Information for businesses

“Startuok“ Loan Facility – interest rates lower by one-third

The Ministry of Economy and Innovation has prepared amendments to the "Startuok" loan facility, which allows Ukrainian citizens and businesses wishing to set up in our country to receive interest rates lower by one-third for business start-ups or working capital.

The “Startuok” Facility offers a loan of up to €3 million for a term of up to 10 years and a loan of up to €200,000 for working capital for a term of up to 3 years.

The loan is open to small and medium-sized enterprises that:

• have been in business for no more than three years from the date of registration of the company or individual activity;
• are carrying out social-impact projects and have been operating for no more than five years from the date of establishment or the date of registration of individual activity;
• are established in Lithuania as of February 24, 2022 at the earliest, and whose owner (or shareholder, member or joint owner) is a Ukrainian citizen with a Lithuanian residence permit or a Ukrainian legal entity, and has been operating for no more than five years from the date of registration of the company or individual activity;
• operates in Lithuania or another EU Member State;
• meets the minimum criteria of a reliable taxpayer;
• is not a company in bankruptcy, restructurisation or liquidation;
• is not a company that has been experiencing difficulties and has submitted to the Centre of Registers a set of financial statements for the last year.

Loans are administered and provided by "Investicijų ir verslo garantijos, UAB“ (INVEGA).

More information on the “Startuok” Facility can be found here.

Applications mayn be submitted by filling in the application form on the INVEGA's website.

From July 1, Lithuania will reimburse the costs of attracting the missing highly qualified specialists.

The Seimas approved the amendments to the Law on Employment prepared by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, according to which one-time benefits are granted to highly qualified specialists, as well as to companies employing them.

It is envisaged that the one-time compensation to cover a part of the relocation costs for an employee coming to Lithuania will amount to about 3 thousand. EUR (4.1 MMA). Companies are reimbursed for the costs of finding highly qualified employees abroad – up to 5.2 thousand. EUR (7.1 MMA).

An initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation allows you to work in Lithuania remotely and pay your taxes in Ukraine. 

• With an employment contract

If you work remotely from Lithuania on a work contract in Ukraine, you pay taxes to Ukraine.

Ukrainian residents will not be liable to pay income tax in Lithuania on wages received for work in Lithuania from a Ukrainian company or another foreign company not established in Lithuania. 

• Self-employed

A Ukrainian resident who had been running his freelance services in Ukraine and paying taxes there, but who came to Lithuania due to the war situation in Ukraine and continues his freelancer services in Lithuania following the contracts he had entered into in Ukraine with his clients before he arrived in Lithuania, i.e. he does not enter into any new contracts in Lithuania, continues to pay tax in Ukraine.

For more information, you can contact State Tax Inspectorate by phone at 1882 or +370 5260 5060 (For consultations in English press 9, in Russian press 8)

Recognition of professional qualification.

Ukrainian small and medium-sized businesses and individuals who would like to start a business in Lithuania are invited to contact the Enterprise Lithuania entrepreneurship and export development agency for consultation. 

Business creation and development consulting is provided on the following topics:

• moving a business (up to 20 employees) from Ukraine to Lithuania;
• opportunities for trading Ukrainian goods in Lithuania;
• steps for starting a business;
• choosing the right business structure;
• permits and licences;
• taxes;
• sources of funding;
• recruitment of employees;
• regulated professions;
• product requirements, etc.

More information here.

Citizens of Ukraine may engage in independent commercial, productive, creative or professional activities in Lithuania. There are two types of activities that can be selected: individual activities based on a certificate or with a business certificate. More information click here.