This article provides specific guidelines: where to turn first, where to look for a job and housing, which services will be useful for everyday needs, and how to stay organized amid the flood of new information during the first few weeks after moving.
In the first few days after moving, you should focus on a few basic tasks: applying for or renewing a residence permit (if required), registering your place of residence, opening a bank account, and getting a local phone number. These steps give you access to virtually all other services—from health insurance to renting an apartment in your own name.
It’s equally important to determine in advance what status grants you the right to reside in Lithuania—EU citizenship, a residence permit, or a work visa—since this determines the list of required procedures and the deadlines by which they must be completed.
A key procedure for any new resident is declaring their place of residence (deklaruoti gyvenamąją vietą). For third-country nationals with a residence permit, this can be done in two ways: directly at the local seniūnija (municipal office) or municipality at your address of residence, or simultaneously with submitting an application for a residence permit through the Department of Migration. By law, you must register your place of residence within one month of moving or changing your address.
Registration is not a mere formality but a necessary requirement for accessing public services: without it, it is difficult to obtain health insurance, enroll a child in preschool or school, and in some cases, even obtain a Lithuanian driver’s license.
The temptation to sort out all these issues in the very first week is understandable, but in practice it often backfires: long lines at government offices, confusion about priorities, and general exhaustion from bureaucracy. It’s wiser to spread out the tasks over several weeks, starting with those that open the door to the rest—address registration, a bank account, and health insurance.
A practical sequence of steps looks like this: in the first few days—temporary housing and registering your address; then—a bank account and a SIM card; followed by setting up health insurance and finding a family doctor, and only after that—actively searching for permanent housing and a job, if one hasn’t been found in advance. This step-by-step approach reduces stress and ensures you don’t overlook truly urgent formalities.
The Lithuanian State Employment Service (Užimtumo tarnyba) is the official resource for finding job openings, allowing you to search for opportunities by profession, company, region, and other criteria. In addition to job listings, the employment service provides guidance on professional retraining, the recognition of foreign qualifications, and registering as unemployed for those who are eligible.
The EURES portal is primarily aimed at EU citizens and people moving to Lithuania specifically for employment. EURES not only helps with finding job openings but also provides advice on related issues—such as housing, social security, taxes, schools for children, and healthcare—making it particularly useful during the planning stage of a move.
In addition to government resources, commercial job search platforms are widely used in Lithuania—CVbankas.lt, CV-Online.lt, and CVMarket.lt. These sites compile thousands of current job openings from Lithuanian companies, allow you to set up alerts based on specific criteria, and apply directly to the positions that interest you.
For positions at international companies and in the IT sector—where a particularly large number of job openings are concentrated in Vilnius—it’s helpful to use LinkedIn; many Lithuanian and international companies post open positions there before they appear on general job boards. It’s also worth following the career pages of companies that interest you directly—some job openings are posted only there.
There are many social media groups for expats and foreigners living in Lithuania, where job openings that don’t appear on major platforms are often posted, — this is especially true for positions with flexible schedules, part-time jobs, or roles that do not require knowledge of the Lithuanian language.
Lithuanian employers generally expect a concise, one- to two-page resume with a clear structure: contact information, work experience listed in reverse chronological order, education, key skills, and languages. For international companies, resumes are usually written in English; for local Lithuanian employers, a version in Lithuanian or Russian is preferred, depending on the field of work.
For the first one or two weeks after moving, it’s a good idea to book temporary housing—a daily rental or an apartment — so you have time to search for a permanent option at your own pace, without rushing or settling for the first offer that comes along due to time constraints.
Classifieds remain one of the most reliable and convenient ways to find rental housing in Lithuania: they bring together listings from owners and agencies across all cities in the country, with the option to filter by price, neighborhood, number of rooms, and other criteria. This search format is especially convenient for newcomers—you can compare dozens of options at once without going through intermediaries and contact the property owner directly.
Before signing a lease agreement, you should carefully check: the exact amount of the monthly rent and whether utilities are included, the term of the lease and the conditions for early termination, the amount of the security deposit and the conditions for its return, as well as who is responsible for repairs in the event of breakdowns of appliances or utility systems.
Standard practice in the Lithuanian rental market is a security deposit equal to one, or less commonly two, months’ rent, which is refunded upon move-out if the apartment is returned in its original condition. It’s also worth clarifying whether utility bills are included in the rent or paid separately based on meter readings—this can significantly affect your overall monthly budget.
When searching for housing online, be wary of listings with suspiciously low prices, requests to transfer a security deposit before viewing the apartment in person or signing a lease, and landlords who refuse to meet in person under various pretexts.
A good rule of thumb is to never transfer money for housing that you haven’t inspected in person or at least via video call with confirmation of the owner’s identity.
The rental market varies significantly from city to city: Vilnius has the most listings, but prices are significantly higher, especially in central areas.
In Kaunas and Klaipėda, rent is more affordable, and there are enough listings on classifieds sites to find a suitable option without spending months searching.
In smaller cities—such as Šiauliai and Panevėžys—the market is smaller, but competition among renters is also lower.
