Eligibility quiz
Was one of your ancestors a Lithuanian citizen before and on 15 June 1940?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Lithuania permanently
Your permanent residence permit gives you an ongoing right to live in Lithuania.
Your residence is not tied to a particular job, employer or study programme.
The card is issued for five years and must then be replaced, but replacing it does not start a new five-year qualifying period.
Study in Lithuania
Permanent residents can study in Lithuania under the rules for people living there lawfully.
Work in Lithuania
Permanent residents can work in Lithuania under the rules for people living there lawfully.
Your permanent residence permit is not tied to a particular employer.
Travel in Schengen
A valid residence permit generally lets you travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
The permit also proves your right to return to and live in Lithuania.
It does not give you a right to settle, work or study elsewhere in the Schengen area.
Use public healthcare
Permanent residents are part of Lithuania’s compulsory health insurance system.
You normally pay contributions yourself or through an employer, unless the state pays them for you.
Once insured, you can use covered services and receive medicines paid for by the system.
Without insurance, you generally pay for care yourself.
Receive social support
You may qualify for social assistance.
Each benefit has its own conditions, which can include where you live, your income, insurance and work history.
How to apply
Applying from outside LithuaniaApplying from outside Lithuania
Find a service provider
Find an authorised external service provider where you can attend an appointment.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which authorised external service provider near your city takes Lithuania permanent residence permit applications?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your application.
See required documentsFill in the application online
Create or sign in to your MIGRIS account and fill in the permanent residence permit application. Upload scans of your required documents.
Fill in the applicationSubmit your application
Submit your completed application and documents through MIGRIS.
Submit your applicationPay the fee
Pay the state fee using the Migration Department's payment instructions. Use payment code 5740.
Find payment instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the state fee for a Lithuania permanent residence permit application?”
Book an appointment
When MIGRIS shows that your application has been submitted to the external service provider, select “Book a visit”. Choose an available provider and appointment.
Book an appointmentGo to your appointment
Attend in person with your original documents, travel document and any required photographs. The provider will take your biometric data.
Find appointment instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “What do I bring to an external service provider appointment for a Lithuania permanent residence permit?”
Wait for the decision
Follow your application in MIGRIS and respond to any requests from the Migration Department.
Track your applicationCollect your permit
After approval, follow the collection instructions in MIGRIS or from the Migration Department or provider. Your permit lets you live permanently in Lithuania; it does not grant citizenship.
Find collection instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I collect a Lithuania permanent residence permit after applying at an external service provider?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Provide your birth certificate and those of your parent and grandparent, showing each family link back to your Lithuanian great-grandparent. If a court has established a family link, include its decision.
Great-grandparent's citizenship records
Provide evidence that your Lithuanian great-grandparent held Lithuanian citizenship before and on 15 June 1940, such as a Lithuanian passport, military or civil service record, birth certificate or personal certificate showing citizenship. If these are unavailable, provide records of their studies, work or life in Lithuania before that date, together with a passport from another country and supporting records; include a court decision if one establishes their citizenship. If you already have a certificate of your right to restore citizenship, a certificate of Lithuanian origin or an equivalent Migration Department decision, provide it instead of resubmitting the citizenship evidence.
Name change records *
Provide records explaining changes in your name or the names of your parent, grandparent or Lithuanian great-grandparent where the names do not match across the documents. Include any relevant divorce records.
* Only if a name in your documents changed for a reason other than marriage.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationMarriage certificates *
Provide the marriage certificates that explain the differences between names in your family records. Include your own certificate if it explains a change in your name.
* Only if a name in your family records changed through marriage.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Residence card and records
You must keep your residence card valid and replace it when its five-year validity expires.
You must report relevant changes and hand in the card when required.
Permanent residence can end
Your permanent residence can be cancelled if you spend too long outside Lithuania, or on serious public-order, security or fraud-related grounds.
If it is cancelled, your card becomes invalid.
After the time allowed to appeal, you must return the card and leave Lithuania unless you have another lawful reason to stay.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Expats & Foreigners in Lithuania
English Facebook group for people living in Lithuania interested in Lithuanian visas
Join on Facebookr/AnchorLessEurope
English Reddit group for people living in Europe interested in visas
Join on RedditForeigners in Kaunas
English Facebook group for people living in Lithuania interested in Lithuanian local life
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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