Tips for Quick Company Establishment in Lithuania

Choosing Lithuania: The Foundation for Quick Establishment in 2025

Business Environment and Speed Advantage

Lithuania accelerates the establishment process with its digital state infrastructure, low setup costs, and access to the EU single market. Thanks to electronic signatures and online application channels, you can usually obtain your company code within a few business days.

Particularly, technology, e-commerce, logistics, and professional services benefit from Lithuania’s scalable structure. Entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals working with remote teams can quickly launch operations and trade across the EU.

• The standard corporate tax rate is 15%; those meeting small business conditions benefit from a 5% rate.
• The general VAT rate is 21%; VAT registration is required when annual turnover exceeds €45,000.
• Digital application and e-signature significantly reduce reliance on physical notaries.

Timeline and Realistic Expectations

If you prepare the documents correctly, you will receive registration within 1–3 business days after application. The bank account and capital process may slow down the parties; plan these steps in advance.

• Preparation (name selection, documents, translation): 2–5 days
• Capital account and receipt: 1–3 days
• Registration and code: 1–3 business days
• Tax/payroll registrations and initial invoicing: 1–5 days

The official investment agency Invest Lithuania provides an updated guide on business establishment processes. Accelerate your planning by reviewing the guide: Start your business in Lithuania (PDF).

Correct Structure and Name: Strategic Decisions that Determine Speed

Which Company Type? Why UAB Provides Speed

The fastest and most practical structure for foreign partners is the UAB (Private Limited Liability Company) model. UAB offers limited liability, flexible management, and full foreign ownership.

• Minimum capital: €2,500 (you will add the capital receipt to the file upon establishment).
• Establishment with a single partner/single manager is possible.
• Establishing a new UAB instead of opening a branch generally progresses faster in banking and compliance processes.

Those in a hurry can plan to take over an established UAB with the shelf company option and start operations within 1–2 days. In this option, also plan tax and bank checks in advance.

Name Selection and Reservation: Reduce Waiting Risks

To speed up the process, choose a unique and compliant title. Similar or likely-to-confuse names delay name approval. Determine backup names in advance.

• Keep the title short, easy to pronounce, and aligned with your industry.
• Complete the name check and reservation before the registration application.
• If necessary, prepare a variant with Latin characters.

Prepare Documents Correctly on the First Try

Mandatory Documents and Apostille/Translation

Missing or incorrect documents are the biggest cause of delays. Speed up the process by uploading each file completely and simultaneously.

• Articles of association and establishment decision
• Identities of partners and managers (passport), proof of address
• Share distribution, manager appointment, and signature samples
• If necessary, apostille and sworn Lithuanian translation

Founders from outside the EU may need additional evidence for criminal record and legitimacy of source (AML/KYC). Complete this check in advance to eliminate a 2–3 day delay.

Legal Address, Authorized Representative, and E-Signature

Declare a legal address within Lithuania in the establishment application. You do not need to maintain a physical office; registered address services are sufficient.

• Include the address contract and usage authorization in the file.
• If you are outside Lithuania, appoint a local representative with a power of attorney (PoA).
• Obtain an EU qualified e-signature; you can conduct the electronic application process entirely remotely with the e-signature.

Banking, Capital, and Registration

Temporary Capital Account and €2,500 Capital

Deposit the capital into a temporary capital account and obtain the bank receipt. Banks may conduct additional reviews for founders from outside the EU; initiate this review in advance.

• Capital amount: at least €2,500 (for UAB).
• If there are many founders, prepare the KYC list and source documents.
• Schedule the bank appointment before the application; shorten the waiting time.

If account opening is delayed, do not stop operations; manage payroll and supplier payments initially with temporary solutions. Below we summarize these options.

E-Application and Fees at Registrų centras

Upload documents, name approval, and capital receipt to the Register of Legal Entities (Registrų centras) system. The electronic application process quickly queues the file.

