Welcome

to Vilnius
Relocation guide
for newcomers
 Let us begin by telling you a story
that occurred...not so long ago.
The legend of the City of Vilnius!

Legend has it that the city started when Grand Duke Gediminas
had a wild dream. 

In his dream, which he had on a hunting trip, Gediminas saw a huge iron wolf
standing on a hill howling as if hundreds of wolves were trapped inside it.  

Not to let the vivid memory of the powerful dream fade, the Grand Duke
consulted his court magician Lizdeika about it. Lizdeika shared his wisdom
and told Gediminas that the wolf was a symbol of a great capital that would
one day stand atop that hill.  

Not long after, by 1323, Gediminas was already sending letters to European
cities inviting foreign merchants and craftspeople to visit Vilnius! 

Skipping few hundred years later – 2023 marks the 700th

anniversary of Vilnius!

Photo by Saulius Žiūra

Vilnius is: Innovating and embracing the future
to fuel the decisions of tomorrow

COMFY NEXT
Always striving for a greener, safer
and more convenient city for everyone
Enabling creative spirits and shaping a vibrant Open to brave, quirky and unique ideas,
atmosphere inside its historic UNESCO heritage ensemble and always ready to make a bold statement

BOLD

ARTISTIC This is the city that we all created over the past 700 years,
and now we’re welcoming you to it, hoping it will become a
place where your heart will feel at ease!
 In addition to services and consultations, we organise a range of
other free of charge activities:

Information workshops Free Lithuanian language classes

BeFriend Vilnius
mentorship programme Exciting events for everyone

Visit us on the ground floor of Konstitucijos pr. 3.

International House Vilnius Our working hours are: 
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
welcomes you to the capital of Friday: 8 a.m. to 3.45 p.m.
Lunch break: 12 p.m. to 12.45 p.m.
Lithuania!  Services are provided in English and Russian.

We are here to provide valuable support and information to people Register for a meeting here:
relocating to Vilnius, and make your integration process as effortless https://ihvilnius.lt/schedule-a-meeting  
as possible! 

Let’s start with this relocation guidebook, where you can find all
the necessary information you might need upon arriving to Vilnius.
From befriending locals to some tips and tricks on how to rent an
apartment, this simple and easy-to-navigate guide will serve you well
throughout the relocation process!

International House Vilnius operates as a one-stop shop where you

can get services and consultations on: 
• Migration
• Social insurance
• Taxes
• Employment
• First steps in Lithuania 
Table of Contents
Main facts about Vilnius 12 Working in Lithuania 33
• Geography 12 • Finding a job 33
• Weather in Vilnius 12 • Know your rights 34
• Regional Safety 12 • Registering at the Employment Service 35
• Diverse but united 13 • Registering an individual activity 36
BeFriend 14 • Setting up your business 36
Industries 15 • Public holidays 37
• Film making 15 • Co-working spaces 38
• Fintech 16 • Making friends with your colleagues 39
• Information and Communication Taxes and benefits 40
Technologies sector   16 • Compulsory health insurance 41
• Startups 17 • Declaring income and income tax 41
• Global Business Services 17 Health system 42
• Lasers 18 • First aid 43
• Meet in Vilnius 18 • Registering with a healthcare institution 43
• TECHFUSION 19 Education 44
• Did you know that Vilnius is • Kindergarten/Pre-School 44
the capital of wolficorns? 19 • Primary and secondary education 45
Transportation 20 • Relocating with a child of a school age? 46
• Accessibility 20    • Extracurricular activities 46
• Flights 20 • Higher education 47
• Trains and buses inside Lithuania 20 • Recognising foreign qualifications 47
• Alternative means of transportation 21 • Learning Lithuanian 47
• Public transportation 22   Convenience 48
• Cycling 23 • Sending and receiving goods 48
• Taxi 23 • Shopping 49
• Arriving with or getting your own car? • Banking 49
This next part is for you! 24 • Getting a local mobile number 50
• Insurance 24 • Getting the latest news 50
• Parking 25 Civic information 51
Immigration procedures 26 • Party system 51
• EU countries 26 • Elections in Lithuania 51
• Non-EU countries 26 • Getting married 52
Housing 27 • Volunteering – giving back to
• Renting 27 the community 53
• Buying 29 • In Case of Emergency 54   
• Moving your belongings 30 Vilnius LIVE 55
• Bringing your pet 30 • Vilnius at night 55
• Utilities and how to pay for them 31 • City festivals not to miss out on 56
• Registering your address 31 • Cultural adventures await! 56
Photo by Joana Suslavičiūtė

• Recycling 32 • Vilnius Coffee Crawl 57

• House communications 32 • Top things you didn’t know
you can do in Vilnius 57

The company names mentioned in this guide are examples

and should only be considered as recommendations.
 Main facts
Diverse but united
about Vilnius    3H F
LIGH
T
2H F Vilnius is a cosmopolitan
LIGH
T
1H F metropolis with a
LIGH
T population of 622,739

Number of foreigners living in Vilnius:

66,000 (Centre of Registers, October 2022)   

Geography Language: Lithuanian   

Vilnius is the capital of the Religion: Roman Catholic 77.2%,

Republic of Lithuania.   Russian Orthodox 4.1%,
We’re in the EU, NATO Old Believer 0.8%,
and Schengen visa zone.  Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%,
Up here, in Europe’s north. Evangelical Reformist 0.2%,
Other 0.8%.    
The City of Vilnius occupies an area of about
400 sq. km making it the largest capital city in Currency: Euro    During winter,
the Baltic States, of which approximately when we turn our
29% is developed and the remainder is a Local Time: GMT + 2 hours (EET), clocks an hour
greenbelt (69% approx.) and water (2% approx.)  GMT + 3 hours (summer) forward, be aware,  
it’s going to get dark
Working Hours: Governmental institutions around 4-5 p.m.
work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday So if you’re planning
No matter the to Thursday, with shorter working on taking a nice post-
weather, locals hours on Fridays. sauna dip in a cold lake,
   make sure you book it
will complain in the first half of the
Weather in Vilnius about it. Shops are usually open from 10 a.m. to 6-7 p.m.
on weekdays and until 3-4 p.m. on Saturdays.     day to avoid swimming
The rainy season begins in October and Don’t mind it. in the dark!
gradually turns to snow by December. Shopping malls are open every day from
Springtime is lovely with its blooming flowers, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.   
but you should also expect some rain. It might
get hot (25-30°C) in June, but summer kicks into Supermarkets are usually open between
high gear in July. Don’t worry too much – the 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and some are
weather is always perfect to explore Vilnius. open until midnight.

Alcohol can be
Regional Safety purchased from Monday
to Saturday, from
Lithuania has been a member of both NATO and the EU 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., 13
since 2004, playing an active role in upholding and and Sundays from
contributing to regional security. Moreover, the Lithuanian
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Alcohol is
Government has taken a strong stand in solidarity
with Ukraine and other countries facing aggressions.    not sold on 1 September.

12
 Industries   

Film making
 

Photo by Monika Penkutė

Vilnius can be anything you
like, and everything you can
imagine.   

Vilnius was proudly chosen many

times as a place to unleash the
imagination of filmmakers to make
visions come true. What do we mean?   

