Foreigners, no matter where they’re from, can usually buy real estate in Lithuania, including houses and apartments, without needing special permission from local authorities. EU citizens have no restrictions, but non-EU citizens might face some limits, especially when it comes to owning agricultural land. You don’t need to be a resident to own property in Lithuania, but keep in mind that owning property doesn’t automatically make you eligible for a residence permit. Once you have property in Lithuania, you can rent it out or sell it just like any local would.  

IMPORTANT: Currently, Russian citizens who do not have a permit for residency in the Republic of Lithuania are prohibited from purchasing real estate in Lithuania. 

Where to find real estate for sale? 

You can find ads for buying a home at: aruodas.lt, alio.lt, capital.lt, domoplius.lt, skelbiu.lt, realu.lt, ntportalas.lt and other websites. 

Property prices in Lithuania  

Prices for real estate in Lithuania have been climbing recently.  Here’s a rough guide to the average price per square meter in various cities as per July 2024:  

• Vilnius City Center: €2,100 to €7,000 per sq.m.
• Kaunas City Center: €1,600 to €3,700 per sq.m.
• Klaipeda City Center: €1,200 to €3,300 per sq.m.
• Šiauliai: €920 to €2,000 per sq.m.  

The prices depend on the city and its area, the condition and size of the flat and other factors (heating system in the flat, closeness to nurseries and schools etc.). If you are looking to buy a modern ~50 square meters flat in a new building in a prestigious area of Vilnius, you can expect to pay over €200 000.  You can check the average real estate prices in different cities of Lithuania here.

Buying a property

The property can be sold directly by the owner or through a real estate agency representing the owner. All what you need is to sign a sales contract (known as Pirkimo-pardavimo sutartis) and to make a payment.  There are two options for the payment: savings or a mortgage loan granted by a bank. Please note that the sales contract should be notarized, and ownership needs to be registered at the State Enterprise Centre of Registers (known as Registrų centras)

When buying property in Lithuania, you'll need to pay a notary fee of 0.45% of the purchase price. There are also some additional fees for checking the property's legal status in various registers, like for any existing mortgages or property claims. The notary handling your transaction will give you the exact details and amounts for these extra costs. You’ll also need to spend some money at the Centre of Registers to register your ownership of the acquired property. The fee here depends on the type of property being registered, its market value, and the time frame for registration (the shorter the registration period, the higher the fee). 

IMPORTANT: buying a property does not grant a residency in Lithuania.   

Buying land in Lithuania 

In accordance with Article 47, Part 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, foreign nationals can acquire land here if they meet certain criteria. Specifically, only individuals and entities that meet European and Transatlantic criteria are eligible. 

Who can buy land? 

Legal Entities: Companies established in European Union (EU) Member States, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Member States, or free economic zones qualify under these criteria. 

Individuals: 

• Citizens of EU and EFTA Member States
• Permanent residents of EU and EFTA Member States
• Permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania, even if they are not Lithuanian citizens  

Inheritance of land in Lithuania 

In the event of a Lithuanian citizen's death, their land can be inherited by foreigners. However, there are specific rules based on whether the foreign heir meets the European and Transatlantic criteria. 

• Heirs Who Don’t Meet the Criteria: If the foreign heir doesn’t meet the European and Transatlantic criteria, they’ll receive the value of the land from its sale, not the land itself
• Heirs Who Meet the Criteria: If the heir does meet the criteria, they’ll inherit full rights to the property. This means they can use, manage, and sell the land according to Lithuanian law