• State fees are generally low; make the payment online.
• You can complete the registration process without going to a notary with an e-signature.
• If your application is complete, authorities will finalize it within 1–3 business days.

After receiving the registration certificate and company code, activate the permanent bank account and sign commercial contracts.

Tax, Payroll, and Recruitment: First 30 Days Checklist

VMI, Sodra, and VAT Threshold

Immediately after establishment, complete tax and social security registrations. Correct setup in the first month reduces operational costs.

• Register for corporate tax, withholding, and VAT with the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI).
• If you are hiring employees, complete the Sodra (social security) registration within the same week.
• If annual turnover will exceed the €45,000 threshold, do not delay VAT registration.
• Redesign policies and contracts for transfer pricing and intra-group transactions from the start.

If you are operating in fintech, payment institutions, or a regulated area, integrate the licensing and sandbox timeline into your business plan. Document compliance requirements from day one.

EOR/Payroll and Acceleration with Posted Worker

Do not stop hiring until the legal entity completes all registrations. Temporarily build your team with Employer of Record (EOR) and payroll outsourcing.

• Corpenza manages the payroll of your remote workers with the payroll and EOR model; you document contracted personnel salaries as company expenses.
• We provide personnel leasing services with posted worker for project-based needs across the EU.
• This way, you can seamlessly start operations while recruitment, visa, and banking processes continue.

Common Mistakes and Gaining Speed with Corpenza

Time-Consuming Mistakes

When you set a speed target, prevent unnecessary delays with planning and checklists.

• Missing documents and translation: Upload documents fully and in Lithuanian at once.
• Name discrepancies: Apply with backup titles; reduce the risk of objections.
• Bank approval: Prepare AML/KYC documents and proof of source funds in advance.
• Address and representation: Finalize the legal address and power of attorney before signing.
• VAT and payroll: Complete VMI/Sodra registrations immediately after registration.

How Corpenza Accelerates

Corpenza shortens your establishment time with mobility, company formation, and workforce solutions in Europe and globally, ensuring compliance.

• Company formation (including Lithuania UAB): We manage the title, contract, translation, e-signature, and registration file end-to-end.
• Residence/work permit and citizenship by investment: We integrate the residence & work permit plan for founders and key personnel with the company timeline. We connect golden visa and citizenship by investment programs (depending on the country) to your multi-market strategy.
• International accounting and tax optimization: We provide end-to-end setup for VAT, corporate tax, transfer pricing, and intra-group flows.
• Payroll and EOR: We take your remote workers onto payroll, expense their salaries, and deliver reporting monthly.
• Personnel leasing (posted worker): We conduct short/medium-term assignments in project sites across the EU in a compliant manner.

Conclusion: Plan documents correctly, utilize digital infrastructure, and redesign banking and compliance from the start. With Corpenza, you will register in the same week and invoice in the same month.

Actionable Tips: Quick Establishment Playbook in 7 Steps

Operation Plan and Timeline

• Set a target date and plan backward (T0 = registration day).
• T–10 days: Complete title, contract, address, and translation.
• T–7 days: Finalize e-signature and bank appointment.
• T–3 days: Obtain capital receipt, upload the file to the e-system.
• T0: Registration output; initiate VMI/Sodra applications on the same day.
• T+3 days: Activate permanent IBAN and invoicing infrastructure.
• T+7 days: Test the first payroll and VAT processes with a trial run.

Risk Reduction and Scaling

• Standardize document templates; manage variable fields with a checklist.
• Create a “bridge” solution with a shelf company or EOR; do not delay revenue flow.
• Establish early contact with the bank; document UBO transparency and source of funds from the start.
• Plan posted worker and multiple VAT number strategies for expansion into EU markets.
• Run the residence/work permit file for managers and founders in parallel with establishment.

Lithuania offers a strong hub for rapid company formation and EU access in 2025. With the right preparation and local experience, you can register in 1–3 business days and reach full operational level within 30 days. Clarify your strategy; lock in the timeline with Corpenza and focus on scaling.