Have you ever wondered where your favourite TV show

was shot? Are you a fan of Netflix’s Stranger things?
The easiest way to find a friend Well, it was filmed here in Vilnius, among famous movies
in Vilnius? Get a pet, best if like BBC’s War and Peace, HBO/Sky’s Chernobyl,
it’s a dog. If you’re alone, locals will Catherine the Great, Jack the Ripper and other world-
most likely pass right by you with their known titles.   
faces serious as a stone. But if you     
have a four-legged friend by your Find out more about the greatest locations for movie
BeFriend   side, rest assured, no one will pass makers and take a stroll in the city to discover them all.
you by without asking for a name!     
Though... not yours, And even become an actor yourself! Enrol at the
unfortunately. 😀 Actor’s Agency (https://www.actorsagency.lt/), the
Baltics’ biggest talent recruitment agency, or
Are you about to read this Top Casting (http://www.topcasting.lt/) and maybe
relocation guidebook?    tomorrow you’ll be invited to become a star in the next
big thing to hit screens!
Well, you might not have to! BeFriend a local!    

YES! Let us match you with a local Vilnietis/Vilnietė that is JUST LIKE YOU but
with long-term experience living in our city.   

International House Vilnius has launched a simple but amazing mentorship/

friendship, or as we say, friendorship programme that allows foreigners to find
a local to help with whatever needs they may have.    

Want to find the right school for your child? Need some advice on where to find
the best pilates classes? Or maybe you just want to grab a beer with someone
and learn why on earth Lithuanians have kefyras, which you only found out
about after you poured it into your coffee instead of milk...   

Register for this programme, and as we say, duodu ranką nukirsti!

(meaning, I would even risk my hand being cut off, that’s how certain I am),
that you won’t need to read this guidebook any further!  15

14
Fintech Startups 
  #10
The fintech sector in Vilnius has skyrocketed in the last best country We are quite sure that no matter what field you
few years, attracting attention from around the globe. in the world are willing to operate, you will find a startup
With its top talent, favourable business environment, for fintech for it in Lithuania: 
friendly regulatory system and supportive ecosystem,  
Vilnius is the ideal home for fintech.   • Startup ecosystem employs over 14,400
locals and internationals, with an average
monthly salary of EUR 3,100.  
Largest fintech • Startups emerge in Vilnius – we have over
hub in the 20 business hubs and accelerators and over
EU in terms And here’s 600 startups and scale-ups based in Vilnius.   
of licensed where we 11%   
companies stand  annual growth in the And two unicorns – Vinted and Nord
Security. They are putting us among the top

Photo by Joana Burn

number of specialists
in financial services 30 cities in the world for emerging businesses.
 

265 fintech Source: Startup Lithuania, 2021   

companies Source: Invest Lithuania, 2022
operating in
Lithuania in 2022   

Information and Communication

Technologies sector    Global Business Services
  
With a pool of 36,000 professional software Vilnius is home to a mature yet
developers (Invest Lithuania 2021) and 2,500 growing Global Business Services
new coding school specialists joining the market (GBS) sector characterised by diversity
annually, Vilnius is:    and a truly international scope of the
services it provides.   
• 1st globally for public WiFi speed
(Ooma, 2020)    Overall, the sector provides support
• 3rd globally for the availability of to global operations in more than
digital/technological skills 35 different languages and supports
(IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2022)    functions as diverse as IT, Finance,
• 5th in mobile download speed/mbps in the CEE Legal Support and Customer Support
(Speedtest Global Index, 206th globally in the for a wide range of services.
National Cyber Security Index)     
• 8th in mobile app creation 
(Global Innovation Index, 2020)

16 17 Photo by
Andrius Aleksandravičius
 Photo by Renatas Venclovas
A new name uniting it all   
Lasers
 

Vilnius TechFusion represents the Lithuanian

capital’s business ecosystem, which is largely
tech-oriented and driven by innovation.

Vilnius TechFusion brings companies working

in the Biotechnology, Lasers, ICT and Fintech
sectors together. You know what they say,
“the greatest things are fusions!”
Photo by Marius Jovaiša

With half a century of expertise behind it, the laser industry in Vilnius
is renowned for delivering innovative solutions to the likes of NASA,
CERN, and companies such as IBM, Hitachi and Toyota. And the sector Did you know that Vilnius
continues to grow and innovate, with Lithuanian lasers products being is the capital of wolficorns?
exported worldwide.
Wolficorn is a special award the City of Vilnius gives to
• 90% of production is exported to over 60 countries worldwide unicorns (companies with USD 1 billion market cap)
• 40+ laser sector companies in Vilnius operating within the capital’s ecosystem. A trophy
(Source: Lithuanian laser association, 2019) depicting a half-wolf/half-unicorn creature – the 19
• Over 1000 specialists employed in the field symbols of Vilnius and successful start-ups – is awarded
to companies that join the exclusive unicorn club.    
Laser sector achievements  
• One of the most powerful laser systems in the world SYLOS, which It’s worth mentioning that the country’s fastest-growing
began work at Hungary’s LaserResearch Centre in 2019, was built by two company – Kilo Health and the most valuable company
major Lithuanian laser manufacturers Ekspla and Light Conversion. in the Baltic region – Thermo Fisher – also proudly call
• The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) incubator in Vilnius home. 
Vilnius is the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe.   
• 90 out of Top 100 universities in the world (QS Ranking) are using
Lithuanian lasers and laser systems.
• The local laser sector generated around 1% of the world’s laser revenues
of €13.8 billion I 2018. (Source: Lithuanian laser association, 2019)

Lithuanian start-ups
Meet in Vilnius  are constantly looking for
  new talents! Make sure to check
If you’re looking for a destination with a strong scientific community out the Work in Lithuania
to host your next industry conference, make sure to get in touch with and Unicorns.lt databases to
our Convention Bureau to help you make it your best event yet.    find the latest jobs in the
start-up scene.

18
 Transportation        Alternative means
of transportation  
    
Electric scooters
20    
The scooter culture in Vilnius is well-developed
and locals have quickly learned how to ride them
safely. There’s even the Bible of a Real Vilnius
Scooterer, which contains ten important rules
about scooters. Unfortunately, it’s in Lithuanian
only – apparently locals consider foreigners to
be very kind drivers! But that’s just a guess!   

Accessibility    Nowadays, there’s no need to buy your

own scooter, as both Citybee and Bolt
You’ve probably heard it a million times from anyone who talks about their offer the opportunity to share them using
city – that it’s the heart or centre of Europe? Well, we literally are! Europe’s their mobile apps.
geographical centre is in Lithuania, and it’s easy to get to! Fly, swim, take a
bus or train, or even walk to Vilnius!   

  
Flights    
Car Sharing 
Vilnius Airport is the biggest in Lithuania, located just 7 km from  
Vilnius city centre. It’s so close to the city centre that if you forget Love driving but love being eco-friendly too?
your passport at home, you can return to get it and still make Well, in Vilnius there’s the Citybee and Spark
your flight!     apps that lets you be both. Citybee and Spark
are car sharing apps designed to give you
How can you get here?     maximum convenience while having a minimum
Find the full map for Vilnius Airport flights: www.vilnius-airport.lt   impact on the environment. All you need to do
    is download the app and it’ll tell you where to go
to pick up a car. Then you just drive and leave
Trains and buses inside Lithuania   it at your destination (and it serves markets
beyond Lithuania – check out the map right
Lithuania has a well-developed train and bus route system, so once travelling here: Homepage – Citybee) – simple as that.
inside the country, you can reach any town by public bus or a train! Don’t worry about payments either – the app will
automatically charge your card.    
Also, cities like Warsaw, Berlin, Munich, Riga, Tallin, Prague and many others
can be reached by bus, straight from the Vilnius Bus station!  And if you like the finer things in life, you’ll discover
that Citybee has a lot of cool car models to choose
from. Meanwhile, Spark only offers electric cars, so
You can’t get a ticket with them your conscience is always clear.
at the service counter 10 minutes
prior to a bus departure. And once
on the bus, you can only pay
cash for a ticket!  

