Welcome to Vilnius: Relocation guide for newcomers

Welcome

to Vilnius

Relocation guide for newcomers

Photo by Saulius Žiūra

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!

Let us begin by telling you a story that occurred...not so long ago.

Vilnius is:

COMFY

more convenient city for everyone

Innovating and embracing the future to fuel the decisions of tomorrow

NEXT

ARTISTIC

UNESCO heritage ensemble

Open to brave, quirky and unique ideas, and always ready to make a bold statement.

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!

BOLD

International House Vilnius welcomes you to the capital of Lithuania!

We are here to provide valuable support and information to people relocating to Vilnius, and make your integration process as effortless 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

In addition to services and consultations, we organise a range of other free of charge activities:

Exciting events for everyone

Visit

Our working hours are:

Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. to 3.45 p.m.

Lunch break: 12 p.m. to 12.45 p.m.

Register for a meeting here: ihvilnius.lt

BeFriend Vilnius mentorship programme

The company names mentioned in this guide are examples and should only be considered as recommendations.

Photo by Joana Suslavičiūtė

Main facts about Vilnius

Geography

Vilnius is the capital of the Republic of Lithuania. We’re in the EU, NATO and Schengen visa zone. Up here, in Europe’s north.

3hflight

2hflight

1hflight

The City of Vilnius occupies an area of about 400 sq. km making it the largest capital city in the Baltic States, of which approximately 29% is developed and the remainder is a greenbelt (69% approx.) and water (2% approx.)

Weather in Vilnius

The rainy season begins in October and gradually turns to snow by December. Springtime is lovely with its blooming flowers, but you should also expect some rain. It might get hot (25-30°C) in June, but summer kicks into high gear in July. Don’t worry too much – the weather is always perfect to explore Vilnius.

No matter the weather, locals will complain about it. Don’t mind it.

Regional Safety

Lithuania has been a member of both NATO and the EU since 2004, playing an active role in upholding and contributing to regional security. Moreover, the Lithuanian Government has taken a strong stand in solidarity with Ukraine and other countries facing aggressions.

Currency: Euro

Diverse but united

Vilnius is a cosmopolitan metropolis with a population of over 600,000

Number of foreigners living in Vilnius: 68,000 (Centre of Registers, November 2022)

Language: Lithuanian

Religion: Roman Catholic 77.2%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Old Believer 0.8%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, Other 0.8%.

Local Time: GMT + 2 hours (EET), GMT + 3 hours (summer)

Working Hours: Governmental institutions work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, with shorter working hours on Fridays.

Shops are usually open from 10 a.m. to 6-7 p.m. on weekdays and until 3-4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Shopping malls are open every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Supermarkets are usually open between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and some are open until midnight.

During winter, when we turn our clocks an hour forward, be aware, it’s going to get dark around 4-5 p.m.

So if you’re planning on taking a nice post-sauna dip in a cold lake, make sure you book it in the first half of the day to avoid swimming in the dark!

Alcohol can be purchased from Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Alcohol is not sold on 1 September.

The easiest way to find a friend in Vilnius?

Get a pet, best if it’s a dog. If you’re alone, locals will most likely pass right by you with their faces serious as a stone. But if you have a four-legged friend by your side, rest assured, no one will pass you by without asking for a name! Though... not yours, unfortunately...

BeFriend

Are you about to read this relocation guidebook?

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!

Industries

Film making

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? Well, it was filmed here in Vilnius, among famous movies like BBC’s War and Peace, HBO/Sky’s Chernobyl, Catherine the Great, Jack the Ripper and other world-known titles.

Find out more about the greatest locations for movie makers and take a stroll in the city to discover them all.

And even become an actor yourself! Enrol at the Actor’s Agency (actorsagency.lt), the Baltics’ biggest talent recruitment agency, or Top Casting (topcasting.lt) and maybe tomorrow you’ll be invited to become a star in the next big thing to hit screens!

Photo by Monika Penkutė

Fintech

The fintech sector in Vilnius has skyrocketed in the last few years, attracting attention from around the globe. With its top talent, favourable business environment, friendly regulatory system and supportive ecosystem, Vilnius is the ideal home for fintech.

#10 best country in the world for fintech

And here’s where we stand

265 fintech companies operating in Lithuania in 2022

11% annual growth in the number of specialists in financial services

Source: Invest Lithuania, 2022

Information and Communication Technologies sector

With a pool of 36,000 professional software developers (Invest Lithuania 2021) and 2,500 new coding school specialists joining the market annually, Vilnius is:

1st globally for public WiFi speed (Ooma, 2020)

3rd globally for the availability of digital/technological skills (IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2022)

5th in mobile download speed/mbps in the CEE (Speedtest Global Index, 206th globally in the National Cyber Security Index)

8th in mobile app

(Global Innovation Index, 2020)

Largest fintech hub in the EU in terms of licensed companies

Startups

We are quite sure that no matter what field you are willing to operate, you will find a startup for it in Lithuania:

Startup ecosystem employs over 14,400 locals and internationals, with an average monthly salary of EUR 3,100.

