Lithuania Permanent Residence for Founders

Permanent residence permit (five years of lawful residence)

Under the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, a foreigner who has lawfully resided in Lithuania without interruption for the preceding five years may receive a permanent residence permit, which the Migration Department treats as EU long-term resident status. Applicants on this ground pass an examination in the state language and one in the fundamentals of the Constitution, under procedures set by the Government. Absences must be shorter than six consecutive months and add up to no more than ten months across the five years, though business trips do not count while the person's home remains in Lithuania. The permit document is personalised for five years and then renewed, while the status itself continues.

Qualifying period

5 uninterrupted years of lawful residence

Exams

State language and fundamentals of the Constitution

Absences

Under 6 months in a row; 10 months in total over 5 years

Permit card

Issued for 5 years, then renewed

Decision time

Within 3 months under the Aliens Law

Leads to

Naturalization after 10 years of residence

Requirements

• Five years of uninterrupted lawful residence in Lithuania on qualifying documents.
• A passed state language examination, unless an exemption applies.
• A passed examination on the fundamentals of the Constitution.
• Absences within the legal limits, with business trips excluded while the home stays in Lithuania.
• Stable and regular income and health insurance, as EU long-term resident rules require.

How to apply

1. Track lawful residence and absences across the five-year period.
2. Pass the state language and Constitution examinations and keep the certificates.
3. Apply through MIGRIS and submit documents at the Migration Department.
4. Renew the permit card every five years.