Start a Business in Vilnius | Investment & Growth Opportunities

Start a Business in Vilnius

Vilnius is the EU's fastest-scaling hub for fintech, biotech and tech companies. It's home to the EU's largest fintech sector, with more than 280 licensed firms, and licensing that can clear in under six months. Corporate tax stands at 17%, with a reduced 7% rate for small companies and 0% during their first two years. Vilnius also sits as a strategic Baltic gateway, bridging the EU, the Baltics and the Nordics. Start a Business offers you a personalised, step-by-step path to setting up or relocating your business.

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Answer a few quick questions and get a personalised path to opening a business in Vilnius with links to every institution you'll need.

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Business setup roadmap in Vilnius

Application

Visa or Residency Application

EU: No permit needed. If residing long-term, must register residency.

 Non-EU: Must obtain a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP)*, via Startup Visa, Business Residency, or other routes.

Setup

Company

Finances

Open a business bank account for your company.

Systems

Set up your accounting, legal, and operational tools.

Tax & Social Security

VAT: Register once annual turnover exceeds €45,000. 

Sodra: Register as an employer before hiring staff.

Workplace Setup

Choose Workspace

Remote, co-working, or office.

Hiring & Team Setup

Hiring Talents

Hire new talent or relocate existing employees.

Application

Visa or Residency Application

EU: No permit needed. If residing long-term, must register residency.

 Non-EU: Must obtain a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP)*, via Startup Visa, Business Residency, or other routes.

Setup

Company

Finances

Open a business bank account for your company.

Systems

Set up your accounting, legal, and operational tools.

Tax & Social Security

VAT: Register once annual turnover exceeds €45,000. 

Sodra: Register as an employer before hiring staff.

Workplace Setup

Choose Workspace

Remote, co-working, or office.

Hiring & Team Setup

Hiring Talents

Hire new talent or relocate existing employees.

A necessary step

Optional step

*TRP - Temporary residence permit

Why Vilnius?

Cost Rules That Work in Your Favour

Corporate tax stands at 17%, dropping to 7% for small companies (under €300k in revenue, fewer than 10 employees), and 0% in their first two years.

Class A and B office space costs 40–60% less than in Western European capitals.

The minimum share capital for a Private Limited Company is just €2,500 under newer guidance - one of the lowest thresholds in the EU.

Europe's Fastest-Growing Talent

Over 50,000 ICT professionals across software architecture, cybersecurity, AI, and fintech work here.

Lithuania's tech workforce is growing faster than any other in the EU.

People tend to stay once they're here — turnover is low.

A City That's Easy to Live In

Vilnius was named the EU's official Green Capital for 2025. 61% of the city is parkland and forest — almost everyone lives within a five-minute walk of it.

Commutes rarely stretch past 20 minutes.

The city has character, with a UNESCO-listed Old Town, a strong specialty coffee scene, and four Michelin-starred restaurants for a capital its size.

Industries Where Vilnius Is Leading

Home to the EU's largest fintech hub — 250+ licensed companies, 30 million customers, licences clearing in under six months.

Bio City, currently under construction just outside Vilnius, is set to become Europe's largest biotech campus, and Lithuania ranks 3rd among OECD countries for biotech R&D intensity.

On the ground: Nord Security, Vinted, and a growing list of international companies.

Everything That Makes This Easier

International House Vilnius unites 7+ national institutions under one roof and supports the practical side of settling in — schools, healthcare, and family integration.

Vilnius already has a thriving community of foreign founders. Startup meetups, coworking spaces, founder networks - so you're never building alone.

Regulators You Can Actually Reach

Government here is small enough that startups can get real, direct feedback from municipal and state bodies.

The Bank of Lithuania and the national energy regulator both run live sandboxes — fintech, energy, and AI products can be tested legally before full launch.

Business associations have genuine input into policy, not just a seat at the table.

What’s your question?

You can check and reserve your company name through the Centre of Registers before registering the company itself.

If you want to register the company and have an e-signature, you can register through the self-service portal online via the Centre of Registers, usually within a few working days. If not, you'll need to go through a notary. You'll also need to provide the business address as part of the registration. More information is available on the Centre of Registers website.

For all state tax matters, from VAT registration to filing returns, the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) is your point of contact.

You can also reach out to private partners who can assist with accounting, bookkeeping, and related matters.

Partner list:

Leinonen

Social security contributions and employee insurance are administered by Sodra.

Residence permits are handled by the Migration Department. Founders setting up a startup can also get additional support from Startup Lithuania through the Startup Visa programme.

International House Vilnius helps with everything related to relocating to Vilnius, from healthcare and finding a nursery or school to settling in.

You can open a business bank account with any bank. A few of our recommended partners are:

For recruitment and talent search, you can get in touch with our recommended partners, who offer a free initial consultation.

You can get in touch with our recommended partners, who offer a free initial consultation on comapany registration.

The VMI website provides an overview of the legal business forms available in Lithuania.

Interested in sharing your expertise with new startups? Join Go Vilnius partner network!

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