Startups emerge in Vilnius – we have over 20 business hubs and accelerators and over 600 startups and scale-ups based in Vilnius.

And two unicorns – Vinted and Nord Security. They are putting us among the top 30 cities in the world for emerging businesses.

Source: Startup Lithuania, 2021

Global Business Services

Vilnius is home to a mature yet growing Global Business Services (GBS) sector characterised by diversity and a truly international scope of the services it provides.

Overall, the sector provides support to global operations in more than 35 different languages and supports functions as diverse as IT, Finance, Legal Support and Customer Support for a wide range of services.

Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius

Lasers

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 continues to grow and innovate, with Lithuanian lasers products being exported worldwide.

90% of production is exported to over 60 countries worldwide

40+ laser sector companies in Vilnius

(Source: Lithuanian laser association, 2019) Over 1000 specialists employed in the field

Laser sector achievements

One of the most powerful laser systems in the world SYLOS, which began work at Hungary’s LaserResearch Centre in 2019, was built by two major Lithuanian laser manufacturers Ekspla and Light Conversion.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) incubator in 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)

Meet in Vilnius

If you’re looking for a destination with a strong scientific community to host your next industry conference, make sure to get in touch with our Convention Bureau to help you make it your best event yet.

Photo by Marius Jovaiša

A new name uniting it all

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!”

Did you know that Vilnius is the capital of wolficorns?

Wolficorn is a special award the City of Vilnius gives to unicorns (companies with USD 1 billion market cap) operating within the capital’s ecosystem. A trophy depicting a half-wolf/halfunicorn creature – the symbols of Vilnius and successful start-ups – is awarded to companies that join the exclusive unicorn club.

It’s worth mentioning that the country’s fastestgrowing company – Kilo Health and the most valuable company in the Baltic region – Thermo Fisher – also proudly call Vilnius home.

Lithuanian start-ups are constantly looking for new talents! Make sure to check out the Work in Lithuania and Unicorns.lt databases to find the latest jobs in the start-up scene.

Photo by Renatas Venclovas

Accessibility

You’ve probably heard it a million times from anyone who talks about their city – that it’s the heart or centre of Europe? Well, we literally are! Europe’s 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

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 your passport at home, you can return to get it and still make your flight!

How can you get here?

Find the full map for Vilnius Airport flights: www.vilnius-airport.lt

Trains and buses inside Lithuania

Lithuania has a well-developed train and bus route system, so once travelling inside the country, you can reach any town by public bus or a train!

Also, cities like Warsaw, Berlin, Munich, Riga, Tallin, Prague and many others can be reached by bus, straight from the Vilnius Bus station!

You can’t get a ticket at the service counter 10 minutes prior to a bus departure. And once on the bus, you can only pay cash for a ticket!

Alternative means of transportation Electric scooters

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!

Nowadays, there’s no need to buy your own scooter, as both Citybee and Bolt offer the opportunity to share them using their mobile apps.

Car Sharing

Love driving but love being eco-friendly too? Well, in Vilnius there’s the Citybee and Spark apps that lets you be both. Citybee and Spark are car sharing apps designed to give you maximum convenience while having a minimum 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 it at your destination (and it serves markets beyond Lithuania – check out the map right here: Citybee – simple as that. Don’t worry about payments either – the app will automatically charge your card.

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 with them your conscience is always clear.

Love the environment? We love you!

Thank you for keeping Vilnius’ air clean by choosing public transportation.

Here are your options: Normal bus or trolleybus, which is nothing more than a bus with a moustache!

Take it from us – one of the first things you need to do when you get to Vilnius is install the Trafi app on your phone.

Trafi is the main public transport platform and more. This all-in-one app will give you live traffic and public transport updates and info, helping you choose the fastest way to your destination every time. From public transport, car and bike sharing, to taxis, Trafi covers everything. And of course, you can even use it to buy public transport tickets!

It’s like a personal little smartphone transport guide. And even better, it’s the brainchild of Lithuanian IT stars and was the official transportation app of the Rio Olympics.

Visit trafi.com

And here are the prices: judu.lt

Affordable and comfortable!

Forget Google Maps, the Trafi app will show you the best and fastest routes to get from point A to B in Vilnius.

Five saved minutes can mean a great deal if you’re late for an appointment! You’re welcome!

Cycling

Rent-ride-return – that’s the philosophy behind the CycloCity Vilnius Bike Sharing programme! Plus, you can burn some calories, just by getting around town.

Taxi

For those who prefer the convenience of a cab, Vilnius has a lot of dependable and reasonably priced taxi options. From the global giant to local providers like Bolt and E-taxi find a number of apps that you can use to hail a cab 24/7.

• Bolt

• Uber

• eTaksi

• A2B

• Jazz Express

• Taxi.lt

• eTransport Forus

Arriving with or getting your own car?

