Removals UK to Lithuania

Lithuania is the largest of the three Baltic states and the furthest south. Its capital, Vilnius, surprises many visitors. It has a UNESCO-listed baroque old town and Užupis, a district that calls itself a micronation. It also has a lively arts and food scene. Homes cost much less than in similar Western European cities. That draws British professionals, creatives and lifestyle movers who want quality without the high price.

Kaunas, the second city, has its own character. It is known for its interwar modernist buildings, a large student population and a creative community. That community has grown since Kaunas was European Capital of Culture in 2022. Klaipėda, on the Baltic coast, is Lithuania's only seaport. It is also the gateway to the Curonian Spit, one of Europe's most striking natural landmarks.

Lithuania matters for all UK-to-Baltic removals. The road to Estonia and Latvia passes through it. That also helps people moving to Lithuania itself. The route from London to Vilnius runs through Germany and Poland and covers about 2,000 km (roughly 1,250 miles). It is the shortest of the three Baltic routes.

Since 1 January 2021, Lithuania has been an EU member state and the UK a third country. So every household removal from the UK to Lithuania now needs formal customs clearance. This is handled by VMI (Valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija, the State Tax Inspectorate) and the Lithuanian Customs Department under the Ministry of Finance.

Transfer of Residence relief means you pay no Lithuanian import VAT (21%) on your belongings. To get it, the right documents must be ready before the van reaches the Lithuanian border.

For Lithuania, RMV prepares and submits the Transfer of Residence declaration, the valued inventory and the customs agent authorisation. See About Us for our AIM accreditation and company details.

Lithuanian Customs After Brexit

The Lithuanian Customs Department now clears every household move from the UK. You import duty-free only if you qualify for Lithuanian Transfer of Residence relief. Lithuania is on the main UK-to-Baltic road route, and RMV's teams know its border crossings and paperwork well.

Household goods from outside the EU need a formal declaration to the Lithuanian Customs Department. British people moving their main home to Lithuania can claim Transfer of Residence relief from Lithuanian import VAT (21% of declared value). Every condition must be met, and the documents must be correct before the Lithuanian border.

Lithuania uses the standard EU conditions:

• you have lived outside the EU for 12 months before the move
• you have used the goods in the UK for six months
• the goods arrive within 12 months of your Lithuanian residence starting
• you do not sell or transfer them for 12 months

Lithuania uses the euro. It adopted it in 2015, the last of the three Baltic states to do so.

To live in Lithuania for more than 90 days in any 180, British nationals need a residence permit. Since Brexit, you must register with the Lithuanian Migration Department (Migracijos departamentas). You must also declare your address to the local municipal authority to become a legal resident. RMV does not arrange visas or permits, but we plan your shipment around your confirmed residency documents.

Your Lithuanian Document Checklist

Lithuanian customs needs these documents for Transfer of Residence relief. We include blank forms and a check of your documents before departure.

• A copy of your passport, to show your identity and nationality to Lithuanian customs
• Proof of your Lithuanian address: a rental contract, property deed or Migracijos departamentas (Migration Department) registration confirmation
• An itemised list of goods with an estimated second-hand value for each category, signed and dated
• The Transfer of Residence declaration for Lithuanian customs, claiming relief from import duty and VAT
• A personal statement that you have owned and used the goods for over six months, and will not sell or transfer them in the first year after import
• Your signed permission for RMV to act as your direct representative with Lithuanian customs
• Proof that you lived in the UK for the year before the move, such as a UK Certificate of Residence, council tax bills or bank statements
• CMR consignment note, filled in by the driver at collection

The main border crossing on the way from the UK is the Polish–Lithuanian border. We drive the Baltic route regularly and know this crossing well. So we find and fix any document problems before departure, not at the border. All packing materials for a move to Lithuania are available from our Packing Shop.

Who We Move to Lithuania

Technology and Creative Professionals Moving to Vilnius

Vilnius is now a serious European fintech hub. The Bank of Lithuania runs an open, transparent licensing system for payment and electronic money companies. Revolut holds its European banking licence through Lithuania, and several other big fintech firms hold their EU licences there too.

As a result, many fintech and regulatory technology professionals work in Vilnius. They include a growing number of British people working for companies that have set up their EU legal entity in Lithuania.

Vilnius also has a creative district around the Užupis neighbourhood and the Šaltinių Namai creative hub. It attracts designers, artists and digital media professionals. Our man and van service handles smaller moves, and our removals service handles full household moves with customs support.

