Area: 65,300 km²
Residents: 2,794,000 (January 2019)
Population density: 43 E / km²
Form of Government: parliamentary republic
System of Government: semi-presidential democracy
Neighboring countries: Latvia, Belarus, Poland, Russia
Capital: Vilnius (Wilna)
National language: Lithuanian
Religions:
80% Roman – Catholic,
4.1% Russian Orthodox,
1.9% Evangelical Lutheran,
0.2% Evangelical Reformed,
0.1% Jehovah’s Witnesses
Currency: Euro
Telephone area code: +370
Time zone: UTC + 2 EET
UTC + 3 EESZ (March – Oct)
In 2020, 89 Germans officially emigrated to Lithuania and 76 came back to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 1,062 Germans officially emigrated to Lithuania and 1,121 moved back to Germany. In 2020 there were officially 772 Germans living in Lithuania. The country was allowed to introduce the euro on January 1, 2015 as the 19th euro country.
The global financial and economic crisis hit the Lithuanian labor market particularly hard: The country was one of the countries within the EU where unemployment rose the most. The labor market has recovered well in recent years.
General provisions for travel and residence (until the corona pandemic)
For entry and stay in Lithuania, EU citizens only need their valid identity card or passport if they are staying in the country for a maximum of 90 days per half-year. In order to be able to stay longer, you need a residence permit.
Temporary residence permit (up to 5 years)
Requirements:
- Employed or self-employed
- sufficient financial means for himself and his family members
- Health insurance
Evidence must be provided to confirm that the prerequisites have been met (e.g. employment contract). The processing time until the residence permit is issued is a maximum of 10 working days.
Permanent residence permit (longer than 5 years)
This is granted if you have legally resided in the Republic of Lithuania for five years. An EU citizen should submit the following for the application:
- Completed application form (Application of an established format) can under the link ltbe downloaded
- Valid passport or identity card
- Documents confirming the basis for acquiring or granting the right of permanent residence (e.g. employment contract, marriage certificate in the case of an existing marriage with a Lithuanian spouse)
- Documents confirming a change in personal data (if necessary)
Documents issued abroad that are submitted with the application must be translated into Lithuanian. In addition, all documents issued by foreign countries must be legalized or approved by an apostille.
Before submitting an application for the issuance of a certificate of residence, a fee of € 8.60 must be paid, which is charged for the issuance of the certificate. The application and accompanying documents must be submitted to the migration office of the local police authority in whose area you intend to live. The processing time for the permanent residence permit is 1 month.
Labor market
A work permit is not required. In October 2020 the unemployment rate was 10.4 percent. The statutory minimum wage was € 3.72 per month (January 2020). According to the Lithuanian Statistical Office, the average gross monthly wage (excluding sole proprietorship) was EUR 1,317.60 in the third quarter of 2019.
According to countryvv, the growth sectors and markets include information and communication technology, energy efficiency, the chemical industry, electronics and electrical engineering, transport and logistics, renewable energies and food processing. If you want to work in Lithuania, you should definitely master the national language Lithuanian. Test here for free how well you speak and understand Lithuanian (takes about 3 minutes).
Since 1999 the association for adult education “Work and Life” in Hamburg has offered three-month internships in the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Cost of living
The price level in Lithuania is around 20 to 30 percent lower than in Germany. In Vilnius and other cities, life is not much more expensive than in the country.
You would need around € 2,291.17 in Vilnius to maintain the same standard of living that you could have in Berlin with € 3,700.00 (assuming you rent in the cities).