This next part is for you!

First, visit this website, where we skip straight to the good part – the main traffic regulations!

Insurance

All vehicles in Lithuania must be insured by a national insurance company. Prices are relatively affordable and are calculated depending on your age, driving experience, age of the vehicle and several other factors.

Car insurance providers:

• Gjensidige (gjensidige.lt)

• Ergo (ergo.lt)

• Lietuvos Draudimas (ld.lt)

• Compensa (compensa.lt)

• BTA Draudimas (bta.lt)

• If (if.lt)

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 parking meters.

The city is divided into four colour-coded zones:

• Green zones cost EUR 0.30/hour (Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-6 p.m.)

• 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.)

• 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

There are four specially designated car parks throughout the 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 the city, and you can even use it with the Citybee app.

You can find Park & Ride car park locations here

Paying for parking:

To stay on the move with your car is convenient in Vilnius, and you can pay for parking with one of these apps:

• m.Parking

• Unipark

• ADCparking

Parking near home?

Register your car to your apartment and get a fixed small price for annual parking in the area!

Registering a car?

New driver in the city? Check out this article made just for you.

Unipark

Android

Immigration procedures

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.

Non-EU countries

If you’re just visiting Lithuania and intend to stay here for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, it is sufficient for you to have a Schengen visa (if you are not subject to a visa-free regime). But if you are planning to live here, you must get a national visa or a residence permit. You can apply for a residence permit on the grounds of family, work, business, studies and a number of other reasons. Procedures differ for each of these grounds, and it’s best to consult the Migration Department: www.migracija.lt

Housing

Renting

Finding a rental apartment in capital cities might be a challenge, so here’s a short step-by-step guide on how to make the process run smoothly, as well as a few tips just FYI:

1. Decide on location – every little part of the city has its perks, so read up about them or contact the relevant eldership (https://vilnius.lt/lt/savivaldybe/ seniunijos-ir-bendruomenes/) to find out more about it before deciding whether it’s a good fit for you!

2. Find out everything about payments, utilities and other costs if you’re interested in an apartment.

3. Make sure you deal directly with the owner or legal representative (real estate agent).

4. Draw up a contract with the owner or legal representative.

5. Sign the contract in two languages: Lithuanian and another – one that you understand.

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 (aruodas.lt), Domoplius (domoplius.lt), Rebaltic (rebaltic.lt) and Homerental (homerental.lt)

Tips that will help you move forward:

• Apartments in the city are divided into one, two and three (and so on) room apartments. Unlike other countries, this doesn’t mean bedrooms, but all rooms. So, if you’re looking for two bedrooms, you’ll need to search for a threeroom apartment. And as you’d expect, the cost of an apartment will depend on the number of rooms, although you’ll find that the area and condition of the flat also factor heavily into the price.

• If you’re looking to rent, it’s best to avoid searching in August and September, if you have the flexibility. This is the beginning of the school year and the market is flooded with university students. This influx also inflates prices.

• Rental prices vary across the city, with a nice apartment in the centre 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 further from the centre and exploring the suburbs, you’ll discover that prices drop considerably.

• Your landlord might also require a security deposit, which is usually equal to one to three months’ rent. The deposit will be returned to you upon termination of the contract.

• When viewing apartments, make sure you ask to see previous utility and service bills!

• When dealing through a representative, upon signing a rental contract you will be charged a one-time fee that varies from EUR 100 to 500.

Find Apartments and Homes for Sale

Buying

Buying a flat or a house here is a pretty straight-forward process. You’re allowed to buy a home without any particular restrictions (there are only restrictions for purchasing agricultural land).

A property can be sold directly by its owner or through a real estate agency 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 you understand every part of it. This may require getting a translation of the contract made. You should also ensure that you don’t make any payments until you have received your contract. Please note, the sales contract should be notarised, and it is recommended that you register your ownership at the Centre of Registers

Important: buying a property does not grant you residency in Lithuania.

Buying an apartment with a mortgage?

Buying property by taking out a mortgage from a bank is very common in Lithuania. 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 of the property value. Our advice is to consult with several banks in Lithuania, which will assess your personal information and respond with their offers.

Most common considerations when taking out a loan:

• Having at least a 6-12-month work contract in Lithuania before taking out a loan;

• Loans are given for up to 30 years

• An insurance for an immovable residential property is required

• Loan conditions depend on your income, current financial obligations, value of the mortgaged property and other factors.

Moving your belongings

While relocating to another country or city can be stressful enough, the process is always easier with a bit of help packing, moving and unpacking your belongings.

Vilnius has a variety of trusted moving companies with years of experience that are ready to be of service!

Here are some that also provide information in English:

• Movers (www.movers.lt)

• Kraustymo komanda (kraustymokomanda.lt)

• Adrem (www.adrem.lt)

• Kraustina (www.kraustina.lt)

You may also choose private movers using the popular app Discontract

Bringing your pet

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 four-legged friend makes it much easier to make human friends in Vilnius!

