
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.
Company registration in Lithuania is governed mainly by:
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.
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).
Choose the correct legal form The most common options for foreign entrepreneurs include:
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.
Reserve the company name (recommended) Company name reservation is usually done before preparing the full incorporation package to avoid rework.
Prepare incorporation documents Depending on the entity type and founders, the core documents typically include:
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.
Notary verification A civil law notary checks documents and confirms compliance before submission to the register.
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.
Pay the state fee Registration requires payment of the applicable state fee.
Complete post-registration registrations Typical next steps:
Exact documents vary, but foreign founders should plan for these categories.
Lithuanian companies must provide information on ultimate beneficial owners as part of compliance expectations.
Even though taxes are not “registration documents,” founders should plan:
A small partnership structure is often used for small owner-managed operations and typically has simpler capital requirements than a UAB.
Yes, foreigners can generally own Lithuanian companies. The key issues are documentation, formalities, and bank compliance.
Many foreign founders choose UAB for growth and commercial operations. MB can be suitable for smaller owner-managed activities.
Not always. Some steps can be completed remotely depending on representation, signatures, and notary requirements.
It depends on document readiness, notary scheduling, and bank onboarding. The registry step can be quick, but banking can take longer.
Not necessarily. VAT depends on your activities and applicable rules/thresholds.
Delays commonly arise from inconsistent statutes/forms, unclear address arrangements, missing banking documentation, and incomplete beneficial owner details.
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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LexNova Team
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