- Consumer prices in Vilnius are 32.18% lower than in Berlin (excluding rent)
- Consumer prices in Vilnius are 38.08% lower than in Berlin (including rent)
- Rent prices in Vilnius are 50.93% lower than in Berlin
- Restaurant prices in Vilnius are 21.22% lower than in Berlin
- Food prices in Vilnius are 37.17% lower than in Berlin
- The local purchasing power in Vilnius is 35.10% lower than in Berlin
Average cost of living in Vilnius (from 07/2020 – 06/2021)
| Restaurant | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Food, price w. restaurant | 8.00 | 4.00 – 12.00 |
| Middle class, 3 courses for 2 people. | 40.00 | 30.00 – 60.00 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l | 3.10 | 2.00-4.00 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 l | 3.00 | 2.50-4.00 |
| cappuccino | 2.34 | 1.40-3.00 |
| Coca / Pepsi (0.33 l) | 1.56 | 1.00-2.00 |
| Water (0.33 l) | 1.46 | 1.00-2.00 |
| Food | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Milk (1 L) | 0.86 | 0.39-1.19 |
| White bread (500g) | 0.85 | 0.50 – 1.50 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 1.24 | 0.70-3.00 |
| Eggs (12) | 1.67 | 0.96-3.00 |
| Local cheese (1kg) | 6.67 | 4.00-15.00 |
| Chicken breast fillet (1kg) | 4.62 | 3.00 – 6.00 |
| Beef (1kg) or other red meat | 7.15 | 4.50-10.00 |
| Apples (1kg) | 1.02 | 0.49 – 1.60 |
| Bananas (1kg) | 1.00 | 0.80 – 1.50 |
| Oranges (1kg) | 1.28 | 0.70 – 2.20 |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 1.40 | 0.60-2.39 |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 0.41 | 0.18-0.79 |
| Onions (1kg) | 0.51 | 0.20-1.00 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 0.89 | 0.50-2.00 |
| Water (1.5 l) | 0.60 | 0.25-1.00 |
| Bottle of wine (middle class) | 5.75 | 4.00-10.00 |
| Local beer (0.5 l) | 1.09 | 1.00 – 1.50 |
| Imported beer (0.33 l) | 1.43 | 1.00-2.00 |
Average costs for local transport, utilities, clothing, leisure, education of Vilnius (from 07/2020 – 06/2021)
| Mode of Transport | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| One-time ticket | 1.00 | 0.65-1.00 |
| Monthly pass | 29.00 | 29.00-30.00 |
| Taxi base amount | 1.10 | 0.80-2.00 |
| Taxi 1 km | 0.60 | 0.49-1.00 |
| Ancillary housing costs | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| for 85 sqm apartment (electricity, water, garbage, etc. | 112.50 | 70.00-154.55 |
| 1 minute prepaid mobile tariff | 0.14 | 0.08-0.19 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or more, unlimited data, cable / ADSL) | 11.02 | 8.00-17.00 |
| Clothes, shoes | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Jeans (Levis 501 or similar) | 58.88 | 30.00 – 100.00 |
| Summer dress (Zara, H&M,… | 35.14 | 19.99-70.00 |
| Nike sports shoes, middle class | 73.56 | 40.00-120.00 |
| Leather business shoes | 88.62 | 50.00 – 150.00 |
| leisure time | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Fitness center, month / adult | 29.48 | 15.00 – 50.00 |
| Tennis, 1 hour on weekends | 21.56 | 12.00-30.00 |
| a movie ticket | 7.50 | 7.00-11.00 |
| training | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Preschool / Kindergarten, private, whole day, monthly per child | 414.08 | 300.00-645.00 |
| International primary school per year and child | 8,237.69 | 5,550.00 – 14,000.00 |
Average rental prices / purchase and salaries of Vilnius (from 07/2020 – 06/2021)
| Monthly rental price | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in the city center | 525.15 | 400.00 – 600.00 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) outside the center | 345.15 | 300.00 – 400.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in the city center | 871.83 | 600.00 – 1,200.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) outside the center | 557.83 | 420.00-800.00 |
| Purchase price of apartments | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Price per square meter for an apartment in the city – purchase | 2,889.97 | 2,400.00 – 3,500.00 |
| Price per square meter – apartment outside the center – purchase | 1,779.13 | 1,500.00 – 2,500.00 |
| wages | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Average monthly salary (after taxes) | 1,040.01 | – |
Emigration and Living Lithuania
Since the labor market has recovered very well in recent years, Lithuania is no longer only suitable for financially independent emigrants and retirees. However, the wage level is also adjusted to the cost of living in the country. If you want to live in Lithuania, you should have at least a basic knowledge of Lithuanian. Some advantages of the country: relatively safe from natural disasters, free of nuclear power, low cost of living (LHK-I 65.4).