Academics and Students Moving to Vilnius and Kaunas

Vilnius University, founded in 1579, is one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. It and Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas both attract international academic staff and researchers. Kaunas University of Technology is a strong choice for engineering and applied science researchers. Student moves to Lithuania are usually small and suit part load or groupage.

Lifestyle Movers to Vilnius, Kaunas and the Curonian Spit

British lifestyle movers come to Lithuania for several reasons:

• affordable homes
• a lively cultural scene
• the natural beauty of the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared with Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast
• the Baltic coast

Palanga, Lithuania's main seaside resort, and Nida on the Curonian Spit suit people who want a quieter life by the Baltic Sea. These are usually full household moves. If your UK home is empty before your Lithuanian home is ready, our storage service can keep your things until then.

Businesses Establishing Lithuanian Operations

Many UK businesses choose Lithuania as their EU base. It has a fintech-friendly licensing system and is a member of both the EU and NATO. It also sits in a strategic spot between Poland and the Baltic Sea. Vilnius has seen a lot of new office building in recent years.

Business moves to Lithuania need customs handling under an EORI number and a commercial invoice. Our removals service handles business moves of every size.

Your Transport Choices for Lithuania

RMV offers three ways to move from the UK to Lithuania. Of the three Baltic states, Lithuania is the easiest to reach by road from the UK. It has the shortest distance and just one border crossing, from Poland.

Full Load (Exclusive Vehicle)

Your goods fill a van of their own. It leaves your UK address, drives through Germany and Poland, and clears customs at the Lithuanian border. Typical door-to-door times:

• Vilnius: 3–5 days
• Kaunas: 3–5 days
• Klaipėda: 3–5 days
• Šiauliai and northern Lithuania: 3–4 days

Full load is the usual choice for homes with three or more bedrooms, and for any move that needs a fixed schedule.

Part Load and Groupage (Shared Vehicle)

With part load, your goods share a van with other loads going to Lithuania and the Baltics. You pay only for the space you use. Delivery to Vilnius usually takes 6–12 days door to door.

Lithuania is on the same shared route as Latvia and Estonia. So part load vans leave more often than for some other Eastern European countries. Part load is the usual choice for studios, one- and two-bedroom flats, student moves and any move where price matters most.

Pre-Departure Storage

If your Lithuanian home is not ready when you leave the UK, our storage service keeps your packed goods safe here until it is. Transit to Lithuania is fairly short, so these storage periods are usually brief.

Delivering Across Lithuania

We deliver to every Lithuanian city and region. Typical transit times from London are below.

• Vilnius, Lithuania's baroque capital and the main destination for British professionals, entrepreneurs and fintech workers. Full load 3–5 days; part load 6–12 days.
• Kaunas, the second city, with outstanding interwar modernist buildings and a strong university and creative community. European Capital of Culture 2022. Full load 3–5 days; part load 6–12 days.
• Klaipėda, Lithuania's only seaport and the gateway to the Curonian Spit and the Neringa peninsula. Full load 3–5 days; part load 6–12 days.
• Šiauliai, the northern “City of the Sun”, home to the Hill of Crosses, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Northern Europe. Full load 3–4 days; part load 6–11 days.
• Panevėžys, central Lithuania's industrial and logistics hub. Full load 3–5 days; part load 6–12 days.
• Palanga, the Baltic Sea resort on the west coast, popular with lifestyle movers and summer residents. Full load 3–5 days; part load 6–12 days.
• Neringa (Curonian Spit), the UNESCO World Heritage peninsula reached by ferry from Klaipėda. Full load 4–6 days including the ferry; part load 7–13 days.

All times include customs clearance. Lithuania is on the main Baltic route, so vans leave more often than on quieter routes. For moving guides and advice about Lithuania, visit our blog.

Your Complete UK-to-Lithuania Moving Solution

RMV handles everything from the survey and packing to customs paperwork and road transport through Germany and Poland. We deliver to any Lithuanian address, including the Curonian Spit.

One team covers it all:

• our removals service for the move
• our storage service if your Lithuanian home is not ready
• a man and van service for small loads
• our handyman service at your UK address

Our Packing Shop delivers boxes and wrap for a move to Lithuania. You will find moving guides about Lithuania on our blog, our AIM accreditation on the About Us page, and moves to the rest of Europe and beyond on our international removals page.