If you’re relocating to Lithuania, whether for work or study, it’s important to understand how to arrange accommodation and declare your official residence. Local regulations provide clear steps to make this process straightforward.
You can choose to stay in a hotel or book an Airbnb, but it is best to look for something more permanent if you plan to stay for an extended period.
When renting in Lithuania, rental agreements are a standard practice. Agreements for stays of more than 12 months must be in writing and can be fixed-term or ongoing. These contracts are usually signed directly between the tenant and landlord, though it is also possible to have the agreement confirmed by a notary.
A 1–2 month deposit is typically required, which is returned when the contract expires or is terminated.
You can search for flats and homes advertised online using the following platforms:
Foreigners can acquire all types of real estate in Lithuania, except agricultural and forest land. It should also be mentioned that foreign nationals may be subject to certain restrictions on acquisition of real estate in certain locations. This applies to properties in border areas, dune areas, and coastal zones. In such cases, a permit for acquisition may have to be issued by local authorities. With regard to land, foreign nationals are not allowed to acquire it, but can rent it instead.
If you are applying for a residence permit, you can declare your place of residence as you choose:
- through the Migration Department, at the time of the reserved visit, by presenting the original documents and biometric data attached to the application for a residence permit;
- at the municipality within 1 month of collecting the residence permit.
When completing the application for a residence permit in the Republic of Lithuania via the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS), you must indicate whether you wish to declare your place of residence via the Migration Department and confirm that you undertake to declare your place of residence in a suitable accommodation, where necessary.
When your declaration of a place of residence is over, you must renew your place of residence. Failure to provide the declaration of the place of residence or submission of false declaration data pursuant to Article 530 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Lithuania is punished by a warning or a fine to the residents of the Republic of Lithuania from ten to fourteen euro.
For more information please see: Vilniaus miesto savivaldybė - Declaration of foreign nationals’ place of residence in Vilnius or FAQ - Migracijos departamentas (migracija.lt).
Foreigners can declare their place of residence in the Migration Department (when collecting residence permit card) or they may do this in the eldership, where they plan to live. Foreigners must declare the place of residence within one month after obtaining residence card.
For more information please see: Registering as a resident (renkuosilietuva.lt) and Vilniaus miesto savivaldybė - Declaration of foreign nationals’ place of residence in Vilnius.