Lithuania is an economically and politically stable country located at the crossroads between Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe.
It is also a leading country in information communications technologies in the European Union (EU). It has one of the highest broadband penetration rates in Europe.
Lithuania also ranks first in World’s Competitiveness Rankings for communication technology. Ecommerce websites are extensively used here in the retail and service sectors.
For a UK-based cross-border ecommerce business looking to expand to newer regions, Lithuania presents many opportunities.
But before you plan to set up shop here or digitally reach Lithuanian customers it is important to understand international shipping.
Even for a personal shipper looking to send gifts or parcels from the UK to friends and family in Lithuania, it is essential to prepare well before shipping internationally to avoid delays and hiccups.
If you’re a business operating out of the UK and you want to serve customers in Lithuania, this guide will help develop an international shipping strategy to meet customer expectations.
Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to the Lithuania from the UK
Deciding on a carrier for your shipping requirements is an essential step in the international shipping journey.
Parameters such as speed of delivery, costs, package weight limit, customs assistance, etc. can help you choose which delivery partner to go with for your shipping requirements.
Several leading couriers ship from the UK to Lithuania. Royal Mail, UPS, FedEx, Evri (The new Hermes), DPD, and Parcelforce Worldwide are all major companies that ship on this route.
To help you arrive at a decision below is a table that compares the cost and delivery timelines of the services of these couriers. Calculations in the table were done using each carrier’s unique calculator in September 2022.
A uniform sample package of 2 kg was taken for all calculations. The value of the parcel was entered as 50 GBP wherever requested. Information in the table is subject to revisions.
Note: These are general options for consumers’ shipping orders directly from a carrier’s store. To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Lithuania, please request a quote here.
ShipBob’s exact rates for customers will vary as we charge an all-in ‘total fulfilment cost’ that includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors.
Service | Price | Delivery Time | |
Royal Mail | International Standard | £12.20 | 3-5 business days |
Royal Mail | International Tracked | £13.05 | 3-5 business days |
Royal Mail | International Economy | £14.25 | 15+ business days |
Royal Mail | International Tracked and Signed | £14.95 | 3-5 business day |
UPS | Express | £44.57 | 2 business days |
UPS | Express Saver | £33.03 | 2 business days |
UPS | Standard | £17.65 | 5 business days |
FedEx | International Economy | £133.75 | 5 business days |
FedEx | International Priority | £144.76 | 2 business days |
Evri | Evri Courier | £13.12 | 3-7 business days |
Parcelforce Worldwide | globalpriority | £58.40 | 3+ business days |
Parcelforce Worldwide | globalexpress | £116.58 | 1+ business days |
Parcelforce Worldwide | globalvalue | £53.10 | 5+ business days |
DPD local | Air Express | £71.27 | 2-4 business days |
DPD local | Air Classic | £44.62 | 7-10 business days |
The parcel size entered to calculate the prices for Evri, Parcelforce Worldwide, and DPD local is 45cm X 35cm X 16cm (L X W X H). FedEx, UPS, and Royal Mail options do not presently attract additional charges for collection options.
How to choose a shipping carrier
Since choosing the right shipping carrier is among the most important steps in international shipping, it is a good idea to weigh the merits and demerits of the major delivery companies.
To assist you in making a decision find below a table with the pros and cons of top couriers that offer shipping services to send goods from the UK to Lithuania.
Couriers | Pros | Cons |
Royal Mail |
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FedEx |
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UPS |
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DPD |
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Evri |
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Parcelforce |
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Shipping to Lithuania from the UK with Royal Mail
One of the oldest postal delivery systems in the world, Royal Mail is a trusted name in shipping and logistics globally.
Royal Mail offers services to deliver your package to over 230 countries and territories worldwide.
For shipments from the UK to Lithuania, Royal Mail offers some of the most affordable solutions.
When to use Royal Mail to ship from the UK to Lithuania
If you are looking to send lightweight packages of up to 2 kg like letters or documents, Royal Mail offers a variety of options with varying delivery speeds and differing scales of trackability.
Some other differences such as compensation cover, etc. can also be found among the options.
Economic solutions and a vast drop-off network of 14,000+ locations and 24/7 parcel post boxes are the key strengths of using Royal Mail for your shipping needs.
