Articles on: Europe

Lithuania — Options for Digital Nomads (no specific DN visa): everything you need to live and work from Lithuania

Knowledge Base – QUESTRAVEL

By Víctor Pizarro, Co-founder of QUESTRAVEL

The essentials

Lithuania offers a highly digital public administration, competitive living costs, and a fast, centralized migration system. There is no visa officially called a “Digital Nomad Visa.” For longer stays, the typical path is the National Visa (type D)—up to 12 months—and, if you plan to remain longer, a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) that fits your situation (employment in LT, starting/run a business in LT, startup-founder route, etc.). (in.mfa.lt)

What to use if you work remotely

  • National Visa D (long stay): lets you stay in Lithuania for up to 12 months. After that, most people move to a TRP if they fit an eligible category. Applications and appointments run through MIGRIS and the Migration Department. (in.mfa.lt)
  • Temporary Residence Permit (TRP): multiple routes exist—business/self-employment, employment, Startup Visa for innovative founders, and others. You apply via MIGRIS and the Migration Department. (If you only telework for a foreign employer with no legal ties in LT, you must still fit an existing category—there’s no DN-only status.) (Migracijos departamentas)
Practical note (QUESTRAVEL): If your plan is “remote work for a foreign company only,” Lithuania expects you to anchor your stay to an existing legal basis (e.g., set up and run a business in LT, qualify under the Startup Visa, or enter via other long-stay categories). (Startup Lithuania)

Who runs the process

The Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior is the competent authority. Applications flow through MIGRIS and, when relevant, through embassies/consulates that accept submissions. The MFA provides general guidance but points you back to the Migration Department for D-visas and TRPs. (migracija.lrv.lt)

Lithuania’s system is grounded in the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (and its amendments), with detailed operational criteria on Migration Department/MFA portals. (Refworld)

Duration & renewals

  • D visa: up to 12 months (single or multiple entry). If you need to remain longer, plan a TRP transition in time; you can’t simply stack D visas back-to-back indefinitely. (eg.mfa.lt)

Typical requirement sets (depend on route)

Because there is no dedicated DN visa, your documents depend on the category you choose:

  • General D visa: MIGRIS application, valid passport, means of subsistence, health insurance, biometrics, and documentation that justifies your purpose of stay. Mediation (invitation) letters may be required in some cases and can be filed online. (Migracijos departamentas)
  • Self-employment / company in LT (TRP): routes exist for owners/managers of Lithuanian entities with minimum investment/employment conditions as published by Migration Dept. (migracija.lrv.lt)
  • International service provision: certain cases use an invitation/mediation from an LT entity and the EU immigration portal guidance for service providers. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu)
  • Startup founders (Startup Visa): an official program for non-EU founders of innovative startups; after the startup endorsement you proceed with your visa/TRP. (Startup Lithuania)

Step-by-step (most common long-stay scenario)

  1. Pick your route: Just long stay while teleworking? → D visa + plan your TRP transition if you’ll continue. Building a company? → consider Startup Visa or business-based TRP. (Startup Lithuania)
  2. Open a MIGRIS account and submit the application; upload documents and book biometrics at a mission or at Migration Dept. (if you’re eligible to apply from within LT). (Migracijos departamentas)
  3. Attend in person (embassy/consulate or Migration Dept.), pay fees, and track your decision. (in.mfa.lt)
  4. Collect your D visa (up to 12 months). If you need to remain beyond that, file your TRP early to avoid any gap. (eg.mfa.lt)

Why Lithuania works for remote professionals

  • Digital by default: MIGRIS and centralized processes save time. (Migracijos departamentas)
  • Pragmatic path: D (12 months) → TRP (business, startup, employment) if you’ll stay longer. (in.mfa.lt)


QUESTRAVEL’s take

In Lithuania, the challenge isn’t the paperwork—it’s choosing the right legal route and timing the D → TRP transition. The most common blockers we fix are: unclear “purpose of stay,” missing means-of-subsistence proofs/insurance details in D files, and waiting too long to start a TRP when extending your stay.

💡 Want us to stress-test your case and map the correct route (business/shareholder TRP vs. Startup Visa vs. service-provider path), plus build a timed checklist for D → TRP so you never fall out of status? Book a 1:1 with QUESTRAVEL at fromquestravel.com.

Updated on: 03/11/2025