21
 Public transportation   

Love the environment? We love you!   

Thank you for keeping Vilnius’ air clean by choosing public transportation.  Cycling   
Here are your options:    And here are the prices: Rent-ride-return – that’s the philosophy behind
Normal bus or trolleybus, which is nothing the CycloCity Vilnius Bike Sharing programme!
more than a bus with a moustache! Plus, you can burn some calories, just by getting
around town.   
    
Taxi
   
Take it from us – one of the first things you judu.lt For those who prefer the convenience of a cab,
need to do when you get to Vilnius is install the Affordable and comfortable! Vilnius has a lot of dependable and reasonably
Trafi app on your phone.    priced taxi options. From the global giant Uber
to local providers like Bolt and E-taxi, you’ll
Trafi is the main public transport platform and find a number of apps that you can use to
more. This all-in-one app will give you live traffic hail a cab 24/7.   
and public transport updates and info, helping
you choose the fastest way to your destination • Bolt      
every time. From public transport, car and bike Forget • Uber   
sharing, to taxis, Trafi covers everything. And Google Maps, • eTaksi   
of course, you can even use it to buy public the Trafi app will show • A2B   
transport tickets!    you the best and fastest • Jazz Express   
routes to get from point • Taxi.lt   
It’s like a personal little smartphone transport A to B in Vilnius. • eTransport   
guide. And even better, it’s the brainchild Five saved minutes
of Lithuanian IT stars and was the official can mean a great deal
transportation app of the Rio Olympics.    if you’re late for an
appointment!
Visit trafi.com You’re welcome!

22 23
 Parking   
Like all other EU capitals, you’ll find that you need to pay to park
in the central areas of the city. Prices are generally reasonable
and there’s yet another easy-to-use app that lets you pay for
parking without having to worry about messing around with IOS
Arriving with or parking meters.    
getting your own car?
The city is divided into four colour-coded zones:   
This next part • Green zones cost EUR 0.30/hour (Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-6 p.m.)    
is for you!  • Yellow zones cost EUR 0.60/hour
(Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Mon-Sun 8 a.m.-8 p.m.)   
• Red zones cost EUR 1.5/hour (Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-10 p.m.)    Android
• Blue zones cost EUR 2.5/hour (Mon-Sun 8 a.m.-12 a.m.)   
   
Private parking solutions are provided by Unipark.
The company has developed parking project all over Lithuania’s
capital and offers great and comfortable parking deals. Usually,
you can find their spots by big malls, airports, etc.   
   

Park & Ride

   
First, visit this website, where we skip straight to the There are four specially designated car parks throughout the
good part – the main traffic regulations! city where you can leave your car. Once there, for a small EUR
     0.50 fee, you’ll be able to leave your car and use public transport
for the day. It’s a fantastic scheme designed to reduce traffic in
Insurance    the city, and you can even use it with the Citybee app.    

All vehicles in Lithuania must be insured by a national insurance You can find Park & Ride car park locations here.   
company. Prices are relatively affordable and are calculated     
depending on your age, driving experience, age of the vehicle and
several other factors.      Paying for parking:   
Parking near home?
Car insurance providers: To stay on the move with your car is Register your car to your
convenient in Vilnius, and you can pay apartment and get a fixed small
• Gjensidige (www.gjensidige.lt/english) for parking with one of these apps: price for annual parking in the area!   
       
• Ergo (www.ergo.lt/about-ergo/about-us/) • m.Parking Registering a car?
   New driver in the city? Check out
• Lietuvos Draudimas (www.ld.lt/)      • Unipark      this article made just for you.

• Compensa (www.compensa.lt/private/)     • ADCparking

• BTA Draudimas (www.bta.lt/en)
   
• If (https://www.if.lt/privatiems)  

24 25
 Immigration procedures    Housing
EU countries
   
If you’re an EU citizen and have come to live in
Lithuania for more than three months in half a
year, you will be issued a certificate confirming
your right of temporary residence in the
Republic of Lithuania.    
 
You can apply for a permit remotely via
the MIGRIS system, then complete the process
by visiting the Migration Department in person. 

Renting   
Finding a rental apartment in capital cities might be a challenge, so 27
here’s a short step-by-step guide on how to make the process run
smoothly, as well as a few tips just FYI:
 
Non-EU countries 1. Decide on location – every little part of the city has its perks, so
    read up about them or contact the relevant eldership (https://
If you’re just visiting Lithuania and intend to stay here for vilnius.lt/lt/savivaldybe/seniunijos-ir-bendruomenes/) to find out
up to 90 days in any 180-day period, it is sufficient for you more about it before deciding whether it’s a
to have a Schengen visa (if you are not subject to a visa-free good fit for you!   
regime). But if you are planning to live here, you must get 2. Find out everything about payments, utilities and other costs if
a national visa or a residence permit. You can apply for a you’re interested in an apartment.   
residence permit on the grounds of family, work, business, 3. Make sure you deal directly with the owner or legal representative
studies and a number of other reasons. Procedures differ (real estate agent).   
for each of these grounds, and it’s best to consult the 4. Draw up a contract with the owner or legal representative.   
Migration Department: 5. Sign the contract in two languages: Lithuanian and another – one
that you understand.   
www.migracija.lt/information-about-services.  6. Agree on the main terms: price, rent period, deposit size, payment
type, inventory list and pictures.   
7. Make your first payment after the contract is signed, not before.   
8. Ask questions!   
 
You can search for flat and home rentals online using
Aruodas (m.en.aruodas.lt), Domoplius (domoplius.lt/en),
26 Rebaltic (www.rebaltic.lt/en) and Homerental (homerental.lt).
 Buying    29

aruodas.lt
Find
Apartments
and Homes

Photo by Monika Krilavičienė

for Sale

skelbiu.lt

domoplius.lt

Tips that will help you move forward:   

• Apartments in the city are divided into one, two and three (and so on) Buying a flat or a house here is a pretty straight-forward process. You’re allowed
room apartments. Unlike other countries, this doesn’t mean bedrooms, to buy a home without any particular restrictions (there are only restrictions for
but all rooms. So, if you’re looking for two bedrooms, you’ll need to purchasing agricultural land).    
search for a three-room apartment. And as you’d expect, the cost of an
apartment will depend on the number of rooms, although you’ll find that A property can be sold directly by its owner or through a real estate agency
the area and condition of the flat also factor heavily into the price. representing the owner. All you need to do is sign a sales contract and make the
payment. Your contract is your guarantee, so you should spend time making sure
• If you’re looking to rent, it’s best to avoid searching in August and you understand every part of it. This may require getting a translation of the contract
September, if you have the flexibility. This is the beginning of the school made. You should also ensure that you don’t make any payments until you have
year and the market is flooded with university students. This influx also received your contract. Please note, the sales contract should be notarised, and it is
inflates prices. recommended that you register your ownership at the Centre of Registers.    