Shipping to Lithuania from the UK with UPS
UPS has been connecting Europe for over 45 years now.
It is a global logistics company that can deliver your package to over 220 countries and territories worldwide.
When to use UPS to ship from the UK to Lithuania
UPS has many solutions when shipping to Lithuania from the UK. Some of the options are ideal for those looking for a shipping carrier that balances cost efficiency and delivery speed.
UPS gives its shippers added comfort by offering additional features such as a money-back guarantee, trackability, a high package weight limit of up to 70 kg, etc.
Small businesses can enjoy special flat-rate solutions for packages of up to 70 kg each at affordable rates when shipping to Lithuania from the UK.
Shipping to Lithuania from the UK with FedEx
FedEx is a leading player in the shipping industry globally. It can deliver your package to over 220 countries and territories globally.
It has been present in Europe for over three decades now and has a strong network.
When to use FedEx to ship from the UK to Lithuania
If you are looking to ship a heavy package of up to 68 kg, and want a pickup option with a reliable tracking mechanism, FedEx could be a carrier of choice for you.
Do note that the services are priced at a premium but account holders may be able to enjoy discounts of up to 40%.
FedEx International Connect Plus is a special solution for ecommerce businesses that offers increased cost efficiencies, more convenience, etc. to online merchants shipping to Lithuania from the UK.
Shipping to Lithuania from the UK with DPD UK
DPD is a trusted shipping company that can deliver packages to over 200 countries.
Its drop-off network within the UK comprises 6,000+ points. Additionally, it also has pickup service options for users who prefer door-to-door solutions.
When to use DPD UK to ship from the UK to Lithuania
If you appreciate the convenience of fully tracked services, want a generous protection cover for your package up to the value of £5,000, and would appreciate multilingual customer service agents, DPD might be the right fit for you.
The package weight limit is capped at 30 kg for pick up and 20 kg for drop off.
Shipping to Lithuania from the UK with Evri
Evri can deliver shipments from the UK to over 190 countries.
With competitive pricing and a large drop-off network of parcel shops and lockers, Evri is a credible choice when looking to ship internationally.
When to use Evri to ship from the UK to Lithuania
If the package you’re sending is up to 15 kg in weight, you want tracking options but a defined delivery date or time is not of the essence to you, Evri could be your potential carrier.
Shipping to Lithuania from the UK with Parcelforce
Parcelforce Worldwide is a part of the Royal Mail Group. It has the expertise to offer delivery services of parcels to over 99% of the world’s population.
When to use Parcelforce to ship from the UK to Lithuania
With a vast drop-off network of 11,000+ post office branches and depots, Parcelforce Worldwide is a convenient choice when shipping packages from the UK to Lithuania.
It is suitable for sending packages of a maximum of up to 30 kg each. Delivery speed options available range from 1+ business days to 5+ business days. The longer the delivery timeline the more economic the solution.
Duties & taxes when shipping to Lithuania from the UK
Postal items sent from the UK to Lithuania are subject to customs and duties. This is in line with Brexit post which goods coming from the UK in the European Union (EU) are treated as non-EU items.
While the duties for non-EU countries are relatively low in Lithuania, some categories such as clothing items, textile, and food-processing industry sectors still face protective measures.
Lithuania also charges a standard Value Added Tax (VAT) of 21% on most goods. Goods from the UK entering the country are also subject to applicable VAT.More information about customs rules, license requirements, tariffs, etc. can be found on the EU’s taxation and customs union website (TARIC).
Lithuania customs information
When shipping goods internationally several documents and declarations need to be made for customs clearance. These may include commercial invoices, import declarations, certificates/ licenses, etc.
Once customs procedures and formalities have been addressed and cleared, goods are allowed to enter the region. Information on customs is subject to change. It is therefore recommended to review the official customs website of Lithuania before shipping.
Prohibited items when shipping to Lithuania
Like many other countries, Lithuania also prohibits certain items to protect its citizens and safeguard the national economy.
Any shipper sending goods from the UK to Lithuania must ensure the items being shipped do not fall in the restricted or prohibited goods lists laid out by both countries.
Shipping couriers also have lists of items they do not transport.
It is best to keep yourself updated with these lists before shipping to avoid delays and hold-ups.
