Lithuania
Startup Visa
Lithuania's Startup Visa is a temporary residence permit for non-EU/EEA entrepreneurs to establish and operate innovative, technology-based businesses. Lithuania was the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to introduce a dedicated startup visa. The program targets founders with scalable business ideas in sectors such as fintech, ICT, biotechnology, nanotechnology, mechatronics, electronics, and laser technologies, providing access to the broader EU single market through Schengen area membership.
- Non-EU/EEA citizen with an innovative, technology-based, and scalable business concept
- Must receive a positive evaluation and endorsement letter from Startup Lithuania's expert committee
- Means of subsistence equal to one minimum monthly wage: EUR 1,153/month (2026), demonstrated via stamped bank statements for at least 12 months
- No fixed minimum startup capital — applicants determine the funding needed based on their business plan
- Minimum UAB (private limited liability company) share capital of EUR 1,000
- Valid health insurance with minimum EUR 30,000 coverage
- No formal educational qualifications required, but must demonstrate relevant experience and capability to implement the business plan
- Traditional businesses (restaurants, retail) do not qualify — must be technology-driven and innovative
The application follows two phases. In Phase 1, submit a startup evaluation application via startupvisalithuania.com with a business plan, pitch deck, team CVs, and prototype or MVP evidence. If accepted, attend a recorded online video interview with the evaluation committee of 5-10 members from startup accelerators, venture capital funds, and government agencies. The committee evaluates innovation level, market attractiveness, scalability, and team capability within 15-30 calendar days. Upon approval, an endorsement letter is issued valid for 6 months.
In Phase 2, submit a temporary residence permit application via MIGRIS (migracija.lt) with all required documents including the endorsement letter, then attend an in-person appointment at International House Vilnius, International House Klaipeda, or a Lithuanian embassy abroad. Processing takes up to 3 months standard or 45 days expedited.
- Business plan with development strategy and financial projections
- Pitch deck and CVs of founding team
- Valid passport with 6+ months validity
- Criminal record certificates from countries of residence in the last 2 years (issued within 6 months)
- Startup Lithuania endorsement letter
- Bank statements proving means of subsistence (stamped by bank)
- Accommodation agreement (minimum 7 sq m per adult, 15-month lease recommended)
- Health insurance policy (EUR 30,000+ coverage)
- State fee payment: EUR 160 standard or EUR 320 expedited
The initial permit is issued for 1 year and may be renewed once for 1 additional year (maximum 2 years under the startup visa). Renewal requires re-confirmation from Startup Lithuania that the applicant continues to develop the approved startup. After 2 years, holders may transition to a standard business temporary residence permit (up to 3 additional years) if the company has equity capital of at least EUR 28,000 with a minimum EUR 14,000 foreign investment.
After receiving the residence permit, the holder must establish a Lithuanian company (typically a UAB) and commence approved activities within 120 days. Startup Lithuania must be notified of company registration within 3 working days. The holder must declare their place of residence at the local Migration Office within 7 days of arrival.
Spouse, registered partner, and dependent children may apply for family reunification permits for the same duration as the main applicant. Each family member must independently demonstrate means of subsistence of one minimum monthly wage per month and hold valid health insurance. Family members have independent access to the Lithuanian labour market. After 5 years of continuous residence, family members may independently apply for permanent residence.
After 5 continuous years of residence on temporary permits, holders may apply for a permanent residence permit, subject to passing Lithuanian language (A2 level) and Constitution examinations. Absences must not exceed 6 consecutive months or 10 months total within the 5-year period. Lithuanian citizenship is available after 10 years of continuous residence.
Personal income tax is 20% on employment income (32% above EUR 114,162 annually). Corporate income tax is 15% standard, with 0% for the first fiscal year for small companies with income under EUR 300,000 and a reduced 5% rate for small companies with fewer than 10 employees and annual income under EUR 300,000. Dividends are taxed at 15%. Standard VAT rate is 21%.