• Rental prices vary across the city, with a nice apartment in the centre Important: buying a property does not grant you residency in Lithuania.      
setting you back as much as EUR 800-1,200 (still very reasonable  
compared to many other EU capitals). If you’re more inclined to settling Buying an apartment with a mortgage?   
further from the centre and exploring the suburbs, you’ll discover that Buying property by taking out a mortgage from a bank is very common in Lithuania.   
prices drop considerably. Some banks have stricter policies when it comes to giving foreigners loans: they
    might require a bigger down payment or might only finance a smaller percentage
• Your landlord might also require a security deposit, which is usually of the property value. Our advice is to consult with several banks in Lithuania,
equal to one to three months’ rent. The deposit will be returned to you which will assess your personal information and respond with their offers.   
upon termination of the contract.  
    Most common considerations when taking out a loan:   
• When viewing apartments, make sure you ask to see previous utility • Having at least a 6-12-month work contract in Lithuania before taking out a loan;   
and service bills! • Loans are given for up to 30 years  
    • An insurance for an immovable residential property is required   
• When dealing through a representative, upon signing a rental contract • Loan conditions depend on your income, current financial obligations, value of
you will be charged a one-time fee that varies from EUR 100 to 500.    the mortgaged property and other factors.

28
Moving your belongings    Utilities and how to pay for them   
   
While relocating to another country or city can be stressful enough, the process is Lithuanian homeowners pay utility bills every month (we suggest you do the
always easier with a bit of help packing, moving and unpacking your belongings.    same!). Typically, every home has hot water, cold water and electricity meters
installed in them, while some still have gas meters, too. At the end of the
Vilnius has a variety of trusted moving companies with years of experience that are month, the owner checks the meter, writes down how much they consumed
ready to be of service! and pays for the amount based on current rates.
 
Here are some that also provide information in English:    Additionally, owners receive bills for “common services” (including building
• Movers www.movers.lt/en/english     maintenance, trash collection, stairwell cleaning). In winter, the heating of
• Kraustymo komanda kraustymokomanda.lt/en/moving-services/     common spaces is added to these services, often amounting to the rest of
• Adrem www.adrem.lt/en/services/transportation/removal-services-international- the utility payments put together.    
removals/ad-rem-transport-movers-advantages    
• Kraustina www.kraustina.lt/en     If an apartment is rented, the lessee is usually expected to pay for all the
utilities rather than the owner.   
You may also choose private movers using
the popular app Discontract There are few ways to pay for utilities:   
• Online using your online bank or by creating an account on the service
provider’s website (i.e., vienasaskaita.lt, ignitis.lt) where you will be able to
pay for all services in one transfer 
• At the post office   
Bringing your pet  • At the Perlas terminals, which you can find at supermarkets   
      
Bringing all our loved ones with us when moving is non-negotiable.
And lucky for you Vilnius is very pet friendly. In fact, having a Registering your address
four-legged friend makes it much easier to make human    
friends in Vilnius!  Every resident of Lithuania (including foreigners with residence permits)
  must declare their place of residence in the county. Foreigners can declare
You can bring your pets to live with you, just note, that special their place of residence at the Migration Department (when collecting their
requirements are mandatory when arriving from residence permit card) or at their eldership. Foreigners must declare their
European Union and most other countries:  place of residence within one month of obtaining their residence card.   
• Identification – microchip
• Rabies vaccination or the respective declaration It is worth drawing attention to the fact that when declaring a place of
• Pet passport. residence at a premises owned by someone else, the consent of the owner
is needed. An owner’s consent can be proved by:   
• Providing a signed rent agreement   
• Providing a notarized copy of the owner’s written consent   
• Visiting the eldership together with the owner

 
Are you a student living in a dormitory?   
Foreign students declare their place of residence by providing their
State Food Pet Travel | Domestic & residence permit (no need to declare your place of residency if you’re
and Veterinary International Dog and Cat in Lithuania with a national visa) and the consent of the dormitory’s
Photo by Saulius Žiūra

servise Transport administration. The declaration of place of residence should be delivered to

the eldership representing to the place of residence.

30 31
 Recycling
   
Proper recycling is the responsibility of every
resident of Vilnius, and now yours too. Buy
   biodegradable
Here are a few important rules:    garbage bags
• Waste must be sorted. There are several
with strings on
containers, all with different colours, for plastic,
glass, paper and mixed waste food containers;   them.   
• Do not leave waste near a container;
• Do not leave the lid of a container open;   
• Do not park your car in a manner that blocks a
container.
       

Plastic and glass bottles and containers Working in Lithuania   

purchased at the store:   
Products in plastic, glass, PET and metal containers
marked with a D are purchased with an additional 33
fee of EUR 0.10. The deposit can be recovered by Vilnius is
delivering the container to the nearest recycling • Top city destination for expats
terminal located near or in all supermarkets. (The 10 best cities for expats – Lonely Planet) 
Terminals provide a receipt that can be cashed at the • 5th among the best remote work locations in the world
store’s cash desk or information point. (Global Remote Work Index, 2022)   
• 11th for work-life balance (OECD Better Life Index, 2020)    
  
House communications
    Finding a job    
Even though house phones are almost non-existent in the houses of Vilnius’   
residents, almost everyone has internet installed.     The labour demand in Lithuania has increased in recent years and
Various internet plans and routing services can be ordered from all major is likely to keep growing.   
communication companies, such as Telia, Tele2, Cgates, Mezon, Bite, etc.     
THE BIG NAMES employing big time:   
And once again, welcome to Vilnius, where you can get fiber optic internet • WIX   
right at home! It doesn’t get any faster than this. • DANSKE BANK   
• WESTERN UNION   
• NASDAQ   
• VINTED   
• TEVA   
Visiting a friend or • THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC   
colleague at their ho
me? • And many more amazing giants employing thousands of
You must take off yo
ur talents and growing constantly!   
shoes! Locals usually
leave     
their shoes at the en
trance Not to mention, the world’s most notable giants have branches here, including
and every household
most Google, Microsoft, Nestle, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, Samsung Electronics and
likely has some extra
Rent, buy, rent-to-buy: slippers many more. Opportunities are here – you just need to grab them!
32 prepared just for gu
all about real estate in Vilnius ests!
 There are two simple ways to search for a job – one of Unions 
them is an individual search and the other is through Employees are entitled to join an existing trade union at their workplace or any
the Employment Service or recruitment agencies.    other trade union. Also, anyone has the right to establish a trade union, which can
be founded by a minimum of three employees. 
Individual job search:     
Looking for job on your own? Check out the most If you face any troubles, unfair treatment or just need a consultation, you have the
popular sites that post job openings in various right to turn to the State Labor Inspectorate (SLI) for the support you need.  
sectors:    Consultations by phone (8 5) 213 9772. 
• Work in Lithuania  
(Announcements in EN)
• Unicorns.lt (Working in a start-up | Unicorns)
(Announcements in EN) Visit the SLI WEBSITE
• CV online It’s not un to learn more
for future usual
• CV market about your rights
be asked to employees to
• CV bankas send their as an employee in
Photo by Saulius Žiūra

page inste LinkedIn

• Voodoosales ad of a reg Lithuania
So, keep y ular CV.
• Startup CV our Linked
updated a In profile
• CV.lt nd running
• Amston (Recruitment Services | !
Recruitment Agency | Amston)
• Scobo  

Registering at the Employment Service

     
These websites are well-known and all have The Employment Service provides free-of-charge services for jobseekers.
English interfaces, but some of the job Here’s a list of services they provide for if you’re on the hunt for employment:   
descriptions are in Lithuanian. Most of these • Information and counselling   
sites provide the opportunity to upload a CV Successful job interview in • Individual employment plans   
for employers to see and contact you directly. Lithuania: HOW? • Supporting the development of work skills   
• Self-employment support 
• Voluntary practice   
Know your rights 
  The Employment Service also offers one of the
In Lithuania, employment agreements formalise the relationship between employer Lithuania’s largest databases of job vacancies
and employees and list out the employee’s duties, workplace regulations, salary and and jobseekers, which is updated constantly.
other employment conditions, to name a few. Contracts must be in writing and in
Lithuanian and a foreign language that you understand. 
 
