Permanent residence permit – a document granting a foreign citizen the right to live in the Republic of Lithuania and confirming the status of a resident (permanent resident) of the Republic of Lithuania.

On what grounds is a permanent residence permit issued?

Permission is issued: 

• based on family reunification;

• on the basis of the right to renew the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania or persons of Lithuanian origin;

• based on naturalization (if you have lived in Lithuania with a temporary residence permit for 5 years without interruption).

What institution do I need to apply to for a permanent residence permit?

First of all, you must apply for a permanent residence permit in electronic form through the Lithuanian Migration Information System  (MIGRIS). Within 4 months from the date of submitting the application electronically via MIGRIS, you must reserve the time of the visit  and personally contact the Migration Department: provide biometric data and originals of all necessary documents. For more information, please follow the link. .

A permanent residence permit is issued for 5 years, and after this period it can be extended.

What is the cost of obtaining a permanent residence permit?

Before submitting an application for the issuance/extension of a permanent residence permit, a foreign citizen must pay a state fee of 90 euros (180 euros – for urgent consideration), except in cases where, in accordance with the procedure established by law, a foreign citizen is exempt from paying the state fee.

What documents do you need to submit to obtain a permanent residence permit?

You must submit:

• application (the application must be submitted through the Lithuanian Migration Information System MIGRIS);

• valid road document;

• residence permit (if extended);

• the documents which are confirming the basis for issuing a permanent residence permit;

• a document which is confirming the availability of sufficient funds for accommodation;

• certificate of absence of a criminal record (if a foreign citizen is over the age of 14. Required for obtaining your first residence permit);

• document which is confirming the availability of health insurance (insurance amount - 6000 euros);

• a document which is confirming the legality of your stay (when applying during your stay in Lithuania).

Is it necessary to translate documents issued by the competent authorities of foreign countries?

Documents issued by the competent authorities of foreign countries (except for the passport) must be legalized – certified with an apostille stamp. Documents issued in Estonia, Russia, Latvia, Moldova, and Ukraine do not need to be legalized – you do not need to certify them with an apostille stamp (just translate them into Lithuanian).

What is the waiting period for a permanent residence permit to be ready?

The waiting period for making a decision and making the first permanent residence permit in the usual manner is 4 months from the date of submission of the application and original documents to the Migration Department. As a matter of urgency, the waiting period is 2 months.

In case of extension of the permanent residence permission, the waiting period is 1 month – in general, 15 days – as a matter of urgency.

For more detailed information, please follow this link. .

A foreigner who has permanently resided in Lithuania for the last 10 years has the right to acquire citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania by naturalization. Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania is granted to a person if he meets the following criteria:

• legally resided in the Republic of Lithuania for the last 10 years;

• has a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Lithuania at the time of applying for citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania and making a decision on granting citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania;

• successfully passed the state language exam and the basic constitution exam of the Republic of Lithuania;

• has a legitimate source of livelihood;

• is a stateless person or a citizen of a state under whose legislation a person loses the citizenship of that state upon acquiring the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, or declares in writing his desire to renounce the citizenship of another state when he is granted the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania;

• the person does not comply with the provisions specified in Article 22 of the Citizenship Act, which make it impossible to grant citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania.

To obtain citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania by naturalization, a foreign citizen must provide the following documents:

• The application form (application forms are available here);

• The identity document;

• The permanent residence permission in Lithuania;

• A document confirming that you have legally resided in the Republic of Lithuania for the last 10 years;

• A document confirming that you have a legitimate source of livelihood in Lithuania;

• Documents confirming that you have passed the exam in the Lithuanian language and the basics of the Lithuanian Constitution;

• Certificate of no criminal record;

• A written statement that you will renounce your citizenship of another state.

Foreign citizens who have married a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania and retain their marital status for the last 7 years while permanently residing with their spouse in the Republic of Lithuania can obtain Lithuanian citizenship if the following criteria are met:

• if at the time of applying for citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania and during the period of making a decision on granting citizenship a person has the right to permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania;

• successfully passed/passed the state language exam and the basic constitution exam of the Republic of Lithuania;

• is a stateless person or a citizen of a state under whose legislation a person loses the citizenship of that state upon acquiring the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, or declares in writing his desire to renounce the citizenship of another state when he is granted the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania;

• the person does not comply with the provisions specified in Article 22 of the Citizenship Act, which make it impossible to grant citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania.