Vilnius is the capital and the country’s main economic hub, where the largest number of job openings in the IT sector, financial services, and international companies are concentrated. It’s also home to International House Vilnius—a one-stop center that brings together services for foreigners in one place.
The downside is that rent and the cost of daily living are higher here than in the rest of the country.
Kaunas is Lithuania’s second-largest city, with a well-developed infrastructure, a rapidly growing technology sector, and a cost of living that is significantly more affordable than in Vilnius. The International House model, which previously operated only in Vilnius, is now expanding to Kaunas, making it easier for newcomers to settle in this city as well.
Klaipėda is the country’s main port city, located on the Baltic Sea coast. In addition to the obvious advantage of its proximity to the sea, the city offers jobs in logistics, shipbuilding, and the port industry, and the cost of living here is lower than in the capital.
Lithuania’s smaller cities—Šiauliai, Panevėžys, and others—attract residents with significantly lower rent and living costs, but offer fewer job openings, especially in specialized and high-paying fields.
This option is suitable for those who have already found a remote job or plan to work in a specific local industry, such as manufacturing.
When choosing a city to move to, it’s wise to compare not only salary levels in your field of interest but also the overall cost of living—rent, utilities, transportation, and daily expenses. Sometimes a higher salary in Vilnius is completely offset by a significantly higher rent, and as a result, the difference in real disposable income turns out to be smaller than it seems at first glance.
Lithuania’s largest banks—Swedbank, SEB, and Luminor—serve both local residents and foreigners; however, the process of opening an account for someone without Lithuanian citizenship may take longer and require additional documents confirming the source of income and the purpose of stay in the country. It’s a good idea to check a specific bank’s requirements in advance on its website or by phone.
The main mobile carriers—Telia, Bitė, and Tele2—offer both monthly subscription plans and prepaid SIM cards, which are convenient during the first few weeks while you’re still sorting out permanent registration and a bank account. Home internet is usually set up through the same or neighboring providers and requires a permanent residential address.
Major pharmacy chains—Eurovaistinė, Camelia, and Benu—operate nationwide and offer apps to check the availability of medications at specific pharmacies. For basic medical care, you’ll first need to register with a family doctor at a clinic in your declared place of residence.
To find repair professionals, cleaning services, tutors, and other household service providers, it’s convenient to use classifieds websites—there you can find service providers with reviews, compare prices for a specific service, and contact several options directly, without relying on random recommendations.
The major supermarket chains in Lithuania—Maxima, Rimi, IKI, and Lidl—cover virtually the entire range of everyday shopping needs and offer their own loyalty programs with discounts. Wolt and Bolt Food are widely used for food and grocery delivery, especially during the first few weeks when you haven’t yet established a regular route to the nearest store.
Classifieds meet several needs of new residents at once: there, you can find used furniture and appliances to furnish your new home at a much more affordable price than in a store, as well as post an ad if you have unwanted items left over after setting up your home or, conversely, need to find a professional for a specific one-time task—from furniture assembly to minor repairs.
After registering your place of residence and obtaining mandatory health insurance, you must register with a family doctor at the local clinic. You can do this in person at the clinic or through the Esveikata online service, where your visit history and test results are also available.
A list of public clinics and private medical centers for each city is available on the official municipal websites and the Esveikata portal. Larger cities offer a choice of several clinics within walking distance, which is especially convenient while you’re still figuring out your permanent address.
The public healthcare system covers basic medical services for those with mandatory health insurance; however, wait times to see certain specialists can be significant. Private clinics offer faster access to appointments for an additional fee—many new residents opt for this option during their first few months while they are still figuring out how the public system works.
For families with children, people with disabilities, and other groups in need of additional support, social services are available through Sodra and municipal social centers. The easiest way to find out about available benefits and services is directly through your Sodra account or by visiting the relevant municipal department in person.
In an emergency, call the single emergency number 112 immediately—the operator will connect you to the appropriate service, whether it’s medical assistance, the fire department, or the police. For less urgent cases that still require same-day attention, you can go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital or see the on-call doctor at a clinic.
To get around Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, and other major cities, it’s convenient to use the Trafi app, which shows real-time routes and lets you buy tickets directly within the app. Long-term residents should consider a monthly pass—it’s usually more cost-effective than single-ride tickets for regular travel.
For travel between cities in Lithuania, there are regular bus and train routes; it’s convenient to purchase tickets in advance through the carriers’ websites and apps—this is usually cheaper and guarantees a seat during peak times.
In major cities, taxi and car-sharing apps—such as Bolt, Uber, and eTransport—are available. These are especially helpful during the first few weeks, when you’re still getting to know public transportation routes or need to get somewhere quickly with a lot of luggage.
To buy a car in Lithuania, you’ll need a declared place of residence, and to register the vehicle in your name, you’ll need to contact Regitra. Many new residents start their search for a used car on classifieds websites, where they can compare dozens of listings by make, model year, and price within their desired vehicle category.
In addition to Trafi and taxi apps, navigation services with real-time traffic updates and apps for paying for metered parking in major cities will come in handy — these tools make it much easier to settle in at first, until unfamiliar routes become second nature.