Employment contracts are heavily protected in Lithuania, and paying employees on
time is taken very seriously. Employees who are paid their salaries late are entitled
to a penalty payment of 0.07% for each day of delay. Upon termination, employers
must pay any outstanding remuneration to employees on their last day of work 
 
Employers also have the obligation to safeguard and care for their employees’
health and safety. 
 
Please note, once employed, the law protects you from any kind of discrimination. 

34 35
 Registering an individual activity
    
Are you your own boss? Good job!
Don’t forget to register your self-employment!
  
To register as a self-employed, you may choose between two options:    
• Become self-employed through a business certificate   
• Become self-employed through a certificate of self-employment    

Note the key differences:   

• A business certificate requires an advance payment of fixed income.   
• A self-employment certificate requires that income tax be paid upon
the end of the tax period (by 1 May).
Public
holidays   
Setting up your business   
     Once in
If you decide to set up a company, you should first choose the legal type of company.    Lithuania, you
get the pleasure of
The most common types of companies in Lithuania are:    enjoying plenty of days off.
• Individual enterprise   And it’s especially satisfying when
• Private limited liability company   public holidays make for long weekends!   
• Small partnership  37
Interesting fact – Lithuania does not have a national religion, but Catholic
Once you have decided to start a business and have chosen the type of business – Christmas and Easter, as well as St. John’s and
on the basis of individual activity or by setting up a legal entity – it is also important Assumption Days, are national holidays.   
to know the ways in which a business can be established and the procedures for
setting one up.    Here’s a list of the days you should mark on your calendar! (Or they might
   already be marked if you got yours in Lithuania!):
No matter how big or small    
Follow these steps your business, you may contact • 1 Jan New Year’s Day   
Innovation agency for more • 16 Feb Independence Day   
information and free consultations on • 11 Mar Independence Restoration Day
36 how to set up business in Lithuania.     
  • (Each year differs, but usually in March or April)
Or simply watch our comprehensive Easter Sunday & Easter Monday See any of
ing
workshop video on how to start a     those days sett
business in Lithuania • 1 May Labour Day    w ee ke nd ?
up a long
• 24 Jun St John’s Day    ad y dr ea m in g
Alre
taway?
• 6 Jul King Mindaugas’ Day    of a romantic ge
• 15 Aug Assumption Day    it in ad vance.
Well, book
• 1 Nov All Saints’ Day    nd to fil l up quickly!
Hotels te
ar about
d
• 2 Nov All Souls’ Day    P.S. Have you he
hoose
• 24 Dec Christmas Eve    Staycations C ?
• 25 Dec Christmas Day    amaz in g gl am ping
• 26 Dec Second Day of Christmas s in cl os e pr ox imity
stay
ju st en joy a
to Vilnius and ery!   
ge of sc en
quick chan
Co-working
spaces   
If you’re in Vilnius on
business or simply looking
for a good alternative to a
traditional office rental, you’ll discover
that the city offers a wide variety of co-working options.   

So, why spend your day shifting from cafe to cafe?   

Vilnius has plenty of affordable and unique spaces that are guaranteed to inspire
productivity and creativity.
  
This is a list of just a few places to choose from:    Taxes
• Workland G9/Didžioji/Quardrum   
• Talent Garden Lithuania    and benefits
• ROCKIT   
• AltSpace   
• National Library of Martynas Mažvydas    We all know that hearing
• Vilnius Tech Park    the word “taxes” makes our brains swell.
• Monday Office    And many more! But it can be quite simple once you get the
• Regus    Visit the Go Vilnius website hang of it. Let us do most of the heavy lifting and share all the information for you,
for more information so you have one less thing to worry about!   

Making friends Here are the main pillars that taxes, contributions and benefits stand on.
with your colleagues      
   Taxes applied to employees:   
If you were to Google, “Is it easy to make friends with Lithuanian colleagues?” the • State Social Insurance (Sodra taxes): 19.5%  
answer you would NOT get is, “It’s really easy. Lithuanians are very friendly and will • Personal Income Tax: 20%-32% 
start talking to you like an old friend from the very first conversation.”    • Tier II pension (optional): from 2022 - 2,7%, from 2023 and on - 3%* 
 
To be honest, making friends with your colleagues in Lithuania might be a little * Individuals assigned to the Tier II pension plan are done so automatically, so make
tricky. So, here’s a tip from a local: bring some morning coffee snacks or invite your sure to inform Sodra if you’d like to opt out!  
colleague to the next Vilnius RYTAS basketball game or simply for a beer and your
smooth integration is guaranteed!   
 
We suggest hitting two birds with one stone (or as Lithuanians say, shoot two rabbits
with one bullet). First, get fit by joining a sports club (like the ones that gather to run
through the beautiful streets of Vilnius Bėgimo Klubas or learn a new skill, like CONTRIBUTIONS
pottery.
PENSIONS AND
BENEFITS
Second, integrate into a new community in no time through something you
share in common! There are numbers of social, creative and activity clubs and
gatherings in Vilnius! 

38 39
 Personal Income Tax    Compulsory health insurance     
For contract employees, personal income tax is deducted from the  
salary and managed by the employer. It also has to be paid for other Compulsory health insurance (Privalomasis Sveikatos Draudimas 41
work non-related income (such as from selling property etc.). Lithuania in Lithuanian and PSD for short) is one of the top things you
imposes a flat rate of 20% on wages. A 15% tax is applied for people should take into consideration when relocating to Vilnius.   
performing individual activities. Non-residents are taxed at the same  
rate as residents.    PSD – if you see these three letters anywhere else from now on,
     you will know what they mean. 
Corporate Income Tax     
In Lithuania, Corporate Income Tax is a tax collected from companies. PSD provides access to free health insurance services. If
Its amount is based on the net income companies earn while exercising someone is not insured with it, they must pay for medical
their business activity, normally over the course of a business year. The services.
main tariff for the CIT is 15%, and smaller tariffs are applied to small   
enterprises.     Contract employees do not need to pay any extra fees, as the tax
    is automatically deducted from their salary.   
Value Added Tax (VAT)    And if you are self-employed, don’t forget to pay your
VAT is a general, broadly based consumption tax assessed on the value compulsory payments on your own.
added to goods and services. It applies more or less to all goods and    
services that are bought and sold for use or consumption. It is a tax Worried about numbers? Need some exact figures? Here are all
paid by consumers. The standard VAT rate in Lithuania is 21%.     kinds of different benefit calculators to do the math for you:
    
Social Security Tax   
The main goal of the state social security system is to guarantee
income for the insured when they are not able to work due to sickness,
maternity, age, disability or other reasons. These taxes are paid both by    
the employer and the employee. In sum, social security contributions    
take 40% of the gross salary. The social security tax also has to be paid
by self-employed individuals, athletes, artists and others.  
Declaring income and income tax   
  
Well, this might be tricky and unfortunately it’s not taught in
40 schools. But lucky for us and you, the Tax Inspectorate has
prepared a short (well, not-so-short, actually) overview that
explains it all:
www.vmi.lt/evmi/en/gyventoju-pajamu-mokestis2   
  
Both temporary and permanent Don’t leav
residents of Lithuania must declare e taxes to
last minute the
their taxes, so don’t forget about – the best
declare yo time to
ur
it as 1 May approaches!    announced income is when it’s
and no late
    week befo r than one
re the dea
need any a dline. If yo
ssistance, u
appointme make an
nt with
our Tax In
spectorate
specialist
at Interna
House Viln tional
ius!  
Photo by Saulius Žiūra

Health system    First aid

    
Basic healthcare covers first aid and emergency medical services at clinics and
hospitals. You do not need to have a GP’s referral to get basic healthcare.
   
