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How to start a business in Lithuania as a foreigner (2026)

Starting a business in Lithuania as a foreigner: easy.

Lithuania offers one of the most accessible business-formation environments in the EU for foreign nationals. A private limited liability company (UAB) can be incorporated fully online within 1-3 business days with no foreign-ownership restrictions, no local-director requirement, and a state registration fee under €100. The Centre of Registers' digital self-service portal accepts remote applications from non-residents using an EU-recognised e-signature or Smart-ID.

Last verified Official sources first · MethodologyCompare Lithuania with other countries

Legal framework

Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania (No. VIII-1835); administered by VĮ Registrų centras (State Enterprise Centre of Registers) under the Ministry of Justice

Key points: starting a business in Lithuania

  1. Foreign ownership

    Lithuania imposes no restrictions on foreign ownership. A UAB may be 100% foreign-owned by a single non-resident individual or corporate entity, with no nationality or residency requirements for shareholders or directors.

    investlithuania.com registrucentras.lt

  2. Minimum share capital

    A UAB (private limited liability company) requires a minimum authorised capital of €2,500, of which at least 25% must be paid in prior to registration. The alternative MB (small partnership) form has no minimum capital requirement.

    e-seimas.lrs.lt companyformationlithuania.com

  3. Registration steps

    Standard process: (1) reserve a company name via Registrų centras; (2) prepare articles of association and incorporation documents (certified translations required for foreign-language documents); (3) deposit share capital in a bank or EMI account; (4) submit application through the Registrų centras self-service portal; (5) register with the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) post-incorporation.

    registrucentras.lt investlithuania.com

  4. Timeline and cost

    Online registration is completed in 1-3 business days; a notary-assisted route may take up to one week. The state registration fee is under €100; notary, translation, and virtual-office costs typically bring the all-in total to approximately €500, €800.

    registrucentras.lt investlithuania.com

  5. Digital-first process

    Registrų centras provides a fully digital e-guide and self-service portal (JAREP) enabling remote incorporation without physical presence in Lithuania, using Smart-ID or a qualified e-signature recognised under the EU eIDAS Regulation.

    registrucentras.lt w2.registrucentras.lt

  6. Registered address requirement

    A Lithuanian registered address is mandatory for all legal entities. Non-resident founders may satisfy this with a virtual office, which is legally accepted and typically costs €100, €300 per year in Vilnius.

    investlithuania.com registrucentras.lt

Sources

  1. registrucentras.lt/jar/index_en.php
  2. registrucentras.lt/jar/e-gidas_en/index.php?l=2&tipas=uab&steig-fiz=on
  3. w2.registrucentras.lt/bylos/savitarna/UAB%20steigimas%20JAREP_EN.pdf
  4. e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/2af0c0d049b811e68f45bcf65e0a17ee
  5. investlithuania.com/business-setup-guide/
  6. investlithuania.com/blog/starting-a-business-in-lithuania-a-7-step-guide/
  7. companyformationlithuania.com/set-up-a-uab-lithuania/

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Orientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026