Lithuania Startup Visa vs Poland Temporary Residence Permit
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Lithuania Startup Visa Lithuania · entrepreneur | Poland Temporary Residence Permit Poland · skilled worker | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Lithuania | Poland |
| Category | Entrepreneur | Skilled Worker |
| Application Fee | $135 | $110 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | — | — |
| Processing Time | 2 months | 2 months |
| Family Included | Spouse and dependent children may apply for a temporary residence permit for family reunification alongside the primary startup visa holder | Spouse and dependent children may apply for a family reunification temporary residence permit linked to the main permit holder |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 10 years | Yes — 10 years |
| Physical Presence | Must reside in Lithuania and actively develop the business; extended absences can affect permit renewal and the qualifying period for permanent residency | Must reside in Poland; extended absences of more than 6 months in any year can disrupt the qualifying period for permanent residency |
| Dual Citizenship | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | Holders who establish tax residency in Lithuania are subject to Lithuanian income tax on worldwide income. Lithuania's progressive income tax rates top out at 32%. Standard EU double taxation treaties apply. | Holders residing in Poland for 183+ days per year are subject to Polish income tax on worldwide income at progressive rates (12% and 32%). Poland has double taxation treaties with most countries. |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | $135 | $110 |
About Lithuania Startup Visa
Lithuania's Startup Visa is designed for innovative entrepreneurs and startup founders who wish to build scalable, technology-driven businesses from within the EU. The application is assessed by Startup Lithuania, which evaluates the novelty, scalability, and commercial potential of the proposed venture; approved applicants receive a one-year permit that is renewable as long as the business continues to develop. After five years of continuous legal residence, startup visa holders may apply for permanent residency, with Lithuanian (and therefore EU) citizenship accessible after a further period.
Full Lithuania Startup Visa profile →About Poland Temporary Residence Permit
Poland's Temporary Residence Permit (zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy) lets non-EU nationals live in Poland for a specific qualifying purpose, employment, business, family reunification or study, rather than passive income; there is no digital-nomad category. There is no fixed income minimum, but applicants must prove funds to cover living costs (employment contracts of roughly PLN 3,500-4,000 per month gross, about USD 850-1,000, are typical), plus accommodation and health insurance. The application fee is around USD 110 and nominal processing is about two months, though voivodeship offices in Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw run 6-12 month backlogs for residence-card appointments. Family can join via a linked reunification permit. Permanent residence follows after 5 continuous years (absences over 6 months in a year, or 270 days total, can disrupt the count), and citizenship after 10 years with B1 Polish, longer than many EU peers; dual citizenship is de facto permitted. Residing 183-plus days makes you a Polish tax resident on worldwide income (12% and 32% rates); a 5% IP Box rate applies to qualifying intellectual-property income.
Full Poland Temporary Residence Permit profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Lithuania Startup Visa
- ⚠Lithuania generally does not allow dual citizenship — naturalisation usually requires renouncing original
- ⚠Endorsement committee highly selective — many applications rejected at stage 1
- ⚠10-year citizenship track (not 5 like Portugal) plus language + civic test
- ⚠Low cost but also low visibility — limited ecosystem relative to Berlin/Amsterdam/Lisbon
Poland Temporary Residence Permit
- ⚠No passive income / "digital nomad" category in Poland — requires specific residence basis
- ⚠Voivodeship backlogs in major cities create long initial uncertainty
- ⚠10-year citizenship path is longer than most EU peers
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.