Additional information on obtaining citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania through naturalization can be found here.

Acquisition of citizenship in a simplified manner

Persons of Lithuanian origin who have never held citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania have the right to acquire citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania in a simplified manner, regardless of whether they are permanently residing in the Republic of Lithuania or in another state.

When obtaining citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, persons must renounce the citizenship of another state (except for those who are granted the right to have dual citizenship).

People who have the right to acquire citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania in a simplified manner are exempt from the requirement to reside in Lithuania for a certain period of time, as well as from the requirement to pass an exam in the Lithuanian language and the basics of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania.

The people in question must present a document confirming Lithuanian origin indicating that the people' parents or grandparents are or were Lithuanians, as well as a written statement by the person stating that he or she considers himself or herself Lithuanian. Read more here.

Lithuania is one of many countries in the world that allows dual citizenship in very rare and exceptional cases. These are usually extremely exceptional situations where a person with dual citizenship is a child or teenager born abroad or in a mixed family.

The amendment to the Citizenship Law came into force on 28 November, 2015 and allows people who have obtained citizenship of Lithuania and another country by birth to have dual citizenship. These people, upon reaching the age of 21, do not need to choose the citizenship of which country they want to retain, since the law provides them with the opportunity to have two citizenships.

A citizen of the Republic of Lithuania may also be a citizen of another state if he or she satisfies one of the following conditions:

• acquired citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania and another country by birth;

• is a person who was deported from occupied Lithuania before 11 March 1990 and acquired citizenship of another state;

• is a person who left Lithuania before 11 March, 1990 and obtained citizenship of another state;

• is a descendant of the person referred to in paragraphs 2 or 3;

• after entering into a marriage with a citizen of another state, he acquired the citizenship of another state in fact (ipso facto);

• is a person who was adopted by citizens (citizen) of the Republic of Lithuania before the age of 18 and on this basis acquired citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania;

• is a person who had the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania and was adopted by citizens (citizen) of another state before the age of 18 and on this basis acquired the citizenship of another state;

• a person has acquired citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania as an exception, being a citizen of another state;

• a person who has retained the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania or to whom the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania has been returned due to the fact that the person has special services to Lithuania;

• a person has acquired citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, having refugee status in the Republic of Lithuania.

Status of a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who also has citizenship of another state

In Lithuania, a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who also has the citizenship of another state is treated only as a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania. Having the citizenship of another state does not release him from the duties of a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, enshrined in the legislative acts of Lithuania.

For more information about multiple citizenship, please visit the migration department's  website. 

Only a highly qualified specialist can get an EU blue card in Lithuania. They must have the appropriate documents that would confirm the existence of such qualifications. Documents issued in a foreign country confirming high qualifications must be recognized in Lithuania. The salary assigned to a foreigner who wishes to obtain an EU Blue Card must be at least 1.5 or 3 average monthly salaries of employees of the national economy of the countries (gross) according to the latest data of the Lithuanian Statistics Department (monthly taxes with the fee assigned by a foreign Specialist are about 50%).

The procedure for obtaining an EU blue card depends on the salary assigned to the specialist. In the event that the amount of salary assigned to a specialist at a Lithuanian enterprise is not less than 1.5 average monthly salaries of employees of the national economy of countries (gross) according to the latest data of the Statistics Department, first of all, the trading exchange requests a decision on the compliance of the professional qualification of the specialist with the requirements of the labor market. In addition, a higher education diploma issued by an educational institution of a foreign country must be recognized in Lithuania. After receiving the decision of the Labor exchange regarding the compliance of the professional qualification of a specialist with the requirements of the Lithuanian labor market, you should contact the Migration Department regarding the issuance of a residence permit in Lithuania to a foreigner. After that, the person is issued an EU Blue Card.