The main source of reliable information for new residents is official government resources: the Migration Department’s website, the e-government services portal epaslaugos.lt, and municipal websites. This is where up-to-date information is published regarding changes in legislation, document requirements, and procedures for obtaining services.
EURES remains a useful resource not only during the job search but also after moving—the portal provides advice on a wide range of adaptation issues, including housing, taxes, social security, and education for children.
Expat communities on social media are a good source of practical advice and personal experiences, especially on topics that are hard to find in official sources: which neighborhoods are more family-friendly, where to find Russian- or English-speaking professionals, and how various bureaucratic procedures work in practice.
International House Vilnius is a one-stop center that brings together the services of several government agencies under one roof: processing residence permits, tax matters, employment, social insurance, and integration counseling. A similar model is in place in other major cities, including Kaunas, which significantly simplifies the process of dealing with bureaucratic matters without having to run around between different agencies.
The personal experiences shared by other immigrants in groups and communities are helpful but not always up to date—procedures and requirements can change, and specific experiences may vary depending on status, citizenship, and individual circumstances. Any important information, especially regarding documents, deadlines, and requirements, should be double-checked on the official government website rather than relying solely on advice from a chat room or forum.
Enrollment in a public preschool is done through the municipal online system based on your declared place of residence; in large cities, especially Vilnius, it’s best to register in advance—the waitlist for popular preschools can stretch out for several months. Private preschools are usually available more quickly but require higher monthly fees.
In addition to public schools in your area of residence, major cities have international and private schools that offer instruction in English or other foreign languages—this can be a convenient option for families who have not yet mastered Lithuanian to a level sufficient for their child to fully participate in a local school.
It’s easy to find information about available clubs, sports teams, and extracurricular activities for children through municipal websites, specialized platforms, and local parent communities—where you can also read reviews from other parents before signing your child up for a trial session.
Municipal social support centers and the Sodra portal provide information on available benefits and services for families with children, including maternity leave assistance, child benefits, and social support during difficult life situations.
Knowing at least basic Lithuanian makes daily life and finding employment outside of international companies significantly easier. Free and paid Lithuanian language courses for foreigners are available both in major cities through educational centers and online—many new residents start with conversation groups to get the hang of everyday situations more quickly.
Local events, language clubs, and interest groups are an effective way to make new friends and feel like part of the local community more quickly, rather than just a temporary resident. Many cities organize regular gatherings specifically for foreigners and expats.
For those planning to advance their careers or start a business in Lithuania, professional associations and industry-specific entrepreneurial communities are helpful — they not only help with networking but are also often familiar with the local nuances of doing business, which are hard to find in official sources.
Observing the everyday habits of locals—from how people line up to standards of politeness in conversation—helps you adapt more quickly and avoid awkward situations. Local forums and expat groups often answer precisely these kinds of practical questions, which aren’t always obvious to a newcomer.
Before signing any contract—whether for housing, cell service, or internet—it’s worth comparing several offers rather than settling for the first option that comes along due to a lack of time or unfamiliarity with the market. The price difference between similar offers can be quite significant, especially in large cities.
Joining supermarket loyalty programs and using discount aggregators from your first weeks in the country can help significantly reduce your spending on everyday purchases—these programs work the same way for locals and foreigners alike.
Furnishing a new home from scratch is one of the most expensive expenses after moving. Furniture, appliances, dishes, and other household essentials can be found on classifieds websites for significantly less than in stores, and when you eventually move again, you can just as easily sell off items you no longer need by posting an ad in the appropriate category.
The first few months after moving almost always cost more than your usual budget due to one-time expenses—such as a security deposit for housing, buying furniture, and processing paperwork. It’s wise to set aside a financial cushion for this period in advance and gradually adjust your spending as you learn more about the actual cost of living in that city.
Register on job search portals (Užimtumo tarnyba, CVbankas.lt, CV-Online.lt) and, if necessary, on EURES; prepare a resume in the appropriate language; if moving to work under an employment contract, check with your employer regarding the necessary formalities.
Find temporary housing for the first few weeks; review listings on the bulletin board; sign a lease with transparent terms; register your place of residence within one month.
Open an account at one of the banks (Swedbank, SEB, Luminor); get a local SIM card; set up mobile banking and, if necessary, Smart-ID to access e-government services.
Sign up for mandatory health insurance; register with a family doctor through Esveikata; find out the addresses of the nearest hospital and clinic in case of an emergency.
Download the Trafi app or a similar app for your city; if necessary, download taxi apps; check the public transportation schedule for your commute to work or school.
Sign up for Lithuanian language courses; find local communities and interest groups; consult official sources of information for foreigners so you don’t rely solely on unverified advice.
Moving to a new country is a marathon, not a sprint: you won’t be able to resolve every issue in the first week, and that’s okay.
Start with the basics—registering your address, opening a bank account, and getting health insurance—and then gradually build out the rest of the infrastructure for your new life.
The easiest way to set up your home and find the household services you need at first is through the skelb24.lt classifieds board —it features up-to-date listings for rentals, furniture, appliances, and private service providers throughout Lithuania.
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