Below are some items that are prohibited from import in Lithuania.
Items you can’t ship to Lithuania from the UK |
Acids and hazardous chemicals |
Animal products and furs |
Gases and flammables |
Passports |
Credit cards and credit card blanks |
Political material |
Such lists are subject to revisions. Therefore, it is suggested to check the country’s official customs website before shipping.
What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Lithuania
Lithuania and the UK have been in collaboration for 100 years.
The country’s improving infrastructure, competitive living and operating costs, and highly-skilled workforce offer possibilities to British businesses looking to widen their footprint.
Read on below to get some more inputs that can help you with your market-entry plan.
1. Get a local partner
A local representative, usually a distributor, is mostly needed when doing business in Lithuania.
There are no legal barriers within Lithuania for hiring agents that operate on behalf of a UK company.
To enhance ease of doing business, getting a local distributor is, therefore, a good idea.
2. Prepare for inefficiencies in government bureaucracy
Lithuania poses some challenges to investors such as a lack of regulatory transparency and a cumbersome bureaucratic environment.
This can be discouraging for some international investors looking to set up a shop in Lithuania.
The Lithuanian government is continuing to address these issues.However, as a British business, it is wise to prepare for the environment and seek legal and tax-related advice before getting into agreements.
3. Use of Lithuanian is important
While a reasonable size of the population in Lithuania understands and speaks English, it is not the official language.
A large part of the population, especially the older generation, will be difficult to tap if English is used as the primary language of communication.
It is also required that the labelling of products should be in Lithuanian.
Products and packaging must meet EU norms.
To ensure wider access, it is best to engage translation agencies for communication and marketing literature.
Go global with ShipBob
ShipBob is a global omnichannel fulfilment partner that makes it easy for online businesses to sell globally.
Selling internationally once was time-consuming and costly, but thanks to ShipBob, you’re given everything you need to serve customers across the globe while saving time on logistics, including:
- Access to global shipping couriers
- DDP shipping solutions
- A network of global fulfilment centres
- And much more!
We not only take care of picking, packing, and shipping your orders to Lithuania with a fulfilment centre in the UK and other locations across the world, we also offer upfront fulfilment costs that include customs, duties, and additional taxes.
“Since joining ShipBob, international fulfilment has been incredibly easy, where beforehand it was frustrating. With our previous 3PL, we had to do a lot of site visits to check in and correct issues. ShipBob has completely taken that burden off our hands.
We have a small team – so for a business that is shipping globally, logistics can get quite difficult. ShipBob has been a great partner in streamlining final mile logistics and has allowed us to continue to scale.”
Will Kerr, Apparel Lead at Quadrant
Ready to start shipping to Lithuania from the UK? Get started with ShipBob.
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Shipping to Lithuania FAQs
You can find below answers to some of the most common questions asked when shipping to Lithuania from the UK
What’s the cheapest way to ship to Lithuania from the UK?
Royal Mail’s International Standard option is the most cost-effective when sending packages of up to 2 kg each.
The delivery timeline is between 3-5 business days for shipments sent using this option.
What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Lithuania from the UK?
UPS’s Standard option is among the cheapest ways to ship large packages of up to 70 kg per parcel from the UK to Lithuania.
What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Lithuania from the UK?
UPS’s Express, Express Saver, and Parcelforce Worldwide’s globalexpress services all aim to deliver shipments in a fast manner. UPS services give a defined 2 business day timeline while Parcelforce Worldwide’s service comes with a 1+ business day timeline.
Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Lithuania from the UK?
Yes. Since Brexit items sent from the UK to Lithuania may be subject to customs and duties.
While the duties are relatively low in Lithuania for products coming from non-EU countries, some categories like clothing and face protective measures.
A standard Value Added Tax (VAT) of 21% is levied on goods entering the country from the UK.
EU’s taxation and customs union website (TARIC) can be accessed to get more information on customs rules and tariffs.
What’s the easiest way to ship something to Lithuania from the UK?
Royal Mail with a vast drop-off network of 14,000+ points within the UK and 24/7 parcel post boxes makes for a convenient choice when shipping from the UK to Lithuania.
It also offers collection options to shippers adding further comfort to the shipping experience. It, therefore, is among the easiest options when shipping internationally to Lithuania from the UK.