Our company provides a wide range of immigration law services in Lithuania. We can provide you with professional advice and assist you in resolving the following issues on obtaining:
Obtaining temporary residence permit on the basis of business
The procedure of obtaining a residence permit in Lithuania on the basis of business ownership is conditionally divided into two stages. At the first stage, we register a company for you, which will subsequently be the basis for obtaining a residence permit. Then, at the second stage, we submit the relevant documents to the Migration Service to obtain a residence permit. As a rule, you will have to come to Lithuania twice for the whole procedure.
The first stage
We register a company for you and prepare all the necessary statutory documents. Please note that a Lithuanian company must meet certain criteria in order to entitle you to a residence permit, namely:
✓ the company must have been in business for at least 6 months prior to applying for a residence permit;
✓ the share capital of such a company must be at least 28,000 euros, and the share of each applicant for a residence permit in any case must not be less than 14,000 euros;
✓ one or more workplaces have been created in the company, employing Lithuanian citizens or persons who have the right of permanent residence in Lithuania, and the total payroll is equal to at least two average salaries in Lithuania (as of June 1, 2018, the average salary in Lithuania is 900 euros/month before taxes).
In order to obtain a residence permit, you may be employed in a given company in a managerial position, but this is not obligatory. According to the local legislation, a shareholder of a company that meets the above-mentioned requirements and owns at least 1/3 of the number of its shares, has the right to obtain a residence permit in Lithuania. Thus, it is possible to issue residence permits for several shareholders and directors at once.
The second stage
After company registration we prepare a package of documents for obtaining a residence permit. Within the framework of this stage we arrange for your residence permit in Lithuania, fill in all necessary registration forms, assist you in preparing your documents and carry out other necessary preparatory activities.
To obtain a residence permit, the following documents, among others, are submitted to the Lithuanian Migration Service:
- Application;
- A valid passport (the validity period of the passport must exceed the validity period of the Permit you are going to obtain) with a valid visa for stay in Lithuania;
- 4x6 photo;
- Company documents (articles of association, extract from the register of companies, proof of compliance of the company with the legal requirements mentioned above: employment contracts, company balance sheet, interim financial statements, bank account statement, etc.)*;
- A document proving sufficient funds for living in Lithuania (a bank certificate on the availability of a personal account of at least twelve minimum wages per year, or an employment contract with a specified monthly salary of at least the minimum wage);
- A document of residence address (propiska) in Lithuania;
- Certificate of absence of criminal record;
- Document on health insurance;
- Information about the countries where the applicant has lived or stayed;
- Business plan of the company, according to which it is planned to carry out business activities.
As a rule, during the process of obtaining the Permit you will have to come to Lithuania twice: when submitting the documents and when receiving a positive decision to provide your biometric data. Alternatively, it is possible to submit documents at the Lithuanian consulate in your country, but this method may entail additional time and difficulties in document verification.
Companies in the field of innovation and IT
Starting from 2017, founders/employees of companies that plan to engage in activities related to innovation and implementation of new technologies necessary for economic and social development of Lithuania may apply for residence permit in Lithuania. Such a company must have a qualified team, funding and a business plan, and the applicant's presence in Lithuania is a prerequisite for the company's operation. A special commission shall assess the innovativeness of the company and the possibility of granting the Authorization to its participants.
Obtaining temporary residence permit on the basis of employment or work as a highly-qualified employee
In order to obtain a residence permit on the basis of an employment contract and work as a highly qualified specialist, the following requirements must be met:
✓ The employment contract must be concluded for at least 1 year;
✓ The salary must be equivalent to at least 3 average salaries in Lithuania as of June 1, 2018, the average salary in Lithuania is 900 EUR/month before tax deduction), or 1.5 average salaries in case of additional approval from the labor exchange for the relevant vacancy;
✓ The candidate for the position must have a higher education diploma or at least 5 years of work experience in his/her specialty.
In this case, the permit may be issued for a period of up to 3 years, but not longer than the period for which your employment contract is concluded. The list of documents is comparable to the list of documents for obtaining a residence permit on the basis of business with some exceptions.
You can expect the following benefits with having temporary residence in Lithuania:
✓ Legal residence in the Republic of Lithuania for more than 180 days in a year;
✓ Temporary residence permit for all family members by meeting certain criteria;
✓ Doing legitimate business in a European country with clear rules of engagement with regulatory authorities;
✓ The possibility of further obtaining a temporary residence permit in any EU Member State under a simplified procedure after living in Lithuania for a set time;
✓ Visa-free access to the Schengen states;
✓ Simplified procedures with European banks, simplified procedure for obtaining loans and mortgages at low interest rates;
✓ Possibility to obtain a permanent residence permit and citizenship by meeting certain criteria.
Interested in obtaining a residence permit in Lithuania?
Email us for a free consultation!