologies or other innovations important for the economic and social development of the Republic of Lithuania, and that you have the necessary qualifications, funding and business plan to participate in this activity, and that your presence in the Republic of Lithuania, which will be a party to the company established, is necessary for activities of the company.
- Under Article 45¹ of the Lithuanian Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners, a temporary residence permit for an eligible startup founder is generally issued for two years and may subsequently be renewed for three years if the competent institution confirms that the applicant continues to satisfy the statutory requirements. The former procedure involving two one-year extensions followed by an additional two-year extension based on attracting EUR 30,000 in investment is outdated and should not be presented as the current Startup Visa Lithuania residence permit framework.
- A document of sufficient means for living;
(The required amount of means for living is 1 minimum wage per month. It could be an employment contract. The funds must be sufficient for the entire period of validity of the temporary residence permit declared for at least one year);
- Applicants must comply with the applicable requirements concerning their intended place of residence and declaration of residence in Lithuania. Depending on the residence permit category and the applicant’s circumstances, supporting documents confirming accommodation or an undertaking to declare a place of residence may be required. Any applicable minimum living space requirement and exemptions must be assessed under the legislation in force when the application is submitted. A fixed requirement of seven square metres per adult should not be presented as universally applicable to all startup residence permit applicants.
- A certificate of (non)criminal record;
It is necessary only when applying for the first temporary residence permit. These are the certificates issued by the competent authorities of the foreign countries where you resided or where you currently have been residing for the last 2 years prior to your arrival in Lithuania (unless your stay abroad was shorter than 6 months for 12 months), proof of criminal records in those countries, which must be issued not later than 6 months before the date of application for a temporary residence permit, translated into Lithuanian and legalized and/or apostilled, if necessary. If you have been convicted, the certificate must state when and for what criminal act you were convicted, what punishment was imposed on you, and whether it was executed.
A certificate of no criminal record can be submitted in English (if the original is in English), or in English translation (if the original is in another language) signed by the translator.
- Health insurance document;
Health insurance must meet the following requirements:
- The insurance must guarantee payment of expenses for emergency medical care in accordance with the Law on Healthcare System of the Republic of Lithuania, and the expenses that may arise as a result of your return to another country for health reasons (transportation, including accompanying a healthcare specialist (specialists)); and
- The insurance must be valid for the entire period of validity of the requested temporary residence permit, or at least for one year.
You do not need a health insurance if you pay (will pay) or have paid the fixed social security contributions.
You can provide the health insurance:
- When completing an application for MIGRIS, or
- Provide the documents and biometric data upon arrival at the booked visit time at the Migration Department.
Applicants must pay the applicable state fee for the examination and issuance or renewal of a temporary residence permit. The standard and urgent processing fees are EUR 160 and EUR 320 respectively under the published fee schedule applicable before the announced November 2026 increase. The Migration Department has also announced revised fees of EUR 220 and EUR 440. Applicants should confirm the effective fee schedule on the date of submission and account for any additional external service provider charges.
As of October 2026, the state fee for examining an application and issuing or renewing a Lithuanian temporary residence permit is EUR 220 under the standard procedure and EUR 440 under the urgent procedure. Additional charges may apply for services provided by authorised external service providers. Applicants should verify the applicable fees at the time of submission, as government charges and procedural requirements may change.
In order to issue/prolong a temporary residence permit, the following is required:
- Central Office of the Migration Department.
Resolutions regarding temporary residence permits are made, and temporary residence permits are issued in the following terms:
- Issue of the permit:
o General procedure – within 4 months;
o Express procedure – within 2 months;
- Prolongation of the permit:
o General procedure – within 2 months;
o Express procedure – within 1 month.
NB!
- Upon arrival at the Migration Department at the booked time, your stay in Lithuania must be legal;
- When applying for issue or prolongation of a temporary residence permit, you may be issued a multiple-entry national visa for a period not more than 5 months after the date of application for issue or prolongation of a temporary residence permit in Lithuania;
- A foreign national who holds a Lithuanian national visa and intends to apply for a temporary residence permit should submit the application sufficiently in advance of the visa’s expiry date. Submitting a residence permit application does not automatically extend the validity of an existing visa or independently authorise continued residence after the permitted period of stay has expired. Applicants must maintain a valid legal basis for staying in Lithuania throughout the relevant period and comply with the applicable MIGRIS submission and appointment requirements.
How many times can I get a temporary residence permit for a startup?
Under Article 45¹ of the Lithuanian Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners, a temporary residence permit for an eligible startup founder is generally issued for two years. It may subsequently be renewed for three years if the competent institution confirms that the applicant continues to meet the applicable requirements concerning the startup’s innovative potential, business activities, qualifications, funding and business plan. The applicant must also satisfy the general immigration requirements. No more than four foreign nationals may qualify as participants of the startup under this specific residence permit route. The current Startup Visa Lithuania residence permit framework provides for an initial temporary residence permit of up to two years, followed by a possible three-year renewal where the statutory conditions remain satisfied. Attracting EUR 30,000 in investment is no longer a general mandatory condition for extending a startup founder’s residence permit under Article 45¹. The competent institution assesses whether the startup continues to meet the applicable innovation, business development and operational requirements.
When do I have to apply for prolongation of a temporary residence permit?
The application for prolongation of a temporary residence permit under the general procedure and the documents attached thereto shall be submitted at least 2 months in advance, while the application for prolongation of a temporary residence permit under the express procedure and the documents attached thereto shall be submitted at least 1 month before expiry of the temporary residence permit, but no longer than 4 months in advance.
Can I bring my family members with me?
Eligible family members of a Startup Visa Lithuania residence permit holder may apply for temporary residence permits under the applicable family reunification provisions of the Lithuanian Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners. Qualifying family members generally include a spouse or registered partner and unmarried minor children, subject to statutory conditions. Certain dependent adult children or parents may qualify in specific circumstances, but their eligibility is not automatic. Family members must independently satisfy applicable documentation, health insurance, financial support and other immigration requirements.
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