You can bring your pets to live with you, just note, that special requirements are mandatory when arriving from European Union and most other countries:

• Identification – microchip

• Rabies vaccination or the respective declaration

• Pet passport.

Pet Travel | Domestic & International Dog and Cat Transport

State Food and Veterinary servise

Photo by Saulius Žiūra

Utilities and how to pay for them

Lithuanian homeowners pay utility bills every month (we suggest you do the 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 month, the owner checks the meter, writes down how much they consumed and pays for the amount based on current rates.

Additionally, owners receive bills for “common services” (including building maintenance, trash collection, stairwell cleaning). In winter, the heating of common spaces is added to these services, often amounting to the rest of the utility payments put together.

If an apartment is rented, the lessee is usually expected to pay for all the utilities rather than the owner.

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

• At the Perlas terminals, which you can find at supermarkets

Registering your address

Every resident of Lithuania (including foreigners with residence permits) must declare their place of residence in the county. Foreigners can declare their place of residence at the Migration Department (when collecting their residence permit card) or at their eldership. Foreigners must declare their place of residence within one month of obtaining their residence card.

It is worth drawing attention to the fact that when declaring a place of 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 residence permit (no need to declare your place of residency if you’re in Lithuania with a national visa) and the consent of the dormitory’s administration. The declaration of place of residence should be delivered to the eldership representing to the place of residence.

Recycling

Proper recycling is the responsibility of every resident of Vilnius, and now yours too.

Here are a few important rules:

• Waste must be sorted. There are several containers, all with different colours, for plastic, glass, paper and mixed waste food containers;

• 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.

Buy biodegradable garbage bags with strings on them.

Plastic and glass bottles and containers purchased at the store: Products in plastic, glass, PET and metal containers marked with a D are purchased with an additional fee of EUR 0.10. The deposit can be recovered by delivering the container to the nearest recycling terminal located near or in all supermarkets. Terminals provide a receipt that can be cashed at the store’s cash desk or information point.

House communications

Even though house phones are almost non-existent in the houses of Vilnius’ residents, almost everyone has internet installed. Various internet plans and routing services can be ordered from all major communication companies, such as Telia, Tele2, Cgates, Mezon, Bite, etc.

And once again, welcome to Vilnius, where you can get fiber optic internet right at home! It doesn’t get any faster than this.

Visiting a friend or colleague at their home? You must take off your shoes! Locals usually leave their shoes at the entrance and every household most likely has some extra slippers prepared just for guests!

Rent, buy, rent-to-buy: all about real estate in Vilnius

Working in Lithuania

Vilnius is

• Top city destination for expats (The 10 best cities for expats – Lonely Planet)

• 5th among the best remote work locations in the world (Global Remote Work Index, 2022)

• 11th for work-life balance (OECD Better Life Index, 2020)

Finding a job

The labour demand in Lithuania has increased in recent years and is likely to keep growing.

THE BIG NAMES employing big time:

• WIX

• DANSKE BANK

• WESTERN UNION

• NASDAQ

• VINTED

• TEVA

• THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC

And many more amazing giants employing thousands of talents and growing constantly!

Not to mention, the world’s most notable giants have branches here, including Google, Microsoft, Nestle, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, Samsung Electronics and many more. Opportunities are here – you just need to grab them!

There are two simple ways to search for a job – one of them is an individual search and the other is through the Employment Service or recruitment agencies.

Individual job search: Looking for job on your own? Check out the most popular sites that post job openings in various sectors:

• Work in Lithuania (Announcements in EN)

• Unicorns.lt (Working in a start-up | Unicorns) (Announcements in EN)

• CV online

• CV market

• CV bankas

• Voodoosales

• Startup CV

• CV.lt

• Amston (Recruitment Services | Recruitment Agency | Amston)

• Scobo

These websites are well-known and all have English interfaces, but some of the job descriptions are in Lithuanian. Most of these sites provide the opportunity to upload a CV for employers to see and contact you directly.

Know your rights

Successful job interview in Lithuania: HOW?

In Lithuania, employment agreements formalise the relationship between employer and employees and list out the employee’s duties, workplace regulations, salary and 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.

Photo by Saulius Žiūra

Unions

Employees are entitled to join an existing trade union at their workplace or any other trade union. Also, anyone has the right to establish a trade union, which can be founded by a minimum of three employees.

If you face any troubles, unfair treatment or just need a consultation, you have the right to turn to the State Labor Inspectorate (SLI) for the support you need. Consultations by phone (8 5) 213 9772.

It’s not unusual for future employees to be asked to send their LinkedIn page instead of a regular CV. So, keep your LinkedIn profile upda§ted and running!

Registering at the Employment Service

The Employment Service provides free-of-charge services for jobseekers. Here’s a list of services they provide for if you’re on the hunt for employment:

• Information and counselling

• Individual employment plans

• Supporting the development of work skills

• Self-employment support

• Voluntary practice

The Employment Service also offers one of the Lithuania’s largest databases of job vacancies and jobseekers, which is updated constantly.

