How to set up a company remotely, with an e-signature (no notary)

Yes — you can set up a small partnership (MB) or a private limited company (UAB) in Lithuania entirely remotely, through the Register of Legal Entities' self-service portal, signing the documents with an e-signature (Smart-ID or a mobile signature) and without a notary. The key condition is that every founder holds a valid e-signature and uses the standard (template) founding documents. Then the whole process happens online: you choose and reserve a name, complete and e-sign the founding documents, pay the registration fee and submit the application, and the company is registered at the Register. A notary is only needed when you step outside this standard path — which is exactly why remote registration has become the most popular way to start a small business, saving the trip to a notary and the notary fee.

This article walks through, step by step, how remote registration through the Register's self-service works, when standard documents let you avoid a notary, when a notary is still required, and what a foreign founder should do. All amounts and timelines here are indicative (2026) and for general understanding — always verify the current registration procedure and fees at the Register of Legal Entities, and your tax and social-insurance obligations at VMI and "Sodra". For the wider context of the whole setup, see the guide how to start a business in Lithuania in 2026.

Remote registration only saves you time and the notary fee when every founder signs with an e-signature and is happy with the template documents — a single "non-standard" detail sends you back to the notary.

Can you really do it without a notary?

The short answer is yes, if a few conditions are met. The remote, notary-free procedure is designed for simple, standard cases, so it works when:

• Every founder has a valid qualified e-signature — Smart-ID, a mobile signature or an e-signature chip card.
• You use the standard (template) founding documents — the articles of association and founding act/agreement templates offered in the Register's self-service, which you do not customise.
• Contributions are in cash and the structure is simple — for example, an MB is founded only by natural persons (up to 10), while a UAB may have both natural and legal persons as shareholders (up to 249).

Note: if you choose not a legal entity but individual activity or a business certificate, no registration at the Register of Legal Entities is needed at all — that activity is registered with VMI. When a lighter form makes more sense than an MB, we compare them with figures in individual activity, business certificate or MB.

What you need for remote registration: an e-signature and the self-service portal

Two things carry the entire remote setup — an e-signature and the Register's self-service portal.

• E-signature. You can sign the documents with the Smart-ID app, a mobile signature (activated on your SIM card) or an e-signature chip card. The same signature both logs you in to the portal and signs the founding documents.
• Self-service portal. This is where you choose the legal form, reserve a name, generate the template documents and submit them for registration. How the portal works and how to fill in the documents is covered in detail in the Register's self-service and founding documents.

The remote registration steps

In practice, the path through the self-service portal looks like this (indicatively, 2026):

1. Log in to the Register's self-service with your e-signature.
2. Choose and reserve a name — reservation costs about EUR 16 and is valid for up to 6 months.
3. (UAB only) open an accumulation account and pay in capital. A UAB's share capital is EUR 1,000, of which at least 25% (EUR 250) must be paid before registration and the rest within 12 months. An MB needs no share capital.
4. Generate the standard founding documents and have all founders sign them with an e-signature.
5. Submit the application and pay the registration fee — electronic registration at the Register costs about EUR 30.
6. The Register registers the company — the term is about 3 business days (in practice often 5–10).
7. Register with VMI and "Sodra", and as a VAT (value added tax) payer if needed.

We break down each UAB step in more detail in how to set up a UAB step by step in 2026.

When a notary is still required

The remote route does not always work. A notary is usually needed when:

• You want non-standard, custom articles of association or a more complex governance structure — the templates no longer fit.
• The contribution is not in cash (in kind) — for example, property or rights.
• At least one founder has no e-signature or cannot sign remotely.
• You later make certain changes (for example, some reorganisation or capital actions) that must be certified by a notary.

In that case a notary fee — about EUR 85–338 depending on capital — is added to your other costs. If your case is simple, you can avoid both this cost and the trip to the notary.

For foreigners: an e-signature or a power of attorney

A foreigner can set up a company in Lithuania, but the route depends on whether they can sign remotely:

• Those with a recognised electronic identity (for example, EU citizens using eIDAS tools) can often sign the documents remotely, just like Lithuanian residents.
• Those without a suitable e-signature usually act through an authorised representative in Lithuania — which requires a power of attorney that may itself need notarisation and/or an apostille and translation.

Which conditions apply to non-residents and what documents are required is covered in detail in can a foreigner set up a company in Lithuania.

How long it takes and what happens after registration

The Register registers the company in about 3 business days, though in practice it often takes 5–10 days, depending on the accuracy of the documents and the workload. Once the company is registered, the work is not over:

• Registration with VMI and "Sodra". A new legal entity must be registered for tax purposes; if you hire staff or pay yourself a salary, "Sodra" obligations arise.
• VAT registration. You must register as a VAT (value added tax) payer once turnover over the last 12 months exceeds EUR 45,000; you can also register voluntarily earlier.
• Settlement bank account. A UAB usually converts its accumulation account into a settlement account after registration; an MB opens a bank account right away.
• Bookkeeping. Arrange your accounting from day one so that invoices and returns stay in order.

Example: how much remote registration costs

Let's compare the remote and notary routes indicatively (2026).

Remote MB registration (no notary):

• Name reservation — EUR 16
• Registration at the Register — EUR 30
• Share capital — none
• Total fees — about EUR 46.

Remote UAB registration (no notary):

• Name reservation — EUR 16
• Registration at the Register — EUR 30
• At least EUR 250 of capital paid into the accumulation account (this is not a fee — it is your own company's money)
• Total fees — about EUR 46 (plus EUR 250 of capital).

If you had to use a notary, add about EUR 85–338 of notary fees to these amounts, depending on capital. That is exactly the cost and time remote registration usually saves.

Check before the start and after registration

Before you submit the documents, make sure you have a working e-signature and that your case fits the standard route; after registration, sort out your bank account and taxes:

• After you open a settlement account, check its IBAN with the IBAN checker so that invoices and transfers go through without errors.
• Confirm the current registration procedure and fees at the Register of Legal Entities.
• Check tax and "Sodra" obligations at VMI and "Sodra".

Disclaimer: all fees, amounts and timelines in this article are indicative (2026) and for general understanding only — this is not tax or legal advice. Registration procedures and prices are updated over time, so always verify the current information at the official Register of Legal Entities, VMI and "Sodra" sources, or consult a notary or accountant.

Set up your company remotely and want to start working straight away — with a website, invoicing and orderly processes from day one? web1o helps new businesses get on their feet online fast. Check your new account's IBAN and, if you need a concrete plan, book a free consultation.