Here is the residency permit information as I promised in my post on
December 4th about Living in Vilnius. I'm sorry that this post is not terribly exciting, but I would have loved to read something like this before deciding to move to Lithuania. I hope this provides helpful information for someone out there.
As you know, I recently moved to Lithuania for my husband's job. I like living in Vilnius, but the residency permit process was so difficult (especially with the anti-help that his job provided- they lost some of our essential documents!) that I'm not sure I'm willing to go through this process again next year. Below I've outlined the process (for an American citizen) and provided addresses, as well as helpful tips.
Step 1) Bring the following paperwork to the migration office at Naugarduko g. 100.
- Passport
- Copy of Passport
- Proof of health insurance - no this is not actual health insurance it is some useless certificate that you purchase from a vending machine, bring a copy and the original
- Lease
- Document from landlord stating that you are living in that apartment
- Marriage certificate and/or employment information - I would not have been able to apply for a residency permit without my husband's employment letter and our marriage certificate
- Passport sized photograph
-Tip: Step 1 could be done by someone you hired as you do not need to be there in person.
-Tip: Try to make an appointment online, otherwise you will be waiting for hours (I waited for 5 hours one day).
Step 2) About 1.5 to 2 months later return to the migration office after receiving a confirmation email.
- Passport
- Copy of Passport
- Proof of health insurance (a copy and the original)
- Passport sized photograph
- After they accept your paperwork they will take your photograph, your finger prints (pointer finger), and they will record your signature
-Tip: Try to make an appointment online, otherwise you will be waiting for hours (I waited for 5 hours for this step as well).
Step 3) About 7 days later, return to the migration office to pick up the residency card (looks like a drivers license). It took me about 5 minutes to pick up the residency card.
Step 4) Within 7 days of picking up your residency card you must go to the office next to Europa Mall on Konstitucijos prospektas. At the little kiosk (which is all in Lithuanian) push the number 1, take your ticket, and likely your number will pop right up. Bring with you your residency card and the document that your landlord provided (not your lease). This process takes only about 5 minutes.
Overall the residency permit takes approximately 3 months (I was days away from the 90 day limit- see below).
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About the Offices:
100 Naugarduka g. is a pretty big office that has several rooms and is reminiscent of the US DMV. If walking in from the front door, enter the first room on your left and visit the kiosk to choose a number (this kiosk has an English option). For step 1 and step 2 you should get a number in the 100s. Take this number to the second office on the right hand side and wait for what feels like forever. Bring lunch, water, a book, and music. Trust me. When picking up your residency permit you will get a 500 number and your wait should be 30 minutes or less (go to the same room). Alternatively, you could make an appointment and you would be called close (not exactly at the time you select though, so get there early) to the time you selected.
The residency confirmation office is next to the Europa Mall on Konstitucijos prospektas. If you are facing the Europa mall, the entrance is straight ahead and the entrance to the office is on the right (the doors next to the bank doors).
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Miscellaneous Information:
In contrast, I could have gotten a
Visa D. The Visa D process is much easier and only takes about 1 week.
See here for
visa information and here for
residency permit information.
Tip: Americans can stay in the
Schengen Zone for no more than 90 days for a total of 180 days without applying for a visa or residency permit.
Disclaimer: Because residency and visa requirements change frequently I cannot attest that this will be valid in a few years, however everything is correct for 2013/2014.
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