Foreigners who do not have an employment relationship are not insured by the
PSD and are obliged to cover their basic healthcare expenses themselves or ask
for a reimbursement from the insurance company they chose before coming to
Lithuania.   

Free-of-charge basic healthcare in Lithuania is guaranteed for permanent

residents and those insured by PSD.   
  
All foreigners holding a permanent residence permit in A list of the basic 43
Lithuania, as well as those who are legally employed and health services Registering with a healthcare institution
temporarily residing in Lithuania, must pay monthly health covered by PSD is   
insurance contributions, and in case of an insured event, available here There are both public and private healthcare institutions to choose from in
have the right to receive free personal health care services. Lithuania.
Individuals not covered by PSD are required to pay for health     
care services themselves. Public healthcare institutions belong to the Lithuanian national healthcare system.
In many public clinics you can get medical services in English or Russian (it all
Everyone – both insured and those not covered by PSD – depends on the doctor, so it’s wise to ask upon registration). In the event of illness,
have access to public, municipal as well as private health care you should first contact the healthcare institution you are registered with and your
institutions. The difference is that non-insured individuals are GP will examine you, order medical laboratory tests, prescribe treatments and, if
required to pay for all healthcare services provided in private, needed, refer you to a specialist for a consultation or hospitalisation. You should
public and municipal health care institutions.    bear in mind that you usually need a referral from your GP to see a specialist.     
   
If you are employed and have a residence permit, your Ready to register?   
employer pays your PSD contributions for you. If you are • Choose a health care institution (outpatient clinic, primary healthcare centre or
self-employed, you should pay the PSD contributions family medical centre) and go to the healthcare facility of your choice.   
individually. • Provide your ID, fill out an application form and choose a practitioner.   
   
Unemployed individuals with a permanent residence permit Private healthcare institutions work under a license issued by the Ministry of
can pay PSD individually.  Health. These institutions provide paid healthcare services. Their prices are set
  according to internal procedures. Some private health institutions can offer and
If you have a temporary residence permit, you cannot be apply discounts to individuals covered by compulsory health insurance and do
insured by PSD, unless you are employed or have worked not charge for the services provided (check before registering). They may also
in Lithuania for six months and have registered with the have concluded agreements with private health insurance companies concerning
Employment Services after that. a direct reimbursement of fees for healthcare services. It’s easy to get medical
    services in English at private healthcare institutions.   
If you are a student and an EU citizen, you are required to    
either have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or S1
form confirming that you are insured in another EU country. 
If you have a late-night
Students of non-EU member countries should obtain private dental emergency, head to the
health insurance. The cost of health insurance obtained in Žalgiris Clinic.
Lithuania may vary depending on the insurance policy. They’re open 24/7

42
 Education    Private kindergartens  
• Admission is all year round.  
• Children can follow different curricula and various methodologies,
such as Waldorf, Montessori.  
• There are specialised private kindergartens oriented toward art, 45
technology, Baltic traditions, outdoor kindergartens, etc.  
• The municipality provides a EUR 100/month per child subsidy for
families that choose to send their child to a private kindergarten.   
• Prices range from EUR 200-1,600/month.   

Primary and secondary education  

  
The Lithuanian school system does not differ much from other
European countries. There are 12 grades in Lithuanian primary
and secondary education combined. And while children usually
graduate at 17-18, the mandatory school age in Lithuania is 7 to 16.  
  
Some of us are still nostalgic for our schooldays, and you can even catch Education is provided in Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, Belarusian
Lithuanians starting the new year on 1 September, but don’t let it throw you off!     and Hebrew. If you want to send your child to an English or
   French-speaking school, you will have to choose a private school.   
The school year in Lithuania starts in September and ends in June. Both teachers   
and students get to enjoy a nice and quiet summer off.    To enrol into any school, there are a few forms that you will have
   to fill in. And sometimes (depending on the school) there will be
There are three main academic stages that almost everyone goes through.   some other acceptance conditions. Read more:
www.renkuosilietuva.lt/en/primary-and-secondary-schools/    
     
Kindergarten/Pre-School
It’s much easier logistically
If you have small children, there are lots of kindergarten to choose the school
options in a number of languages. Here is the list of closest to where you live.
kindergartens offering services in foreign languages: Check out the interactive map
www.govilnius.lt/relocate-and-live/education-options/kindergartens   
   
Public kindergartens  
• Starts at 1.5-2 years old.  
• Municipally funded.   
• Pre-school (nursery and kindergarten) education in public and
municipality kindergartens benefits from partial public funding and then check this vacancy list,
amounting to four hours per day or 20 hours per week.   which is updated every month:
• Admission to a public kindergarten is managed centrally:
applications should be submitted electronically at
www.svietimas.vilnius.lt by 10 March.   
  

44
Relocating with a child of a school age?
No problem!
• Bring documents from the school your child previously attended.  
• The school will perform tests to determine the
corresponding programme.  
• There will be Lithuanian classes to bridge the language gap.  
• There is 30% in additional funding for the first schoolyear.  
• Admission can be granted at any time of the year. 
Higher
Senior class students wishing to continue their studies in English have the education
possibility to be granted an International Baccalaureate diploma in     
the following schools in Vilnius:    Maybe you haven’t heard of
• Vilnius Lyceum  https://licejus.lt    every single university in Vilnius but
• American International School of Vilnius www.aisv.lt    trust us, world leaders in industries such as lasers and
• Erudito licėjus https://erudito.lt/en    biotech are not born, they are made. And they are made
here – in Vilnius!   

Extracurricular activities    Double degree diplomas with famous European

   universities, world-class visiting lecturers, hundreds of
There are plenty of extracurricular activities for school-age children. Erasmus possibilities and endless opportunities to learn…
Some of them are organised by the school and teachers working there, ah, it’s a good time to be a student!
municipality and others are held by private organisations.   
The most popular activities for school children in Lithuania are music Higher education in Lithuania is carried out in both Lithuanian and English
school, art lessons, karate, football and dancing.    (depending on the programme) and consist of three cycles: Bachelors, Masters
   and Doctor of Science/Doctor of Art.  
Tip from a local: If you have children of school age, you will most likely    
plan your holidays around their schedule. Lucky you, you can plan in Vilnius has a vast variety of study programmes to choose from, but there are many
advance!    more reasons to choose Lithuania as your dream country for studies, and here
   they are: https://studyin.lt/about-lithuania/why-lithuania/   
  

Recognising foreign qualifications

If you have acquired a specific level of education and want to study at a Lithuanian
institution of higher education, you should have your qualifications assessed and
recognised by the appropriate institutions. Find out more about it here:
www.renkuosilietuva.lt/en/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
  

Learning Lithuanian  
  
We’re not going to lie, Lithuanian is quite difficult to learn!
However, it’s worth learning it if you plan on staying in the
country for a longer time. Several institutions organise
Lithuanian language courses, and most are in Vilnius.

