How to Register a Company in Lithuania (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda) — 2025 Legal Guid

If you are planning to register a company in Lithuania in 2025, the process is generally efficient, but it is also formal and document-driven. Lithuania is attractive to foreigners because it offers a stable EU legal environment, access to the EU market, and a relatively digital-friendly registration system. At the same time, founders often face practical hurdles: selecting the correct legal form, securing a registered address, meeting bank compliance requirements, and filing the correct forms with the Register of Legal Entities.

This guide explains how to register a company in Lithuania from a legal perspective, with clear steps and the most common issues foreign founders should plan for—especially when registering in Vilnius, Kaunas, or Klaipėda.

How to Register a Company in Lithuania: Legal Background in Lithuania

Company registration in Lithuania is governed mainly by:

• the Civil Code (rules on legal persons), and
• the Company Law and other laws depending on the entity type.

In practice, incorporation is handled through the Register of Legal Entities administered by the State Enterprise Centre of Registers (Registrų centras). For a typical private limited liability company (UAB), the registration process involves official JAR forms and notary verification.

Foreign founders should also understand that “company registration” is not the end of compliance. After incorporation, most businesses must complete related registrations (tax, VAT if applicable, social security if hiring, beneficial owners), and regulated activities may require licenses before starting operations.

How to Register a Company in Lithuania: Step-by-Step Legal Process

Below is a practical step-by-step outline that reflects how incorporation is typically completed in Lithuania for common entity types (especially UAB and MB).

1. Choose the correct legal form The most common options for foreign entrepreneurs include:

   • UAB (Private Limited Liability Company) – standard choice for trading companies and scalable businesses.
   • MB (Small Partnership / Mažoji bendrija) – simpler governance; typically used for small owner-managed structures.
   • Branch / Representative office – if you already have a foreign company and want a Lithuanian presence.

2. Confirm a Lithuanian registered address Every Lithuanian legal entity must have a registered office address in Lithuania. This is often a practical hurdle for foreigners.

3. Reserve the company name (recommended) Company name reservation is usually done before preparing the full incorporation package to avoid rework.

4. Prepare incorporation documents Depending on the entity type and founders, the core documents typically include:

   • Articles of Association / statutes
   • Act of establishment (single founder) or incorporation instrument (multiple founders)
   • Decisions appointing management (director/manager, board if applicable)

5. Open an accumulation (temporary) bank account and address capital funding For a UAB, founders usually open an accumulation account and deposit initial contributions for subscribed shares.

6. Notary verification A civil law notary checks documents and confirms compliance before submission to the register.

7. Submit the registration package to the Register of Legal Entities Applications are filed with the Centre of Registers, using the required JAR forms and supporting documents.

8. Pay the state fee Registration requires payment of the applicable state fee.

9. Complete post-registration registrations Typical next steps:

   • Tax setup and ongoing compliance planning
   • VAT registration (if required)
   • Social security registration if hiring employees
   • Beneficial owner disclosures

How to Register a Company in Lithuania: Key Legal Requirements & Documents

Exact documents vary, but foreign founders should plan for these categories.

Core incorporation requirements

• Chosen legal form (e.g., UAB or MB)
• Company name
• Registered office address in Lithuania
• Founding documents
  • Statutes / Articles of Association
  • Act of establishment (single founder) or incorporation instrument
• Management appointments
  • Director/manager (and board where applicable)
• Register application forms
  • Required JAR forms and attachments

Capital and funding (especially for UAB)

• Bank accumulation account
• Evidence of initial contributions and compliance with contribution rules

Beneficial owner (UBO) disclosures

Lithuanian companies must provide information on ultimate beneficial owners as part of compliance expectations.

Tax and employer basics to plan early

Even though taxes are not “registration documents,” founders should plan:

• Corporate income tax compliance
• VAT rules (where applicable)
• Payroll and social security obligations if hiring

MB (Small Partnership) note

A small partnership structure is often used for small owner-managed operations and typically has simpler capital requirements than a UAB.

How to Register a Company in Lithuania: Common Legal Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing the wrong legal form for your real business model
• Underestimating the registered address requirement
• Skipping name reservation, then facing name rejection later
• Bank onboarding delays due to KYC/AML documentation gaps
• Inconsistent statutes and registry forms, causing rejections
• Ignoring beneficial owner disclosures
• Starting regulated activity too early without licenses/authorizations

How to Register a Company in Lithuania: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) Can a foreigner fully own a Lithuanian company?

Yes, foreigners can generally own Lithuanian companies. The key issues are documentation, formalities, and bank compliance.

2) What is the most common company type for foreigners in Lithuania?

Many foreign founders choose UAB for growth and commercial operations. MB can be suitable for smaller owner-managed activities.

3) Do I need to visit Lithuania to register a company?

Not always. Some steps can be completed remotely depending on representation, signatures, and notary requirements.

4) How long does company registration usually take?

It depends on document readiness, notary scheduling, and bank onboarding. The registry step can be quick, but banking can take longer.

5) Do I need to register for VAT immediately?

Not necessarily. VAT depends on your activities and applicable rules/thresholds.

6) What are the most common documents that cause delays for foreign founders?

Delays commonly arise from inconsistent statutes/forms, unclear address arrangements, missing banking documentation, and incomplete beneficial owner details.

Conclusion

Understanding how to register a company in Lithuania in 2025 means focusing on two layers: (1) the formal legal incorporation through the Register of Legal Entities (with notary verification and correct filings), and (2) the practical compliance steps that make the company operational (banking, tax setup, beneficial owner disclosures, and—where needed—VAT and licensing).

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