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SÜDANKER · THE LITHUANIA GUIDE

Ready for your
new everyday life.

Housing, family life and the next steps for your Bundeswehr posting. Practical information to help you plan your move to Lithuania.

VilniusKaunasRuklaRūdninkai
Independent information, not an official Bundeswehr service. Dates and sources are shown in the individual sections. Confirm personal entitlements with the responsible office.

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Transfer support · Checked 3 November 2026

From Germany to Lithuania: your next steps

Waiting for a decision, planning with children or preparing to move? Start at your current stage. This guide covers Bundeswehr transfers; individual orders, approvals and current official forms remain decisive.

1. Start the process in Germany
  1. Contact personnel management through your chain of command. Ask S1 for the current application route.
  2. Establish whether you submitted an expression of interest or an actual application. Keep its date, copy and receipt.
  3. Explain who would move, the children’s ages and school years, care needs and your preferred timing.
  4. Wait for the personnel decision. Expressing interest, preliminary selection and a transfer order are different stages.

This is a general overseas posting. Your unit and Ynside provide current internal instructions. Official first contact → · Posting information →

2. No reply or repeated delays?

Ask in writing for receipt, the responsible desk, missing documents and the next step. Explain your family’s planning needs.

Under § 1(2) WBO, a service complaint may be based on receiving no decision on an application within one month. This does not guarantee approval or completion of transfer planning. Whether an expression of interest qualifies as an application depends on the facts.

§ 5 identifies where to lodge a complaint; § 6 sets form and time requirements. Seek individual legal advice promptly if uncertain. A routine enquiry is not a legal remedy. § 1 WBO → · WBO §§ 5–6 →

Service members may also contact the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces directly. This does not replace a time-limited legal remedy or guarantee a transfer. Commissioner contact →

3. Applications and preparation
  1. Selection: contact the overseas social service in Siegburg; check the posting order, start date, location, duration and accompanying family with personnel management.
  2. Moving costs or separate households: obtain individual advice on UKV and ATG. A choice depends on your order; education allowances generally require effective UKV. Benefits and family →
  3. TM 6: request the overseas moving pack via the Bundeswehr forms database, ideally six months ahead and at the latest upon written UKV approval. Obtain approval conditions before committing costs. Moving pack →
  4. Pay office: request the applicable forms for pay, ATG, rent support, family changes and travel. Use your pay statement’s contact.
  5. Housing and children: consult housing support before signing; ask the school directly about admission and obtain confirmation of childcare arrangements. Clarify fee reimbursement beforehand.

Social service in Germany and abroad → · German School Vilnius →

4. Family tasks before leaving Germany
  • Prepare IDs for everyone, civil-status/custody records, school reports and health/insurance records. Ask which translations are actually required.
  • Confirm each family member’s health cover, reimbursement and any S1 registration with the insurer and benefits office.
  • Notify the Familienkasse directly of the move and relevant employment changes. Informing another authority is insufficient. Report changes →
  • Consult the employer, parental-benefit office and, if relevant, employment agency before resignation or leave; clarify pension and insurance implications.
  • Coordinate the school transfer and return requirements with the German school/education authority.
  • Clarify residence registration with the German local authority. Generally, moving out without taking another German residence requires deregistration within two weeks, possible from one week before departure. A retained home needs individual assessment. § 17 BMG →
  • Review housing and household contracts, vehicle registration, insurance, mail and individual tax matters.

Vilnius preparation guide → · Insurance and family advice →
Family members can prepare documents during exercises. Do not send personal military or health records to SÜDANKER or through TikTok.

5. Before departure and after arrival

Confirm the order, approvals, moving arrangements, housing and children’s admission before committing costs. Work through your unit’s departure checklist and discuss health preparation with the appropriate doctors. Ask the responsible Bundeswehr office about status certificates and any special nationality or family circumstances.

On arrival, complete service reporting, status/address formalities, housing handover, school/childcare entry and applicable insurance registration. Submit receipts and report relevant changes promptly.

Status and arrival → · Official checklist, dated 5 August 2024 →
The older checklist supplements current instructions; it is not a complete application list for every family.

Deadlines to record

Apply promptly, not at the end of these periods. These are different rules, not a universal deadline for all claims. Ask the responsible office to confirm your personal deadlines.

TopicRuleSource
UKV: overseas moveGenerally a two-year exclusion period, starting on completion of the move; special cases require separate review.§ 14 Abs. 6 BUKG / § 3 AUV →
ATG: applicationOne year from starting duty, or the following day if travel-expense reimbursement covers that day.§ 15 ATGV →
3+5 arrangementOnly if included in your order: declaration to continue ATG without moving must reach the responsible office before the initial three years expire.Bundeswehr: 3+5 →
Decisions / legal remediesCheck the notice and applicable deadline immediately. Routine enquiries do not preserve a legal-remedy deadline.WBO →

§ 3 AUV: start of UKV period →

Who handles which question?

Litauen-Hotline

Application and referral questions; does not decide transfers.