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).

Setting up your business

If you decide to set up a company, you should first choose the legal type of company.

The most common types of companies in Lithuania are:

• Individual enterprise

• Private limited liability company

• Small partnership

Once you have decided to start a business and have chosen the type of business –on the basis of individual activity or by setting up a legal entity – it is also important to know the ways in which a business can be established and the procedures for setting one up.

Follow these steps

No matter how big or small your business, you may contact

Innovation agency for more information and free consultations on how to set up business in Lithuania.

Or simply watch our comprehensive workshop video on how to start a business in Lithuania

Public holidays

Once in Lithuania, you get the pleasure of enjoying plenty of days off. And it’s especially satisfying when public holidays make for long weekends!

Interesting fact – Lithuania does not have a national religion, but Catholic Christmas and Easter, as well as St. John’s and Assumption Days, are national holidays.

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!):

• 1 Jan New Year’s Day & National Flag Day

• 16 Feb Independence Day

• 11 Mar Independence Restoration Day

• (Each year differs, but usually in March or April) Easter Sunday & Easter Monday

• 1 May Labour Day

• 24 Jun St John’s Day

• 6 Jul King Mindaugas’ Day

• 15 Aug Assumption Day

• 1 Nov All Saints’ Day

• 2 Nov All Souls’ Day

• 24 Dec Christmas Eve

• 25 Dec Christmas Day

• 26 Dec Second Day of Christmas

See any of those days setting up a long weekend?Already dreaming of a romantic getaway? Well, book it in advance. Hotels tend to fill up quickly! P.S. Have you heard about Staycations? Choose amazing glamping stays in close proximity to Vilnius and just enjoy a quick change of scenery!

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:

Workland (G9/Didžioji/Quardrum)

Talent Garden

Lithuania

ROCKIT AltSpace

National Library of Martynas Mažvydas

And many more! Visit the Go Vilnius website for more information

Making friends with your colleagues

Vilnius Tech Park

Monday Office Regus

If you were to Google, “Is it easy to make friends with Lithuanian colleagues?” the answer you would NOT get is, “It’s really easy. Lithuanians are very friendly and will start talking to you like an old friend from the very first conversation.”

To be honest, making friends with your colleagues in Lithuania might be a little tricky. So, here’s a tip from a local: bring some morning coffee snacks or invite your 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 pottery.

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!

Taxes and benefits

We all know that hearing the word “taxes” makes our brains swell. But it can be quite simple once you get the hang of it. Let us do most of the heavy lifting and share all the information for you, so you have one less thing to worry about!

Here are the main pillars that taxes, contributions and benefits stand on.

Taxes applied to employees:

• State Social Insurance (Sodra taxes): 19.5%

• Personal Income Tax: 20%-32%

• Tier II pension (optional): from 2022 - 2,7%, from 2023 and on - 3%*

* Individuals assigned to the Tier II pension plan are done so automatically, so make sure to inform Sodra if you’d like to opt out!

CONTRIBUTIONS

PENSIONS AND BENEFITS

Personal Income Tax

For contract employees, personal income tax is deducted from the salary and managed by the employer. It also has to be paid for other work nonrelated income (such as from selling property etc.). Lithuania imposes a flat rate of 20% on wages. A 15% tax is applied for people performing individual activities. Non-residents are taxed at the same rate as residents.

Corporate Income Tax

In Lithuania, Corporate Income Tax is a tax collected from companies. Its amount is based on the net income companies earn while exercising their business activity, normally over the course of a business year. The main tariff for the CIT is 15%, and smaller tariffs are applied to small enterprises.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

VAT is a general, broadly based consumption tax assessed on the value 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 paid by consumers. The standard VAT rate in Lithuania is 21%.

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.

Compulsory health insurance

Compulsory health insurance (Privalomasis Sveikatos Draudimas in Lithuanian and PSD for short) is one of the top things you should take into consideration when relocating to Vilnius.

PSD – if you see these three letters anywhere else from now on, you will know what they mean.

PSD provides access to free health insurance services. If someone is not insured with it, they must pay for medical services.

Contract employees do not need to pay any extra fees, as the tax is automatically deducted from their salary. And if you are self-employed, don’t forget to pay your compulsory payments on your own

Worried about numbers? Need some exact figures? Here are all kinds of different benefit calculators to do the math for you:

Declaring income and income tax

Well, this might be tricky and unfortunately it’s not taught in schools. But lucky for us and you, the Tax Inspectorate has prepared a short (well, not-so-short, actually) overview that explains it all: vmi.lt

Both temporary and permanent residents of Lithuania must declare their taxes, so don’t forget about it as 1 May approaches!

Don’t leave taxes to the last minute – the best time to declare your income is when it’s announced and no later than one week before the deadline. If you need any assistance, make an appointment with our Tax Inspectorate specialist at International House Vilnius!