46 47
 Shopping:  
   

Photo by Monika Krilaviciene

Are you a fan of online
shopping? We prepared a
simple-to-navigate list for your
next shopping spree from your couch! 
 
All categories: Pigu.lt   
Electronics: varle.lt; topocentras.lt; rde.lt; bigbox.lt; 1a.lt; novastar.lt  
Home: senukai.lt; ermitazas.lt; ikea.lt; jysk.lt  
Fashion: eavalyne.lt; open24.lt; aboutyou.lt; zalando.lt; soulz.lt   
Convenience    Pharmacies: eurovaistine.lt; gintarine.lt; camelia.lt  
Second-hand goods: Vinted.lt; skelbiu.lt  
Groceries: barbora.lt; rimi.lt  
Food delivery: Bolt food; Wolt 
Sending and receiving goods  
    Feeling sick in
POST Banking the middle of the
There’s something about sending and receiving    night? Have an urgent
goods that almost makes it feel like Christmas! And The Lithuanian banking sector is mostly need to get rid of a
it’s always nice to enjoy a very well-developed postal composed of well-established Scandinavian headache or a fever?
system.    banks and you can open an account once you There are a few
become a resident of Vilnius. You will be required 24/7 pharmacies
The main place to easily send and receive goods to provide your identity card or passport, and across Vilnius:  
is the post office. It allows you to send registered, with some banks, you might also need to provide BENU: Žirmūnų g. 64,
tracked packages all over the world! And it has its own proof of income and your relation to Lithuania and Eurovaistinė
branches – mini offices in every city of Lithuania. (work contract, documents proving ownership Mindaugo str. 11 and
Post: https://post.lt    of real estate in the Republic of Lithuania, study T.Ševčenkos str. 2
        certificate, etc.).  
Parcel kiosks   
For several years, locals have been making regular Fees to open a bank account can vary and are
use of the very convenient and developed network of upwards of up to EUR 400 for non-residents.    
parcel kiosks. You can find Omniva (www.omniva.lt/eng), Ready to open a bank account? Choose a bank
LP Express (lpexpress.lt/home), Venipak (venipak.com/lt/en/) and click on the link!  
and DPD (www.dpd.com/lt/en/) kiosks all over the city.    
Swedbank www.swedbank.lt 
Use them to quickly send and receive parcels within SEB www.seb.lt/en   
Lithuania, and even leave your keys in them for a Luminor www.luminor.lt/en   
flatmate to pick up.    Šiaulių Bankas www.sb.lt/en   
Medicinos Bankas www.medbank.lt/en

48 49
 a re
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Well-known Lithuania-based such as Revolut, the
digital banking companies,
Com
Lithuanian made Paysera and many others offer services available to foreigners in
Lithuania. Make sure to explore all 265 fintech companies in Lithuania to unravel Party system 
all the possibilities to digitalize your daily financial tasks.  
The Lithuanian party system can be defined as a multi-party system where one
dominant party may emerge from time to time.  
Getting a local mobile number
   At the moment, there are a few main parties, such as the Social Democratic 51
Want to use your phone? Prepaid SIM cards with plans for data, calls and SMS Party of Lithuania, the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats,
cost EUR 8-15/month. SIM cards are available at Narvesen kiosks as well as Union of Democrats “For Lithuania”, Liberals Movement, the Freedom Party,
supermarkets and gas stations. Signing a contract for monthly services is easy but Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.  
requires a residence permit and deposit.   
    Also, recently there has been a wave of committees being established, as more
Mobile service providers in Lithuania:    politicians have decided not to belong to any party movement.
• Bitė  (www.bite.lt) (prepaid: Labas )  
• Tele2  (tele2.lt) (prepaid: Pildyk)  
• Telia  (www.telia.lt) (prepaid: Ežys)   Elections in Lithuania  
   
There are four types of elections in Lithuania:
Getting the latest news   Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Presidential, Municipal and European
    Parliament. Voting age: 18
We all want to stay up to date. Looking for a way to start a conversation with your
colleagues during your morning coffee break? Well, why not start with an overview of
the hottest topics in the media! LRT (www.lrt.lt/en) Delfi (www.delfi.lt/en) Every four years.   
15min (www.15min.lt) are Lithuania’s three main media outlets. Some of them
offer a selection of content and articles in English, and some offer content in Russian. Held in October.   
They all have an app too!   141 Parliament members.  
Election of the
Radio: Stuck in a traffic with nowhere to put your thoughts to? Well, the radio is Seimas of the Republic To be elected to Parliament, candidates must be
always an option and there are plenty of channels to choose from!   of Lithuania   over 21 years old.  

For all the “old but gold” music lovers, we suggest M1 Plius (www.pliusas.fm), After the election results are in, the majority
and for those looking to learn simple Lithuanian phrases, we recommend forms the government, which is composed of the
Vaikų radijas (vaikuradijas.lt). You can learn the language by singing along to simple Prime Minister acting as its head and a cabinet of
yet fun songs! 14 ministers (the country’s executive body).  

50
 Every five years.    Lithuanian citizenship by marriage  
If your spouse is a Lithuanian citizen
No longer than for two consecutive presidential and you are a citizen of a foreign state,
terms.   you can be issued a temporary or
Presidential Election   permanent residence permit in
Two months before a term ends, the Seimas Lithuania. You can also apply for
announces the exact date of the next election.  

Photo by Tautvydas Stuka

Lithuanian citizenship after seven
To be elected President, candidates must be years of permanent residence with
over 40 years old.   your spouse in Lithuania.
(Source: Civil Registry)   
Every four years.     
Same-sex partnership 
Municipal Council Mayor and Council are elected directly.    In 2019, the Constitutional Court of the
Election   Republic of Lithuania adopted a resolution
To be elected to Council, candidates must be
over 18 years old.   stating that the constitutional concept of a
family is gender neutral. With this said,
European Every five years throughout the European Union same-sex partnerships legally established in other
Parliament Election  under universal suffrage.    countries allow for the obtaining of a temporary
residence permit in Lithuania on the basis
of family reunification. 
Citizens of another EU country have the right to vote and stand as a candidate in    
both Municipal and European Elections under the same conditions as Lithuanian Church marriage  
nationals. There are no restrictions on church weddings, but it is necessary
(europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/elections-abroad)   to complete the civil procedure above to obtain an official
  marriage certificate. Church marriages between Lithuanians and
   foreigners are regulated by church canons and it is best to discuss
Getting married the process with the church of your choice.  
     
All foreigners (18 and older with a residence permit) can register their civil    
marriage in Lithuania. To do this, we have a very unique place – Metrikacijos rūmai Volunteering – giving back
(K. Kalinausko st. 21). Every Vilnietis most likely knows where it is and many of our to the community
parents and grandparents had their ceremonies there! Of course, if you’re not   
feeling it or have a special place in mind for your special day, you can tie the knot There are many ways to help those in need, and one of
there by filling out a request in advance. For more information, please visit: them is through volunteering.  
Kur galiu susituokti? – Vilnius atviras jauniesiems! 
  There are a few main organisations you can join and
For those wishing to get married in Lithuania, they must fill out the required forms and devote your time to, not only during the holiday season
submit them along with their passport, birth certificate and other required documents or a crisis. Choose from a vast variety of organisations
to the Civil Registry Office (vilnius.lt/lt/19118-2/civilines-metrikacijos-skyrius). The operating in the fields of elderly care, homelessness,
application is submitted to the Registry Office where one of the future spouses or their abandoned child care and many more!  
parents have declared their place of residence.  
  