+49 211 959-4800
Bw: 90 3221-4800

Bezügestelle / Pay office

Use the contact on your pay statement for pay, separation allowance and forms.

Kontakt auf der Bezügemitteilung / Contact on your pay statement

Contacts checked against official pages; no phone calls were made. Sozialdienst → · BWVSt / TM 6 → · Schule → · Hotline →

Your preparation checklist

Ticks are kept only in the current browser window and included in the checklist progress below.

Progress, print and reset

Editorial review: 3 November 2026. SÜDANKER is an independent information service. Internal instructions, current availability and individual entitlement require confirmation by the responsible authority. No promise of approval, places or reimbursement. The official German texts are authoritative.

Your choice

Are you moving alone or is the family coming with you?

This difference affects accommodation, childcare, health insurance and possible benefits. Always clarify your specific claim before concluding a contract.

If your family comes along
  • Clarify the right residential location and rental conditions at an early stage with housing care in Vilnius or Rukla.
  • Before agreeing to an apartment, UKV, rent subsidy and other claims should be checked with the responsible authorities.
  • For children, coordinate childcare and schooling options in writing with the responsible Federal Armed Forces office.
  • For relatives, clarify residence status, health insurance, work and child benefit in advance.
Pay & entitlements · Checked 7 November 2026

Allowances and reimbursements in Lithuania

Eligibility depends on your posting order, duty location and whether your family accompanies you. This guide covers general overseas postings and is not an individual award of benefits.

01

Foreign service allowance

Paid alongside domestic salary for general overseas postings lasting more than three months. Amounts depend on basic pay, location and family circumstances. Awarded without an application; communal accommodation or catering may reduce payments.

02

Spouse and child supplements

Eligible accompanying family members may increase the foreign service allowance. These supplements differ from the spouse pension provision supplement. Report family circumstances and actual residence to the pay office.

03

Spouse pension provision supplement

Application required. Reimburses actual eligible pension provision contributions within statutory limits: up to 18.6% of basic pay including office allowances, capped at the final A14 step. Supporting documents are required.

04

Rent subsidy

Apply through the Bundeswehr administration office in Lithuania. Based on recognised necessary housing, eligible rent, statutory personal contributions and applicable limits, rather than the full rent including utilities. Obtain recognition before signing. Official residences are excluded; separate rules cover owned property.

05

Purchasing power adjustment

Compensates for purchasing power differences. Current published Bundeswehr information states that no adjustment is paid for Lithuania. This may change.

06

Foreign separation allowance and travel assistance

Eligible service-related separation may qualify for additional expense payments and assistance with trips home. Confirm approval and claims procedures with the responsible office; unlimited trips are not automatically reimbursed.

07

Relocation expenses and lump sums

An appropriate relocation cost undertaking may cover eligible moving expenses and lump sums for moving, equipment and climate clothing. Eligibility and prior payments matter. Check with overseas Travel Management before booking.

08

School and child travel assistance

Requires an effective relocation cost undertaking (UKV). Choosing separation allowance (ATG) instead removes these UKV-linked benefits. International school fees are not automatically covered; an available German school may prevent reimbursement. Check before enrolment.

09

Childcare and language courses

German-language childcare and supported language courses, including for family members, are available subject to conditions. This is not a general monthly childcare grant. Confirm places, fees and approval. Discuss child benefit, parental benefit and health insurance with the overseas social service.

Before applying

UKV and ATG cannot be freely combined. Obtain an individual explanation before choosing. Keep your posting order, family details, rent offer and supporting documents ready. Contact the Lithuania administration office for rent subsidy, your pay office for salary and spouse supplements, and overseas Travel Management for relocation. Check each claim deadline separately.

Rent or own

Your home in Lithuania

Choose the location according to the actual place of work, family needs and care situation. Vilnius and Kaunas are important housing markets; Rūdninkai and Rukla are military deployment sites.

01 · Rental apartment & house

Rent living space

The housing care of the Federal Armed Forces Administration Office Lithuania supports with housing search, broker contacts, tenancy law and partial visits. Request there before signing.

  • Choose a residential location suitable for the office and daycare/school.
  • Furnishing, rental period, ancillary costs, heating, deposit and termination.
  • A written rental agreement is essential, also for the address registration.
  • The city of Vilnius names about 1–3 months' rent as the usual rent deposit. Conditions are object-dependent.
02 · Buy

Buy apartment or house

Property can also be interesting. However, in the case of a temporary use abroad, you should consider ancillary purchase costs, subsequent resale and possible rental.

  • Budget, equity, financing and life planning changes.
  • Have the land register, type of use, loads, construction status and energy supply independently checked.
  • In the case of houses, also check the property: the purchase of land may be subject to different conditions than the purchase of an apartment.
  • Work with local notary or notary and independent legal and tax professionals.
03 · Site Selection

Vilnius or Kaunas?

The right city depends mainly on your actual place of work. Prefer comprehensible routes instead of deciding solely on the basis of images. In the case of children, first clarify the school and nursery, then select the apartment.

