Moving to a new country comes with many details to manage, and declaring your place of residence is one of them. Whether you’re a Lithuanian citizen or a foreign national, everyone who becomes a permanent resident, needs to let the local authorities know where they’re living and update them if they move.  

Declaring your residence in Lithuania is more than just a formality. It’s your key to unlocking important services, from healthcare and social benefits to things like voting in local elections or enrolling your children in school or kindergarten.  

Who needs to declare their residence? 

Lithuanian Citizens: If you live in Lithuania for more than 183 days a year or change your place of residence within Lithuania. 

EU/EEA Citizens: If you have lived in Lithuania for more than three months within a six-month period or change your place of residence within Lithuania and have acquired the right to reside here. 

Non-EU/EEA Citizens: If you have a residence permit in Lithuania and live here or change your place of residence within Lithuania. 

How to declare your residence if you’re a foreign citizen in Lithuania? 

• At the Migration Department: When collecting your residence permit, you can declare your residence at the same time.
• At the Eldership or Municipality: Once you’ve received your Lithuanian residence permit from the Migration Department, within one month you can declare your residence at your local Eldership (known as seniūnija). 

Owner's Consent 

You can declare your residence for both properties you own and rented accommodations. If you are declaring your own home as your place of residence, you only need to fill in and sign the place of residence declaration form, and submit copies of your passport and Lithuanian residence permit. If you are declaring residence at a property you do not own, additionally you will need to present the owner's consent. This consent can be provided in one of the following ways:  

• A signed rental agreement
• A notarized copy of the owner's consent
• A visit to the Migration Department or Eldership together with the owner

If you are a foreign student, you must obtain consent from your dormitory administration. Afterward, declare your residence either at the appropriate eldership or through the Migration Department branch when you collect your residence permit.  

You do not need the owner's consent to declare the residence of a minor foreign national. The residence of underage children is declared with one of their parents. 

Important notes  

• Residence declarations must be submitted individually. You may only declare someone else's residence if you are declaring the residence of a minor or if you are their legal guardian
• You cannot declare residence based on a visa; you need a residence permit in Lithuania
• Obtain your residence permit first, then declare your place of residence
• You can declare your residence in a property where each adult resident has at least 7 square meters of living space (4 square meters for students).  

Declare departure from Lithuania 

If you have declared your residence in Lithuania and plan to leave the country for more than 180 days, you must also declare your departure. This can be done at your local eldership.