Health system

All foreigners holding a permanent residence permit in Lithuania, as well as those who are legally employed and temporarily residing in Lithuania, must pay monthly health insurance contributions, and in case of an insured event, have the right to receive free personal health care services. Individuals not covered by PSD are required to pay for health care services themselves.

Everyone – both insured and those not covered by PSD –have access to public, municipal as well as private health care institutions. The difference is that non-insured individuals are required to pay for all healthcare services provided in private, public and municipal health care institutions.

If you are employed and have a residence permit, your employer pays your PSD contributions for you. If you are self-employed, you should pay the PSD contributions individually

Unemployed individuals with a permanent residence permit can pay PSD individually.

If you have a temporary residence permit, you cannot be insured by PSD, unless you are employed or have worked in Lithuania for six months and have registered with the Employment Services after that.

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.

Students of non-EU member countries should obtain private health insurance. The cost of health insurance obtained in Lithuania may vary depending on the insurance policy.

A list of the basic health services covered by PSD is available here

Photo by Saulius Žiūra

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.

Registering with a healthcare institution

There are both public and private healthcare institutions to choose from in Lithuania.

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 depends on the doctor, so it’s wise to ask upon registration). In the event of illness, you should first contact the healthcare institution you are registered with and your GP will examine you, order medical laboratory tests, prescribe treatments and, if needed, refer you to a specialist for a consultation or hospitalisation. You should bear in mind that you usually need a referral from your GP to see a specialist.

Ready to register?

• Choose a health care institution (outpatient clinic, primary healthcare centre or family medical centre) and go to the healthcare facility of your choice.

• Provide your ID, fill out an application form and choose a practitioner.

Private healthcare institutions work under a license issued by the Ministry of Health. These institutions provide paid healthcare services. Their prices are set according to internal procedures. Some private health institutions can offer and apply discounts to individuals covered by compulsory health insurance and do not charge for the services provided (check before registering). They may also have concluded agreements with private health insurance companies concerning a direct reimbursement of fees for healthcare services. It’s easy to get medical services in English at private healthcare institutions.

If you have a late-night dental emergency, head to the Žalgiris Clinic. They’re open 24/7

Some of us are still nostalgic for our schooldays, and you can even catch Lithuanians starting the new year on 1 September, but don’t let it throw you off!

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.

There are three main academic stages that almost everyone goes through.

Kindergarten/Pre-School

If you have small children, there are lots of kindergarten options in a number of languages. Here is the list of kindergartens offering services in foreign languages: govilnius.lt

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 amounting to four hours per day or 20 hours per week.

• Admission to a public kindergarten is managed centrally: applications should be submitted electronically at svietimas.vilnius.lt by 10 March.

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, 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.

Education is provided in Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, Belarusian and Hebrew. If you want to send your child to an English or French-speaking school, you will have to choose a private school.

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 some other acceptance conditions. Read more: renkuosilietuva.lt

It’s much easier logistically to choose the school closest to where you live. Check out the interactive map

and then check this vacancy list, which is updated every month:

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.

Senior class students wishing to continue their studies in English have the possibility to be granted an International Baccalaureate diploma in the following schools in Vilnius:

• Vilnius Lyceum (licejus.lt)

• American International School of Vilnius aisv.lt

• Erudito licėjus erudito.lt

Extracurricular activities

There are plenty of extracurricular activities for school-age children. Some of them are organised by the school and teachers working there, municipality and others are held by private organisations. The most popular activities for school children in Lithuania are music school, art lessons, karate, football and dancing.

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 advance!

Maybe you haven’t heard of every single university in Vilnius but trust us, world leaders in industries such as lasers and biotech are not born, they are made. And they are made here – in Vilnius!

Double degree diplomas with famous European universities, world-class visiting lecturers, hundreds of Erasmus possibilities and endless opportunities to learn… ah, it’s a good time to be a student!

Higher education in Lithuania is carried out in both Lithuanian and English (depending on the programme) and consist of three cycles: Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Science/Doctor of Art.

Vilnius has a vast variety of study programmes to choose from, but there are many more reasons to choose Lithuania as your dream country for studies, and here they are: studyin.lt

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: renkuosilietuva.lt

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.

Convenience

Sending and receiving goods

POST

There’s something about sending and receiving goods that almost makes it feel like Christmas! And it’s always nice to enjoy a very well-developed postal system.

The main place to easily send and receive goods is the post office. It allows you to send registered, tracked packages all over the world! And it has its own branches – mini offices in every city of Lithuania. Post: post.lt

Parcel kiosks

For several years, locals have been making regular use of the very convenient and developed network of parcel kiosks. You can find Omniva (omniva.lt), LP Express (lpexpress.lt), Venipak (venipak.com) and DPD (dpd.com) kiosks all over the city.

Use them to quickly send and receive parcels within Lithuania, and even leave your keys in them for a flatmate to pick up.