Important note: Marriages are registered at least one month after the date of
filing the application. 
 
 

52 53
 Some of the main organisations to choose from:  
• Lietuvos Raudonasis Kryžius  
• Gelbėkit vaikus
• Maisto bankas
• Lietuvos Caritas  
• Maltos Ordino Pagalbos Tarnyba  
   
Join foreigner communities here live or online:  
• Foreigners in Vilnius    

Photo by Saulius Žiūra

• International Women’s Association of Vilnius   
• Girl Gone International   
• Expats in Vilnius    
• Balturca Culture Academy    
• Social Educational Initiatives Centre PLUS

In Case of
Emergency
If you find yourself in an emergency situation,
you can call Lithuania’s national Emergency
Response Centre (112) and receive
assistance in English. This emergency line Vilnius LIVE  
can connect you to the police, emergency
medical services, fire and rescue services, and
environmental protection services, depending Vilnius at night
on your need.
Partying and letting loose at night in Vilnius is safe,
but like anywhere else, it can get overwhelming.
The best thing to do when getting acquainted with le
the city’s nightlife is joining a local or expat who Islandijos Triang
he re Vi ln iu s St reet
has been here for a while.   (w
54 meets Islandijo
s
  ) is th e m os t
Oh, and there are special night busses to get you Street
de d
home safe – they’re marked with the letter N.   famous and crow s.
in Vi ln iu
nightlife area
an t so m et hi ng
Longer nights mean longer parties! Once the sun If you w
ieter
sets, the stage for nightlife in Vilnius is set. Be it low-key, try qu
an d bars
a pub crawl, dancing until dawn or just a perfect restaurants
for a la te -n ig ht
night out on the town, Vilnius is a city buzzing with
cocktail hour!  
people, chatter and fun. Join the party because
everyone’s invited. Wondering what to expect?

Check out our list:

www.govilnius.lt/visit-vilnius/bars-nightlife/
nightlife-in-vilnius-welcome-to-the-party   

Photo by Saulius Žiūra 55

City festivals World class cuisine to die for!   
not to miss out on  Art in a spoon, blind dinners, dinners in the
  sky, business lunches that offer international
Vilnius’ city festivals vibe with everyone. flavours – all to delight the tastebuds of Vilnius’
Whether you’re looking for something citizens and guests. There’s a lot to choose from
musical to feed your boho soul or and trust us – it will take ages to try it all!   
something more traditional, Vilnius has it!    
Here is the list of CAN’T MISS events:
www.govilnius.lt/visit-vilnius/events/city-festivals   Vilnius Coffee Crawl 
 
Something is always happening in Vilnius – every day, Did you know? Archival sources reveal that
every week, every month – and you will never get lonely! residents of Vilnius started drinking coffee in the
Bookmark this page as your go-to activity search page and early to mid-17th century. Lucky for coffee lovers
enjoy numerous outings with your friends or alone! who make a ritual of their favourite warm drink
www.vilnius-events.lt/en/    and care about where and what kind of coffee
  they drink, Vilnius is packed with cafes: take your
Towards firework-free holidays    time and unwind over a cup of the world’s best
Vilnius has adopted a resolution by which we have committed to create flavours: Vilnius Coffee Crawl | Go Vilnius 
an alternative to fireworks for city holidays and important occasions,  
and especially for New Year’s. In this way, we aim to reduce both the air
pollution caused by fireworks and the stress their noise causes residents, Top things you didn’t know
birds and pets. More impressive laser and light shows ahead!    you can do in Vilnius     
Pickpocketing and scams    Active Vilnius    
The risk of being robbed or scammed in Vilnius is relatively low, but Are you up for kayaking through the city centre? Want to see Vilnius from
everyone should nevertheless exercise the same caution they would when a hot-air balloon? No problem! And don’t think that Vilnius is only beautiful
visiting crowded areas in any other city. Being vigilant and keeping valuables in summer – join the national mushroom hunt in autumn or go skiing at
like cameras and smartphones out of the reach of potential pickpockets is Liepkalnis, which is only 10 minutes away from the city centre. Discover
always a good idea    what Vilnius has to offer for those that can’t stay still:
www.govilnius.lt/visit-vilnius/latest-tips/activities-in-vilnius-for-people-who-like-to-move    
A common scam among taxis is to unfairly raise prices for unsuspecting   
customers. To avoid falling victim to this, it’s best to use an app (like Bolt or TV tower walk above the sky (tvbokstas.lt/en/edge-walk)   
Uber) to plan your taxi trips and ensure you pay a fair price.    Vilnius TV Tower invites you to one of the most memorable adventures! After
  a short brief, you’ll be ready to experience the windy freedom at a height of
   170 metres. Breath-taking views and unforgettable experiences in the sky are
Cultural adventures await!   guaranteed!  
    
Eager to see and experience EVERYTHING? It might The Lithuanian Sauna experience  
be a challenge, but where there’s a challenge , there’s Usually, Lithuanians tend to enjoy a very hot sauna with a very cold lake! But for
always a solution! those living in the city, this isn’t always so easy. But for every challenge, there’s a 57
   solution!  
Browse the cultural attractions of Vilnius Enjoy public saunas with all their perks right in city centre!  
(www.govilnius.lt/visit-vilnius/vilnius-pass-attractions),
add your favourites and visit them all with just one • IVAN BANGS A GONG  
ticket – the VILNIUS PASS  
  • Garo fabrikas

56
 We don’t say goodbye, we say see you soon! 
 
We never want to see you leave, but we understand that sometimes life
makes our paths turn 180 degrees. For some, it might be a few months
and for others – until next time! 
 
If that day comes and you have your bags packed, we invite you to share
your story with us and share let us know why you decided to leave our
beloved Vilnius (hello@ihvilnius.lt). 
 
Before you leave, don’t forget to: 
• Declare your departure (Municipality office or Lithuanian embassy) 
• Submit the income tax declaration of an individual departing from Lithuania
for good (State Tax Inspectorate) 
 
Both of these must be done by EU citizens and all foreigners with a permanent
residence permit who leave for longer than six months. We strongly
recommend you do so to avoid accumulating PSD debt.
To read about it more: Declaring departure from Lithuania 
 

Extra bonus free of charge – walking !       This guidebook was made with the support of:  
Vilnius is a perfect place to contribute to saving the planet
by simply walking everywhere!    
What do we mean? Check this out:
www.govilnius.lt/media-news/the-beauty-of-exploring-vilnius-on-foot    
 
A perfect combo for those counting steps: walk the 15 (Home - #walk15)  investlithuania.com govilnius.lt
and 100-kilometre trails (Vilnius 100km – Takas aplink Vilnių) around Vilnius! 

Want to know when the next best event for the international
community in Vilnius is taking place?  

Follow us on our social media channels, get involved in

C
city ool of discussions or simply DM us! We’re always up to chat!   
s bea f at t   
c
abo ummer hes d he pub Find us: 
Bal
ve t
h d ay uring lic
tas e Ner s! Also the ho
tilta is riv , th
e t www.linkedin.com www.youtube.com   
you s is th er righ pier
just e go t by
can -t t
’t w o plac he
ait! e if
www.facebook.com    www.instagram.com

Stay up to date by subscribing to the

International House Vilnius newsletter: ihvilnius.lt  

58
Share your feedback!  
Didn’t find what you were looking for?  

Request more information by contacting us:

hello@ihvilnius.lt

Konstitucijos pr. 3, Vilnius