Nemenčinė and Rokantiškės are also used temporarily. Planned dormitories near military sites will be gradually created.

04 · Finance

What does the Bundeswehr pay?

Foreign surcharge, rent subsidy, removal allowance (UKV), foreign separation allowance (ATG) and travel allowance are relevant depending on the personal constellation. UKV and ATG may be mutually exclusive.

Please note: Grants are not automatically freely combinable. Consult housing care, travel management and payment office before binding costs.

Children, partners & everyday life

For the family to arrive

Childcare

Daycare and kindergarten

In Vilnius, there are German-language childcare services, including childcare places in the Dainorėliai kindergarten and childcare in the vicinity of the German school. The long-term campus infrastructure will continue to be built.

  • Coordinate the requirements with the responsible Bundeswehr support centre at an early stage.
  • For Lithuanian public daycare, check the local registration portal and deadlines.
  • Prepare the child's birth certificate, identification documents and medical records.
  • Seats and conditions must always be confirmed individually.
School education

German School & International Schools

Contact the German School Vilnius directly about admission. Confirm the year group, a place and care hours before moving. Official school information →

  • Ask for specific grade level, available space and support before moving.
  • Compile certificates, school certificates and, if necessary, funding requirements.
  • In the case of an international school, clarify possible school allowance in writing in advance.
  • Also think about a later return to the German school system.
Partner & Family

Occupation, insurance and benefits

Moving partners can find out about employment through the Lithuanian Employment Service. Residence status and social security must match the personal situation.

  • Clarify health insurance and allowances for partners and children.
  • Check child benefit, parental benefit, parental leave and pension insurance.
  • Discuss professional qualifications, recognition and employment.
  • If possible, already engage the social service abroad in Germany.
Life on the ground

Health, car, everyday life

Different medical care and insurance routes may apply to active soldiers and accompanying relatives. Before moving, clarify which facility is responsible for everyday life and emergencies.

  • Take the children's vaccination and health documents with them.
  • Check foreign insurance and reimbursement of costs in writing.
  • For your own car, clarify registration, insurance coverage and driving license.
  • If necessary, obtain information about pets and language courses.
Official & Preparation

Which bodies are responsible?

Many questions can be answered directly at the official contact points. It is important to distinguish between business claims, residence matters and local services.

Step 01Clarify transfer & responsible body

After selection/transfer, contact BAPersBw, Personnel Management, Social Service Abroad and the Federal Armed Forces Administration Office Lithuania at an early stage.

Step 02Status & Preparing Documents

For longer stays of German military members and families, Go Vilnius mentions a special status certificate. Clarify the application process and, if necessary, address report with the responsible Federal Armed Forces office.

Step 03Coordinate apartment, nursery, school

Enable housing care, local city government and care/school facilities. Do not conclude any contracts solely on the basis of non-binding assumptions.

Step 04Review benefits

Travel Management for international relocation and UKV, contact the responsible body for ATG, rent subsidy, school allowance and remuneration.

Step 05Safeguarding the family

Check health insurance, allowance, work of the partner, child benefit, taxes and powers of attorney individually.

STEP 06Do after arrival

Residential address, agreed status formalities, start of school or daycare, medical care, bank and mobility.

Hands-on help

Your Lithuania checklist

To check off before transfer and after arrival. The selection will only be kept in this open browser window and will not be transmitted to SÜDANKER.

Before departure

After arrival

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to rent an apartment directly?

No. First, let Housing Welfare tell you which accommodation options are provided for your actual place of employment and which claims apply to you.

Can I move to Lithuania with my family?

Yes, support and care services have been set up for this purpose. Whether a family relocation is possible in your case on business and financially as planned, you will clarify individually with the responsible authorities.

What about daycare and school?

There are German-language offers in Vilnius. Before you make a binding plan, the responsible authorities must confirm places and suitable grades. In the case of Kaunas, the time structure must be checked separately.

Can I buy a house or apartment instead of renting?

A real estate purchase is basically a separate private project. Review local ownership rules, property status, financing, and the consequences of moving back with independent professionals. Claims for official rental services may not simply be transferred to the purchase.

Which authorities do I need to contact first?

First of all, your own personnel management, the social service abroad and the Federal Armed Forces Administration Office Lithuania. You will clarify the way to the special status certificate and the address registration with the responsible authorities. For local day-care centres and other municipal matters, the city administration is also involved.

Is SÜDANKER part of the Bundeswehr?

No. This is an independent private information project. Official decisions on relocation, claims, care and accommodation are made exclusively by the competent authority or department. Personal support or real estate brokerage is not yet offered here.

Sources & timeliness

Official information comes first

The procedures explained here are based on published information from the Bundeswehr and Lithuanian institutions. The current official regulations and your personal decision or disposition are always decisive.
Bundeswehr: Living, Traveling, Family · Federal Armed Forces Administration Office Lithuania · Go Vilnius: Relocation Guide for German Military · Lithuanian Ministry of Defence · European Land Registry Network: Property Rules
As of October 24, 2026. This preview is not legal, tax, or case-by-case advice.
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