Shopping:

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

Pharmacies: eurovaistine.lt; gintarine.lt; camelia.lt

Second-hand goods: Vinted.lt; skelbiu.lt

Groceries: barbora.lt; rimi.lt

Food delivery: Bolt food; Wolt

Banking

The Lithuanian banking sector is mostly composed of well-established Scandinavian banks and you can open an account once you become a resident of Vilnius. You will be required to provide your identity card or passport, and with some banks, you might also need to provide proof of income and your relation to Lithuania (work contract, documents proving ownership of real estate in the Republic of Lithuania, study certificate, etc.).

Fees to open a bank account can vary and are upwards of up to EUR 400 for non-residents. Ready to open a bank account? Choose a bank and click on the link!

Feeling sick in the middle of the night? Have an urgent need to get rid of a headache or a fever? There are a few 24/7 pharmacies across Vilnius: BENU: Žirmūnų g. 64, and Eurovaistinė Mindaugo str. 11 and T.Ševčenkos str. 2

Swedbank (swedbank.lt)

SEB (seb.lt)

Luminor (luminor.lt)

Šiaulių Bankas (sb.lt)

Medicinos Bankas (medbank.lt)

Photo by Monika Krilavičienė

Compliancemanagement&Cybersecurity BigData&Analytics

Blockchain&Cryptocurrency

Other

Looking for alternative banking services?

Well-known Lithuania-based digital banking companies, such as Revolut, the 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 all the possibilities to digitalize your daily financial tasks.

Getting a local mobile number

Want to use your phone? Prepaid SIM cards with plans for data, calls and SMS cost EUR 8-15/month. SIM cards are available at Narvesen kiosks as well as supermarkets and gas stations. Signing a contract for monthly services is easy but requires a residence permit and deposit.

Mobile service providers in Lithuania:

• Bitė (bite.lt) (prepaid: Labas )

• Tele2 (tele2.lt) (prepaid: Pildyk)

• Telia (telia.lt) (prepaid: Ežys)

Getting the latest news

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 (lrt.lt) Delfi (delfi.lt) 15min (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. They all have an app too!

Radio: Stuck in a traffic with nowhere to put your thoughts to? Well, the radio is always an option and there are plenty of channels to choose from!

For all the “old but gold” music lovers, we suggest M1 Plius (pliusas.fm), and for those looking to learn simple Lithuanian phrases, we recommend Vaikų radijas (vaikuradijas.lt). You can learn the language by singing along to simple yet fun songs!

Civic information

Party system

The Lithuanian party system can be defined as a multi-party system where one dominant party may emerge from time to time.

At the moment, there are a few main parties, such as the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, Union of Democrats “For Lithuania”, Liberals Movement, the Freedom Party, Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.

Also, recently there has been a wave of committees being established, as more politicians have decided not to belong to any party movement.

Elections in Lithuania

There are four types of elections in Lithuania: Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Presidential, Municipal and European Parliament. Voting age: 18

Every four years.

Held in October.

141 Parliament members.

Election of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania

To be elected to Parliament, candidates must be over 21 years old.

After the election results are in, the majority forms the government, which is composed of the Prime Minister acting as its head and a cabinet of 14 ministers (the country’s executive body).

Presidential Election

Every five years.

No longer than for two consecutive presidential terms.

Two months before a term ends, the Seimas announces the exact date of the next election.

To be elected President, candidates must be over 40 years old.

Municipal Council Election

Every four years. Mayor and Council are elected directly.

To be elected to Council, candidates must be over 18 years old.

European Parliament Election

Every five years throughout the European Union under universal suffrage.

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 nationals.

Getting married

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 (K. Kalinausko st. 21). Every Vilnietis most likely knows where it is and many of our 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 by filling out a request in advance. For more information, please visit vestuves.vilnius.lt

For those wishing to get married in Lithuania, they must fill out the required forms and submit them along with their passport, birth certificate and other required documents to the Civil Registry Office (vilnius.lt). The application is submitted to the Registry Office where one of the future spouses or their parents have declared their place of residence.

Important note: Marriages are registered at least one month after the date of filing the application.

Lithuanian citizenship by marriage

If your spouse is a Lithuanian citizen and you are a citizen of a foreign state, you can be issued a temporary or permanent residence permit in Lithuania. You can also apply for Lithuanian citizenship after seven years of permanent residence with your spouse in Lithuania.

(Source: Civil Registry)

Same-sex partnership

In 2019, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania adopted a resolution stating that the constitutional concept of a family is gender neutral. With this said, same-sex partnerships legally established in other countries allow for the obtaining of a temporary residence permit in Lithuania on the basis of family reunification.

Church marriage

There are no restrictions on church weddings, but it is necessary 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 the process with the church of your choice.

Volunteering – giving back to the community

There are many ways to help those in need, and one of them is through volunteering.

There are a few main organisations you can join and devote your time to, not only during the holiday season or a crisis. Choose from a vast variety of organisations operating in the fields of elderly care, homelessness, abandoned child care and many more!