Links
Other Digital Nomad Visas in Europe
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Funds Required↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇱 Albania | Residence Permit for Pensioners | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇱 Albania | Residence Permit for Real Estate Owners | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇱 Albania | Unique Permit for Digital Mobile Workers | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇱 Albania | Unique Permit for Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇩 Andorra | Digital Nomad Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇩 Andorra | Entrepreneur Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇦🇩 Andorra | Residence for Scientific, Cultural and Sporting Interest | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇩 Andorra | Residence Without Lucrative Activity | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇹 Austria | Job Seeker Visa (Red-White-Red Card) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇹 Austria | Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇹 Austria | Settlement Permit — Artist | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇹 Austria | Settlement Permit Excluding Gainful Employment | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇾 Belarus | Hi-Tech Park Resident | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇾 Belarus | Investor Permanent Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇪 Belgium | Professional Card for Entrepreneur | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇪 Belgium | Rentier Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇬 Bulgaria | Continuous Residence Permit for Pensioners | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇬 Bulgaria | Digital Nomad Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇬 Bulgaria | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇬 Bulgaria | Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇷 Croatia | Temporary Stay for Other Purposes (Property Ownership) | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇷 Croatia | Temporary Stay of Digital Nomads | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇾 Cyprus | Category D Immigration Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇨🇾 Cyprus | Category F Immigration Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇾 Cyprus | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇾 Cyprus | Permanent Residence Permit for Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇾 Cyprus | Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇿 Czech Republic | Digital Nomad Program | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇿 Czech Republic | Long-Term Residence Permit for the Purpose of Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇪🇪 Estonia | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇪🇪 Estonia | Residence Permit for Major Investor | — | — | — | ||||
🇪🇪 Estonia | Startup Visa | — | — | — | — | |||
🇫🇮 Finland | Residence Permit for Work in Culture or Arts | — | — | — | ||||
🇫🇮 Finland | Startup Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇫🇷 France | Carte de Sejour Temporaire Visiteur | — | — | — | ||||
🇫🇷 France | Talent Porteur de Projet — Business Creation | — | — | — | ||||
🇫🇷 France | Talent Porteur de Projet — Direct Economic Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇫🇷 France | Talent Porteur de Projet — Innovative Economic Project (French Tech Visa) | — | — | — | ||||
🇫🇷 France | Talent — Artistic and Cultural Profession | — | — | — | ||||
🇫🇷 France | Talent — International Reputation | — | — | — | — | |||
🇩🇪 Germany | Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) | — | — | — | ||||
🇩🇪 Germany | Freelance Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇩🇪 Germany | Residence Permit for Financially Independent Persons | — | — | — | ||||
🇩🇪 Germany | Self-Employment Residence Permit for Business Founders | — | — | — | ||||
🇩🇪 Germany | Settlement Permit for Highly Qualified Professionals | — | — | — | — | |||
🇬🇷 Greece | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇷 Greece | Golden Visa (Permanent Residence Permit for Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇷 Greece | Residence Permit for Financially Independent Persons | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇷 Greece | Talent Visa | — | — | — | — | |||
🇬🇬 Guernsey | Guernsey Entrepreneur Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇬 Guernsey | Guernsey Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇺 Hungary | Guest Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇺 Hungary | Guest Self-Employment Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇺 Hungary | White Card | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇸 Iceland | Long-Term Visa for Remote Work | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇪 Ireland | Stamp 0 (Person of Independent Means) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇪 Ireland | Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇲 Isle of Man | Innovator Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇲 Isle of Man | Start-Up Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇹 Italy | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇹 Italy | Elective Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇹 Italy | Investor Visa for Italy | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇹 Italy | Italia Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇪 Jersey | High Value Residency Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇽🇰 Kosovo | Self-Employment Work Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇻 Latvia | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇻 Latvia | Long-Stay Visa for Remote Work | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇻 Latvia | Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇻 Latvia | Temporary Residence Permit for Pensioners | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | Residence Permit Without Gainful Employment | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇹 Lithuania | Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Job Seeker Authorisation | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Residence Permit for Private Reasons | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Self-Employed Worker Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇹 Malta | Global Residence Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇹 Malta | Malta Permanent Residence Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇹 Malta | Malta Retirement Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇹 Malta | Nomad Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇹 Malta | Startup Residence Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇹 Malta | The Residence Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇹 Malta | United Nations Pensions Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇩 Moldova | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇩 Moldova | Investment Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇨 Monaco | Residence Permit for Persons Without Professional Activity | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇪 Montenegro | Digital Nomad Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇪 Montenegro | Temporary Residence and Work Permit for Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇪 Montenegro | Temporary Residence Permit for Property Owners | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇱 Netherlands | Orientation Year Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇳🇱 Netherlands | Startup Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇰 North Macedonia | Personal Work Permit for Self-Employment | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇴 Norway | Self-Employment Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇹 Portugal | D7 Passive Income Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇹 Portugal | D8 Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇹 Portugal | Golden Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇹 Portugal | Job Seeker Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇹 Portugal | Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Activity | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇹 Portugal | StartUP Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇷🇴 Romania | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇷🇴 Romania | Long-Stay Visa for Commercial Activities | — | — | — | ||||
🇷🇺 Russia | Impatriation Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇷🇺 Russia | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇲 San Marino | Atypical Residence for Pensioners | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇲 San Marino | Elective Residence | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇲 San Marino | High-Tech Startup Residence | — | — | — | ||||
🇷🇸 Serbia | Investor Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇷🇸 Serbia | Property Ownership Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇷🇸 Serbia | Startup Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇷🇸 Serbia | Talent Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇸🇰 Slovakia | Temporary Residence for Business Purpose | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇮 Slovenia | Temporary Residence Permit for Digital Nomads | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇮 Slovenia | Temporary Residence Permit for Other Justified Reasons | — | — | — | ||||
🇪🇸 Spain | Entrepreneur Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇪🇸 Spain | International Telework Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇪🇸 Spain | Non-Lucrative Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇪 Sweden | Residence Permit for Job Seeking | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇪 Sweden | Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Persons | — | — | — | — | |||
🇸🇪 Sweden | Self-Employment Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇭 Switzerland | Residence Permit Without Gainful Employment | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇦 Ukraine | Immigration Permit for Highly Qualified IT Specialists | — | — | — | — | |||
🇺🇦 Ukraine | Immigration Permit for Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇦 Ukraine | Temporary Residence Permit for Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Global Talent Visa | — | — | — | — | |||
🇬🇧 United Kingdom | High Potential Individual Visa | — | — | — | — | |||
🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Innovator Founder Visa | — | — | — |