Moving to Lithuania for work: what your first 90 days look like

You have signed the contract, the visa is in your passport, and the flight is booked. What happens next is the part nobody explains properly. This guide walks through the first three months in Lithuania in the order things happen, so you know what to expect and what is expected of you.

Before you fly

Keep three things together and easy to reach: your passport with the national (D) visa, the signed employment contract, and the letter or reference number from your residence permit application. Airport officers and, later, the Migration Department will ask for them.

Pack for the season. Lithuania is cold from November to March — often well below freezing — and warm in summer. Bring documents from home that you might need later: your driving licence (original), educational or trade certificates, and any medical records. Getting copies sent from home once you are in Europe is slow.

Week 1: arrival and registration

Someone from ManBe or your employer will meet you. In the first days you will:

• Register your place of residence. This is a legal requirement and it unlocks almost everything else. Your employer or our team will take you to the municipality office (seniūnija) with your rental agreement.
• Get a personal identification number if you do not already have one from the permit process. It is used for tax, social insurance, banking and healthcare.
• Open a bank account. You need it to receive your salary. Bring your passport, visa and registration document.

Do not be surprised if this week feels like nothing but offices and forms. It is, and it is normal.

Weeks 2–6: work induction and your permit card

You will start induction at work. For drivers this includes vehicle familiarisation and the Driver CPC (Code 95) training required for professional driving in the EU. For construction and factory roles it usually means safety training and, in some cases, a skills check on site.

Meanwhile your temporary residence permit is being finalised. When the Migration Department issues it, you will be asked to attend to give fingerprints and collect the card. The card is your proof of the right to live and work in Lithuania; carry it, and keep a photo of it on your phone.

If you drive: your home-country licence will be exchanged for a Lithuanian one through Regitra. Depending on which country issued your licence, this may involve a test. Your tachograph card is applied for after the Lithuanian licence is issued. You cannot legally drive commercially until both are done, so this is the critical path for your first pay cheque as a working driver.

Weeks 6–12: settling in

By now you are working and paid. A few things to sort out in this period:

Healthcare. You are covered by Lithuania's compulsory health insurance through your employer's contributions. Register with a family doctor (šeimos gydytojas) at a clinic near your home; your employer or our office will help you choose one.

Tax. Income tax and social insurance are deducted from your salary by your employer. You do not need to file anything in your first year unless you have other income. Keep your payslips.

Money home. Bank transfers to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Philippines work from any Lithuanian bank; the bank will explain fees. Avoid informal transfer arrangements — they are not protected.

Language. Lithuanian is hard, but the basics matter for daily life and for how colleagues treat you. Free and low-cost courses exist in Kaunas, Vilnius and Klaipėda; ask us and we will point you to one near you.

What you can expect from us

ManBe's Kaunas office stays in contact through your first months. If there is a problem with pay, housing, documents or the job itself, tell us early — most issues are easy to fix in week two and much harder in month four. You will have a named contact and a phone number from day one.

What is expected of you

Turn up on time, follow safety rules, keep your documents in order, and tell someone when something is wrong. Lithuanian employers value reliability above almost everything else, and the workers who do well here are the ones who treat the first three months as an investment.

If you are considering a move and want to know whether your trade or licence is in demand, register with us and we will tell you honestly.