Photo by Tautvydas Stukas

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

• 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 can connect you to the police, emergency medical services, fire and rescue services, and environmental protection services, depending on your need.

Photo by Saulius Žiūra

Vilnius LIVE

Vilnius at night

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 the city’s nightlife is joining a local or expat who has been here for a while.

Oh, and there are special night busses to get you home safe – they’re marked with the letter N.

Longer nights mean longer parties! Once the sun sets, the stage for nightlife in Vilnius is set. Be it a pub crawl, dancing until dawn or just a perfect night out on the town, Vilnius is a city buzzing with people, chatter and fun. Join the party because everyone’s invited. Wondering what to expect?

Check out our list: govilnius.lt

Islandijos Triangle (where Vilnius Street meets Islandijos Street) is the most famous and crowded nightlife area in Vilnius. If you want something low-key, try quieter restaurants and bars for a late-night cocktail hour!

Photo by Rytis Šeškaitis

City festivals not to miss out on

Vilnius’ city festivals vibe with everyone. Whether you’re looking for something musical to feed your boho soul or something more traditional, Vilnius has it! Here is the list of CAN’T MISS events: govilnius.lt

Something is always happening in Vilnius – every day, every week, every month – and you will never get lonely! Bookmark this page as your go-to activity search page and enjoy numerous outings with your friends or alone! vilnius-events.lt

Towards firework-free holidays

Vilnius has adopted a resolution by which we have committed to create 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, birds and pets. More impressive laser and light shows ahead!

Pickpocketing and scams

The risk of being robbed or scammed in Vilnius is relatively low, but everyone should nevertheless exercise the same caution they would when visiting crowded areas in any other city. Being vigilant and keeping valuables like cameras and smartphones out of the reach of potential pickpockets is always a good idea

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 Uber) to plan your taxi trips and ensure you pay a fair price.

Cultural adventures await!

Eager to see and experience EVERYTHING? It might be a challenge, but where there’s a challenge , there’s always a solution!

Browse the cultural attractions of Vilnius (govilnius.lt/visit-vilnius/vilnius-pass-attractions), add your favourites and visit them all with just one ticket – the VILNIUS PASS

World class cuisine to die for!

Art in a spoon, blind dinners, dinners in the sky, business lunches that offer international flavours – all to delight the tastebuds of Vilnius’ citizens and guests. There’s a lot to choose from and trust us – it will take ages to try it all!

Vilnius Coffee Crawl

Did you know? Archival sources reveal that residents of Vilnius started drinking coffee in the early to mid-17th century. Lucky for coffee lovers who make a ritual of their favourite warm drink and care about where and what kind of coffee they drink, Vilnius is packed with cafes: take your time and unwind over a cup of the world’s best flavours: Vilnius Coffee Crawl | Go Vilnius

Top things you didn’t know you can do in Vilnius

Active Vilnius

Are you up for kayaking through the city centre? Want to see Vilnius from a hot-air balloon? No problem! And don’t think that Vilnius is only beautiful in summer – join the national mushroom hunt in autumn or go skiing at Liepkalnis, which is only 10 minutes away from the city centre. Discover what Vilnius has to offer for those that can’t stay still: govilnius.lt

TV tower walk above the sky (tvbokstas.lt)

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 guaranteed!

The Lithuanian Sauna experience

Usually, Lithuanians tend to enjoy a very hot sauna with a very cold lake! But for those living in the city, this isn’t always so easy. But for every challenge, there’s a solution!

Enjoy public saunas with all their perks right in city centre!

• Ivãnas Muša Gongã

• Garo fabrikas

Extra bonus free of charge – walking !

Vilnius is a perfect place to contribute to saving the planet by simply walking everywhere! What do we mean? Check this out: govilnius.lt

A perfect combo for those counting steps: walk the 15 (Home - #walk15) and 100-kilometre trails (Vilnius 100km – Takas aplink Vilnių) around Vilnius!

Vilnius Tourist Information Centre (TIC)

is an excellent adviser how to have a great time in Vilnius!

By visiting TIC you will:

Cool off at the public city beaches during the hot summer days! Also, the pier above the Neris river right by the Baltas tiltas is the go-to place if you just can’t wait!

learn about the best places of interest, museums, cultural events and entertainment receive a free map of Vilnius have a chance to acquire the Vilnius Pass, publications about the city, and various souvenirs receive useful tips where to shop or eat get tourism information from the terminals or use the free Wi-Fi.

Visit us at Pilies str. 2 (restaurant Grey)

Our working hours are:

Monday-Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Lunch break: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.)

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 (at the Municipality office or Lithuanian embassy). Read more: Declaring departure from Lithuania

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

This guidebook was made with the support of:

investlithuania.com govilnius.lt

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 discussions or simply DM us! We’re always up to chat!

Find us:

Stay up to date by subscribing to the International House Vilnius newsletter: ihvilnius.lt

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