Just Landed in Lithuania? Your First 7 Days

Coverage is excellent nationwide, with all three operators running 4G and 5G reaching over 99% of the population; Vilnius and Kaunas have some of the fastest and cheapest mobile data in the EU. SIMs require ID registration by law, so bring your passport to buy one. Free public Wi-Fi is common in cafes, malls and on many buses.

Typical cost: EUR 8 to EUR 15 per month for a prepaid plan with unlimited or very large data; home fibre broadband runs about EUR 12 to EUR 20 per month

Lithuania uses the euro and is one of Europe's most cashless societies; contactless cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, including buses, market stalls and small kiosks. Instant SEPA transfers are standard, so paying rent or splitting bills is quick and free.

Opening an account: Opening a full local account at Swedbank, SEB or Luminor usually needs a residence permit and a Lithuanian personal code, and often an in-branch appointment. Most newcomers start with Revolut, Wise or the local fintech Paysera, which open with just a passport and address and are widely accepted for salary and rent. Smart-ID is the near-universal login for Lithuanian online banking, so set it up early.

Cash: Cash is rarely essential but handy at open-air markets (turgus), some rural areas and older venues. Withdraw from major bank ATMs rather than Euronet, and always choose to be charged in euros to avoid dynamic currency conversion.

Tipping: Tipping is modest and optional; rounding up or leaving about 10% for good restaurant service is normal but not obligatory. Tips are not expected in cafes, taxis or bars, and service charges are rarely added to bills.

New residents must declare their place of residence (deklaruoti gyvenamąją vietą) once they hold a residence permit or, for EU/EEA citizens staying over three months, an EU residence certificate. This registers your address in the state population register (Gyventojų registras) and is the anchor for your personal code, healthcare enrolment, tax residency and most official correspondence. You declare the address where you actually live, and you must file a new declaration each time you move. The process is free and increasingly done online, though many newcomers still do it in person at the eldership.

Deadline: Within one month of collecting your residence permit; EU/EEA citizens declare as part of obtaining their residence certificate when staying longer than three months

Where: Your local eldership (seniūnija), the Migration Department when collecting your permit, or online via the Registrų centras e-services portal using Smart-ID

Vilnius has cheap, reliable buses and trolleybuses run through the JUDU system, plus dominant ride-hailing and e-scooters from Bolt. A single ride is EUR 0.90 for 30 minutes or EUR 1.30 for 60 minutes, and a monthly pass is about EUR 29. Intercity trains (LTG Link) and buses connect Kaunas, Klaipėda and the rest of the country cheaply and on time.

From the airport: Bus 88 or express route 3G reaches the centre for a single fare of EUR 0.90 to EUR 1.30, cheaper via the JUDU app or a Vilniečio kortelė than paying onboard. A train links the airport to the central railway station, and a Bolt is roughly EUR 8 to EUR 12 to Old Town.

Rentals are found mainly on Aruodas.lt and Skelbiu.lt, plus expat and city Facebook groups; furnished flats are common in Vilnius and Kaunas. Demand is high in central Vilnius, so good listings can move within days, and many landlords still prefer a viewing and a signed contract before any money changes hands. Agencies handle a share of the market and typically charge a fee.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat runs roughly EUR 650 to EUR 900 per month in central Vilnius and EUR 450 to EUR 650 in outer districts, Kaunas or Klaipėda

Deposit norm: One month's rent as deposit is standard, sometimes two; agency fees, when charged, are usually half a month to one month's rent, and always insist on a written contract

Lithuania has a public healthcare system funded by compulsory health insurance (PSD, Privalomasis sveikatos draudimas). Once you are employed or otherwise registered, contributions give you access to state clinics and hospitals, and most core care is low cost or free at the point of use. Care is generally competent, though public waiting lists for specialists can be long, which is why private clinics are popular.

How to access it: Register with a local polyclinic (poliklinika) or family doctor (šeimos gydytojas) using your personal code and proof of health insurance. For non-emergencies you see your family doctor first, who refers you onward; for anything urgent, call 112. Pharmacists at Eurovaistinė or Gintarinė vaistinė can handle many minor issues directly.

Insurance: Employees and the self-employed pay mandatory PSD contributions automatically through payroll or the tax office (VMI/Sodra). Newcomers not yet covered often bridge the gap with private clinics such as Medicina, Northway or InMedica, or take private insurance, which many employers also offer as a perk.

• Lithuanians are reserved with strangers and warm once they know you; do not mistake initial quietness or a flat tone for coldness or rudeness.
• Remove your shoes when entering someone's home; slippers are usually offered and going shoeless is expected.
• Punctuality is valued for appointments, work and social plans, so arrive on time or message ahead if you are running late.
• Keep your voice down on public transport and in shared spaces, as loud phone calls and conversations are frowned upon.
• A firm handshake and direct eye contact are the norm in formal and business settings; hugs and kisses are reserved for close friends.
• If invited to someone's home, bring a small gift such as flowers, wine or chocolates, and give flowers in odd numbers, since even numbers are for funerals.
• Learning a few Lithuanian words like ačiū (thank you) and labas (hello) is warmly appreciated even if you switch straight back to English.

• Avoid casual comparisons to Russia or lumping Lithuania in with it; independence and national identity are deeply and personally felt.
• Do not assume everyone speaks or wants to speak Russian, even though many older people can, as it can be a sensitive subject.
• Winter days are very short and dark from November to February, and the lack of daylight is a genuine adjustment that affects mood and energy.
• Bureaucracy is efficient but literal, so a missing form or wrong office can cost weeks; confirm requirements before you queue.
• Service and official interactions can feel blunt rather than friendly, which reflects a culture that skips small talk, not hostility.